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C18

NGC 185

Galaxy Good (55/100)

Elliptical

C18 Galaxy Cassiopeia Visible Level 4 Large telescope (10"+) - Dark skies recommended
Credit: NASA Hubble Space Telescope. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Properties

Magnitude 9.2
Angular Size 12.9′ × 10.8′
Position Angle 38°
Distance 2300000 ly
Galaxy Type Elliptical (E)
Elliptical Galaxy [Distance: 2300000 ly]

Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 38m 57.1s
Dec +48° 20' 13.2"
Constellation Cassiopeia
Catalog C18

Visibility

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About C18

Description

NGC 185 is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy in Cassiopeia, about 2.0 million light-years away. Like its companion NGC 147 (C17), it is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, but unlike C17, it shows some dust and evidence of relatively recent star formation in its center.

Observing Tips

Slightly brighter than its neighbor C17. Visible as a faint oval glow in a 6-inch telescope. The brighter central region helps distinguish it from the background. Can be viewed in the same session as C17, located about 1 degree apart. Best in autumn.

History

Discovered by William Herschel on November 30, 1787. NGC 185 is notable for being one of the few dwarf elliptical/spheroidal galaxies with a detectable amount of interstellar dust and young blue stars in its nucleus.

Fun Facts

NGC 185 contains a small active galactic nucleus powered by a modest black hole, making it one of the least luminous galaxies known to host an AGN.

Community Photos (1)

Credit: NASA Hubble Space Telescope. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: NASA Hubble Space Telescope. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Mar 2, 2026