Galaxy · Spiral
IC 1303
IC 1303 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Cygnus, 208.1 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Distance | 208.1 million light-years (63.79 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 88,500 light-years · 1 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −20.81 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 13.21 |
| Luminosity | 0.92 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 19h 31m 30.0s |
| Declination (J2000) | +35° 52′ 36″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 13.21. Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 54° S. North of latitude 54° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in July, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 208 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 3,690.8 billion years.