Galaxy · Elliptical
NGC 2974
NGC 2974 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Sextans, 89.4 million light-years away.
| Type | Elliptical |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Sextans |
| Distance | 89.4 million light-years (27.41 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 86,100 light-years · 0.99 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −22.75 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 9.44 |
| Luminosity | 5.5 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 9h 42m 33.3s |
| Declination (J2000) | −3° 41′ 57″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 9.44. Visible from the whole Southern Hemisphere and north to latitude 86° N. It stands highest at midnight in February, the best time to observe it.
Through a telescope from Earth
Light's journey
The light you see tonight set out 89 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 1,585.9 billion years.