Caldwell 77 — Galaxy in Centaurus
NGC 5128
About Centaurus A
Description
Centaurus A (NGC 5128) is the nearest giant radio galaxy, about 12 million light-years away in Centaurus. It is a peculiar elliptical galaxy with a dramatic dark dust lane bisecting its bright body, the result of a past merger with a spiral galaxy. It hosts one of the most powerful active galactic nuclei in the nearby universe.
Observing Tips
One of the southern sky's showpiece objects. Visible in binoculars as a bright, round glow. A 6-inch telescope clearly shows the dark dust lane cutting across the galaxy. Best from southern and tropical latitudes in spring and summer evenings.
History
Discovered by James Dunlop on August 4, 1826 from Australia. It was identified as a strong radio source in 1949 and became one of the first radio galaxies known. Its jets were later detected at radio, X-ray, and optical wavelengths.
Fun Facts
Centaurus A harbors a supermassive black hole of about 55 million solar masses that powers enormous radio jets extending over a million light-years. The dust lane is the remnant of a spiral galaxy consumed several hundred million years ago.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Easy | Easy | Easy |
| 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
Centaurus A · 25.9′×19.8′ · N up, E left
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/WFI (Optical); MPIfR/ESO/APEX/A.Weiss et al. (Submillimetre); NASA/CXC/CfA/R.Kraft et al. (X-ray). 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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