Galaxy · Barred spiral
NGC 4253
NGC 4253 is a galaxy in the direction of the constellation Coma Berenices, 180.6 million light-years away.
| Type | Barred spiral |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Coma Berenices |
| Distance | 180.6 million light-years (55.37 Mpc) |
| Diameter | 69,200 light-years · 0.79 × the Milky Way |
| Absolute magnitude | magnitude −20.98 |
| Apparent magnitude | magnitude 12.74 |
| Luminosity | 1.1 × the Milky Way |
| Right ascension (J2000) | 12h 18m 26.5s |
| Declination (J2000) | +29° 48′ 46″ |
| Source | 2MASS Redshift Survey (Huchra et al. 2012) |
In the sky
A telescope is needed to see it: its apparent magnitude is 12.74. Visible from the whole Northern Hemisphere and south to latitude 60° S. North of latitude 60° N 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 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 3,203.6 billion years.