Caldwell 21
NGC 4449
Properties
Position & Identifiers
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Eyepiece View
C21 · 4.7′×2.7′ · N up, E left
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About C21
Description
NGC 4449 is an irregular dwarf galaxy in Canes Venatici, about 12 million light-years away. It is undergoing a galaxy-wide starburst, producing new stars at a prodigious rate throughout its entire body rather than just in a central region.
Observing Tips
Visible as a small, rectangular glow in a 4-inch telescope. Higher magnification reveals a mottled texture from the numerous HII regions. Best observed in spring evenings when Canes Venatici is high.
History
Discovered by William Herschel on April 27, 1788. It is considered a Magellanic-type irregular galaxy similar in many ways to the Large Magellanic Cloud.
Fun Facts
NGC 4449 is one of the best-studied starburst dwarf galaxies. It is currently consuming a smaller companion galaxy, making it one of the few cases where dwarf galaxy cannibalism has been directly observed.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: NASA, ESA, A. Aloisi (STScI/ESA), and The Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration. License: Public domain. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026