Galaxy · Barred spiral
IC 4721
IC 4721 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pavo, 104.1 million light-years away.
| Type | Barred spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pavo |
| Distance | 104.1 million light-years (31.93 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 136,200 light-years · 1.6 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −20.72 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 11.80 |
| Luminosity | 0.85 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 18h 34m 24.8s |
| Declination (J2000) | −58° 29′ 48″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 11.80. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 32° N. South of latitude 32° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in June, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 104 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 1,847.4 billion years.