About C18
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.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Easy | Easy | Medium+ |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Easy | Easy | Easy |
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
Blueshift
10
Size Comparator
Discover
11
Light Travel Time Machine
12
Relativistic Travel
Community Photos (1)
Credit: NASA Hubble Space Telescope. License: CC BY 2.0. (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.
Explore Nightbase
Related knowledge, tools, and stories — no observation planning required.
