About Antennae
Description
The Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038) are a spectacular pair of colliding galaxies in Corvus, about 45 million light-years away. NGC 4038 is the northern component, and together with NGC 4039 (C61), they form one of the most famous interacting galaxy pairs, with long tidal tails stretching out like insect antennae.
Observing Tips
Visible as a peculiar, irregularly shaped glow in a 6-inch telescope. An 8-inch scope shows the double nucleus region. The tidal tails require long-exposure photography. Best in spring evenings when Corvus is well placed.
History
Discovered by William Herschel on February 7, 1785. The Antennae are one of the youngest and nearest examples of a galaxy merger in progress, making them a prime laboratory for studying galaxy interactions.
Fun Facts
The collision has triggered an enormous burst of star formation. Hubble images show over 1,000 bright young star clusters formed in the interaction, some containing millions of stars. This is a preview of what will happen when the Milky Way and Andromeda collide.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | V. hard | Imp. | Imp. |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Hard | Hard | V. 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
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
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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