Galaxy · Spiral
IC 856
IC 856 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Coma Berenices, 188.7 million light-years away.
| Type | Spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Coma Berenices |
| Distance | 188.7 million light-years (57.84 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 68,800 light-years · 0.79 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −19.89 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 13.92 |
| Luminosity | 0.39 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 13h 10m 41.6s |
| Declination (J2000) | +20° 32′ 12″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 13.92. Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 69° S. North of latitude 69° N it never sets. It stands highest at midnight in April, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 189 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 3,346.5 billion years.