Menu

NGC 891

Galaxy Good (59/100)

Spiral

NGC 891 Galaxy And Visible Level 5 Expert level - Dark skies recommended
Star Map
Add to List Add to Plan Back to Catalog

Properties

Magnitude 10.0
Angular Size 13.0′ × 3.0′
Position Angle 22°
Galaxy Type Spiral (SA(s)b)
! B, vL, vmE 22deg

Position & Identifiers

RA 02h 22m 36.0s
Dec +42° 21' 00.0"
Constellation And
Catalog NGC 891

Visibility

Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.

Eyepiece View

80x TFOV: 0.6° Lim. mag: 14.2
N E

NGC 891 · 13.0′×3.0′ · N up, E left

Surface Brightness & Visibility

Morphology Decoder

Redshift

Survey Image

Loading survey image…

About NGC 891

Description

NGC 891 is a spectacular edge-on spiral galaxy in Andromeda, about 30 million light-years away. It is considered one of the best examples of an edge-on galaxy, with a prominent dark dust lane bisecting its disk, giving us a cross-sectional view of a Milky Way-like galaxy.

Observing Tips

Visible as a thin, elongated streak in an 8-inch telescope. The dust lane requires at least a 10-inch scope and good conditions. Low to medium power works best for the 13-arcminute length. Best observed in autumn and winter evenings.

History

Discovered by William Herschel on October 6, 1784. NGC 891 is often compared to our Milky Way because of its similar size, luminosity, and morphological type (Sb spiral).

Fun Facts

Deep images reveal a complex system of dust filaments extending above and below the galaxy's disk plane, likely blown out by supernova explosions. NGC 891 is considered the best analog of how our Milky Way would look from the outside, viewed edge-on.