C51
IC 1613
Object Data
- Catalog Designation
- C51
- Type
- Galaxy
- Constellation
- Cetus
- Magnitude
- 9.3
- Right Ascension
- 01h 04m 48.0s
- Declination
- +02° 07' 01.2"
- Distance
- 2,300,000 light-years
- Angular Size
- 17
Survey Image
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About C51
Description
IC 1613 is a dwarf irregular galaxy in Cetus, about 2.4 million light-years away. It is a member of the Local Group and one of the few galaxies that shows a blueshift, meaning it is approaching us. It has very low metallicity and active star formation.
Observing Tips
An extremely challenging visual target due to its very low surface brightness (about 14.2 mag/arcsec²). Requires at least a 10-inch telescope, dark skies, and averted vision. Best in autumn evenings.
History
Discovered by Max Wolf in 1906. It is important in cosmology because its low metallicity and proximity make it ideal for calibrating the Cepheid period-luminosity relation for distance measurements.
Fun Facts
IC 1613 has almost no interstellar dust, making it transparent and allowing clear views of background galaxies through it. Its low metallicity means it has undergone relatively little chemical enrichment from stellar evolution.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026
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