Galaxy · Irregular
Antennae (NGC 4038/4039)
Antennae (NGC 4038/4039) is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Corvus, 71.8 million light-years away. Two spiral galaxies in the process of merging.
| Type | Irregular |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Corvus |
| Distance | 71.8 million light-years (22.00 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 97,800 light-years · 1.1 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −21.00 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 10.71 |
| Luminosity | 1.1 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 12h 01m 52.8s |
| Declination (J2000) | −18° 52′ 01″ |
| Source | Compiled catalogue (NED, approximate values) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 10.71. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 71° N. South of latitude 71° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in March, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 72 million years ago. At that time dinosaurs ruled the Earth. At the speed of Voyager 1, the fastest craft leaving the Solar System (16.9 km per second), the trip would take 1,272.9 billion years.