Galaxy · Spiral
IC 5284
IC 5284 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Pegasus, 181.3 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Pegasus |
| Distance | 181.3 million light-years (55.59 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 58,600 light-years · 0.67 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −19.38 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 14.34 |
| Luminosity | 0.25 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 23h 06m 46.3s |
| Declination (J2000) | +19° 07′ 20″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 14.34. Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 71° S. North of latitude 71° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in September, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 181 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 3,216.3 billion years.