Galaxy · Spiral
IC 5116
IC 5116 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Indus, 177.1 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Indus |
| Distance | 177.1 million light-years (54.30 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 88,300 light-years · 1 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −19.60 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 14.07 |
| Luminosity | 0.3 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 21h 37m 05.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | −70° 58′ 57″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 14.07. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 19° N. South of latitude 19° 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 177 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 3,141.7 billion years.