Galaxy · Spiral
IC 5096
IC 5096 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pavo, 146.5 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pavo |
| Distance | 146.5 million light-years (44.91 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 157,900 light-years · 1.8 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −21.86 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 11.40 |
| Luminosity | 2.4 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 21h 18m 21.6s |
| Declination (J2000) | −63° 45′ 39″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 11.40. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 26° N. South of latitude 26° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in August, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 146 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 2,598.4 billion years.