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Needle Galaxy

NGC 4565

Galaxy Excellent (70/100)

Barred Spiral

C38 Galaxy Coma Berenices Visible Level 5 Expert level - Dark skies recommended
Credit: Ken Crawford. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Properties

Magnitude 9.6
Angular Size 16.8′ × 2.9′
Position Angle 135°
Distance 31000000 ly
Galaxy Type Barred Spiral (Sb)
Spiral Galaxy [Distance: 31000000 ly]

Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 36m 20.9s
Dec +25° 59' 16.8"
Constellation Coma Berenices
Catalog C38

Visibility

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About Needle Galaxy

Description

The Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) is a classic edge-on spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices, about 42 million light-years away. One of the finest edge-on galaxies in the sky, it displays a razor-thin disk with a prominent central bulge and dark dust lane extending over 15 arcminutes.

Observing Tips

Spectacular in an 8-inch or larger telescope at medium power. The dust lane becomes visible at 10 inches. The galaxy's extreme thinness and length make it immediately striking. Located near the north galactic pole. Best in spring evenings.

History

Discovered by William Herschel on April 6, 1785. NGC 4565 is often considered the finest edge-on galaxy visible from the northern hemisphere and a benchmark for understanding disk galaxy structure.

Fun Facts

If we could view the Milky Way from outside and edge-on, it might look remarkably like NGC 4565. The galaxy's disk is remarkably flat and its bulge relatively small, suggesting a galaxy type very similar to our own.

Community Photos (1)

Credit: Ken Crawford. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: Ken Crawford. License: CC BY-SA 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Mar 2, 2026