C26
NGC 4244
Object Data
- Catalog Designation
- C26
- Type
- Galaxy
- Constellation
- Canes Venatici
- Magnitude
- 10.2
- Right Ascension
- 12h 17m 29.5s
- Declination
- +37° 48' 25.2"
- Distance
- 10,000,000 light-years
- Angular Size
- 16
Survey Image
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About C26
Description
NGC 4244 is an edge-on spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici, about 14 million light-years away. Known as the Silver Needle Galaxy, it appears as a very thin, elongated streak spanning about 16 arcminutes with no visible dust lane or central bulge.
Observing Tips
Requires dark skies due to its low surface brightness. Visible as a faint, thin streak in a 6-inch telescope. The lack of a bright core makes it harder than typical edge-on galaxies. Best in spring evenings.
History
Discovered by William Herschel on March 17, 1787. Its extremely thin profile and lack of a bulge classify it as a pure-disk (Scd) spiral galaxy.
Fun Facts
NGC 4244 is one of the flattest galaxies known, with virtually no central bulge. It is a member of the M94 galaxy group, one of the many galaxy groups in the Canes Venatici cloud.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: Ole Nielsen. License: CC BY-SA 2.5. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026