Galaxy · Spiral
IC 743
IC 743 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Crater, 179.2 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Crater |
| Distance | 179.2 million light-years (54.94 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 43,400 light-years · 0.5 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −19.34 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 14.36 |
| Luminosity | 0.24 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 11h 53m 22.2s |
| Declination (J2000) | −13° 15′ 54″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 14.36. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 77° N. South of latitude 77° S it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in March, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 179 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 3,178.7 billion years.