Galaxy · Elliptical
IC 414
IC 414 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Orion, 208.3 million light-years away.
| Type | Elliptical |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Orion |
| Distance | 208.3 million light-years (63.87 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 54,300 light-years · 0.62 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −19.71 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 14.32 |
| Luminosity | 0.33 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 5h 21m 55.0s |
| Declination (J2000) | +3° 20′ 31″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 14.32. Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 87° S. It stands highest at midnight in December, 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 3,695.4 billion years.