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C51

IC 1613

Galaxy Excellent (64/100)

Irregular

C51 Galaxy Cetus Visible Level 5 Expert level - Dark skies recommended
Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
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Properties

Magnitude 9.3
Angular Size 18.3′ × 17.1′
Position Angle 50°
Distance 2300000 ly
Galaxy Type Irregular (I)
Irregular Galaxy [Distance: 2300000 ly]

Position & Identifiers

RA 01h 04m 48.0s
Dec +02° 07' 01.2"
Constellation Cetus
Catalog C51

Visibility

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About C51

Description

IC 1613 is a dwarf irregular galaxy in Cetus, about 2.4 million light-years away. It is a member of the Local Group and one of the few galaxies that shows a blueshift, meaning it is approaching us. It has very low metallicity and active star formation.

Observing Tips

An extremely challenging visual target due to its very low surface brightness (about 14.2 mag/arcsec²). Requires at least a 10-inch telescope, dark skies, and averted vision. Best in autumn evenings.

History

Discovered by Max Wolf in 1906. It is important in cosmology because its low metallicity and proximity make it ideal for calibrating the Cepheid period-luminosity relation for distance measurements.

Fun Facts

IC 1613 has almost no interstellar dust, making it transparent and allowing clear views of background galaxies through it. Its low metallicity means it has undergone relatively little chemical enrichment from stellar evolution.

Community Photos (1)

Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Mar 2, 2026