Barnard's Galaxy
NGC 6822
Object Data
- Catalog Designation
- C57
- Type
- Galaxy
- Constellation
- Sagittarius
- Magnitude
- 8.7
- Right Ascension
- 19h 44m 56.4s
- Declination
- -14° 48' 07.2"
- Distance
- 1,700,000 light-years
- Angular Size
- 16
Survey Image
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About Barnard's Galaxy
Description
Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822) is a dwarf irregular galaxy in Sagittarius, about 1.6 million light-years away. It is a member of the Local Group and one of the closest galaxies beyond the Magellanic Clouds, with active star formation and numerous HII regions.
Observing Tips
A challenging target due to low surface brightness and low declination from northern latitudes. Requires dark skies and at least a 6-inch telescope. Appears as a faint, large, irregular glow. Best in summer when Sagittarius is highest.
History
Discovered by E.E. Barnard in 1884 using a 6-inch refractor. It was one of the first galaxies recognized as lying beyond the Milky Way when Edwin Hubble identified Cepheid variables in it in 1925.
Fun Facts
Barnard's Galaxy is one of the few galaxies discovered visually in the late 19th century rather than photographically. It contains a giant bubble of ionized hydrogen about 1,500 light-years across, one of the largest HII complexes in the Local Group.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: ESO. License: CC BY 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026