Galaxy · Spiral
IC 4738
IC 4738 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pavo, 222.2 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pavo |
| Distance | 222.2 million light-years (68.14 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 73,800 light-years · 0.84 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −19.87 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 14.30 |
| Luminosity | 0.39 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 18h 40m 26.9s |
| Declination (J2000) | −61° 54′ 08″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 14.30. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 28° N. South of latitude 28° 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 222 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 3,942.4 billion years.