Galaxy · Spiral
IC 346
IC 346 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Eridanus, 97.2 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Eridanus |
| Distance | 97.2 million light-years (29.79 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 74,800 light-years · 0.86 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −19.72 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 12.65 |
| Luminosity | 0.34 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 3h 41m 44.7s |
| Declination (J2000) | −18° 16′ 01″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 12.65. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 72° N. South of latitude 72° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in November, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 97 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 1,723.6 billion years.