About C101
Description
NGC 6744 is a large, face-on spiral galaxy in Pavo, about 25 million light-years away. Spanning 20 by 13 arcminutes, it is one of the largest galaxies in angular size in the southern sky and is considered one of the most Milky Way-like galaxies known.
Observing Tips
A large but low-surface-brightness galaxy. Binoculars or a wide-field telescope at low power show a faint, diffuse glow. Larger scopes may hint at spiral structure. Dark skies are essential. Best from southern locations in summer and autumn.
History
Discovered by James Dunlop on June 30, 1826 from Australia. Modern studies show it closely resembles the Milky Way in size, morphology, and bar structure.
Fun Facts
If you could see the Milky Way from outside, it might look very much like NGC 6744. The galaxy even has a small, distorted companion (NGC 6744A) similar to the Milky Way's Magellanic Clouds.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Hard+ | Hard | Hard |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Hard+ | Hard+ | Hard+ |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Hard+ | Hard+ | Hard+ |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
3Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
4
Eyepiece View
5
Best Magnification
Explore
6
Surface Brightness
7
Morphology Decoder
8
Inclination & True Shape
9
Redshift
10
Size Comparator
Discover
11
Light Travel Time Machine
12
Relativistic Travel
Community Photos (1)
Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 3.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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