Galaxy · Barred spiral
NGC 3221
NGC 3221 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Leo, 191.5 million light-years away.
| Type | Barred spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Leo |
| Distance | 191.5 million light-years (58.71 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 181,900 light-years · 2.1 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −22.08 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 11.76 |
| Luminosity | 3 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 10h 22m 20.0s |
| Declination (J2000) | +21° 34′ 11″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 11.76. Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 68° S. North of latitude 68° N it never sets. 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 191 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 3,396.8 billion years.