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NGC 185

Galaxy Good (50/100)

Elliptical

NGC 185 Galaxy Cas Visible Level 4 Large telescope (10"+) - Dark skies recommended
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Properties

Magnitude 9.2
Angular Size 12.9′ × 10.8′
Position Angle 38°
Galaxy Type Elliptical (E3 pec)
pB, vL, iR, vgmbM, r

Position & Identifiers

RA 00h 39m 00.0s
Dec +48° 19' 60.0"
Constellation Cas
Catalog NGC 185

Visibility

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Eyepiece View

80x TFOV: 0.6° Lim. mag: 14.2
N E

NGC 185 · 12.9′×10.8′ · N up, E left

Surface Brightness & Visibility

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Blueshift

Survey Image

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About NGC 185

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.