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NGC 4449

Galaxy Good (56/100)

Irregular

NGC 4449 Galaxy Canes Venatici (CVn) Visible Level 3 Medium telescope (6-8") - Dark skies recommended
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Properties

Magnitude 9.4
Angular Size 4.7′ × 2.7′
Position Angle 51°
Distance 9.50 million ly
Galaxy Type Irregular (IBm)
vB, cL, mE, D or bifid, rrr, *9 f 5'

Position & Identifiers

RA 12h 28m 12.0s
Dec +44° 06' 00.0"
Constellation Canes Venatici (CVn)
Catalog NGC 4449

Visibility

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Eyepiece View

200x TFOV: 0.2° Lim. mag: 14.2
N E

NGC 4449 · 4.7′×2.7′ · N up, E left

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About NGC 4449

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.

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