C18
NGC 185
Object Data
- Catalog Designation
- C18
- Type
- Galaxy
- Constellation
- Cassiopeia
- Magnitude
- 9.2
- Right Ascension
- 00h 38m 57.1s
- Declination
- +48° 20' 13.2"
- Distance
- 2,300,000 light-years
- Angular Size
- 12
Survey Image
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About C18
Description
NGC 185 is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy in Cassiopeia, about 2.0 million light-years away. Like its companion NGC 147 (C17), it is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, but unlike C17, it shows some dust and evidence of relatively recent star formation in its center.
Observing Tips
Slightly brighter than its neighbor C17. Visible as a faint oval glow in a 6-inch telescope. The brighter central region helps distinguish it from the background. Can be viewed in the same session as C17, located about 1 degree apart. Best in autumn.
History
Discovered by William Herschel on November 30, 1787. NGC 185 is notable for being one of the few dwarf elliptical/spheroidal galaxies with a detectable amount of interstellar dust and young blue stars in its nucleus.
Fun Facts
NGC 185 contains a small active galactic nucleus powered by a modest black hole, making it one of the least luminous galaxies known to host an AGN.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: NASA Hubble Space Telescope. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026