About C62
Description
NGC 247 is a dwarf spiral galaxy in Cetus, about 11 million light-years away. It is a member of the Sculptor Group, the nearest galaxy group beyond the Local Group. The galaxy has a peculiar void in its northern disk where few stars are found.
Observing Tips
A large but faint galaxy requiring dark skies. Visible as a faint, elongated glow in a 6-inch telescope. Low surface brightness makes this a challenge. Best in autumn evenings when Cetus is well placed.
History
Discovered by William Herschel on November 20, 1784. It is sometimes called the Needle's Eye Galaxy due to the curious void in its disk.
Fun Facts
The void in NGC 247's disk has puzzled astronomers. It may be a region where star formation was suppressed by a past interaction with another galaxy in the Sculptor Group.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Easy | Medium+ | 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
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Surface Brightness
7
Morphology Decoder
8
Inclination & True Shape
9
Redshift
10
Size Comparator
Discover
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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.
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