Caldwell 57 — Galaxy in Sagittarius
NGC 6822
About Barnard's Galaxy
Description
Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822) is a dwarf irregular galaxy in Sagittarius, about 1.6 million light-years away. It is a member of the Local Group and one of the closest galaxies beyond the Magellanic Clouds, with active star formation and numerous HII regions.
Observing Tips
A challenging target due to low surface brightness and low declination from northern latitudes. Requires dark skies and at least a 6-inch telescope. Appears as a faint, large, irregular glow. Best in summer when Sagittarius is highest.
History
Discovered by E.E. Barnard in 1884 using a 6-inch refractor. It was one of the first galaxies recognized as lying beyond the Milky Way when Edwin Hubble identified Cepheid variables in it in 1925.
Fun Facts
Barnard's Galaxy is one of the few galaxies discovered visually in the late 19th century rather than photographically. It contains a giant bubble of ionized hydrogen about 1,500 light-years across, one of the largest HII complexes in the Local Group.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Hard | V. hard+ | V. 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
Barnard's Galaxy · 17.4′×16.8′ · N up, E left
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: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (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
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