H-NGC185
Galaxy in Cassiopeia
About
NGC 185, a small dwarf galaxy in Cassiopeia, about 2.1 million light-years away. It is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy and, unlike most galaxies of its kind, has formed young stars near its centre within the last billion years. William Herschel found it in 1787, and it is in the Herschel 400 list.
Imaging tips
- At 1,880–3,130 mm on APS-C the galaxy fills a good part of the frame; it is about 13′ across, so there is room for the surrounding star field.
- Faint at 23.2 mag/arcsec², so plan many hours of broadband data; as a galaxy it gains nothing from narrowband filters.
- Young star clusters sit near the centre, unusual for a galaxy of this type, so the core is where fine detail will show.
- Best around September and October; it passes almost overhead (about 88°) from 50°N.
Facts
- Size
- 12′ × 10′
- Magnitude
- 9.2
- Coordinates
- RA 0h 38.9m, Dec +48° 20′
- Framing, APS-C
- 2020–3370 mm
- Framing, full frame
- 3090–5160 mm
- Best months
- Sep, Oct
- Peak altitude
- 88° from 50°N, 77° from 35°N