Galaxy
NGC 185
Dwarf spheroidal galaxy · C18 · NGC 185
Dwarf spheroidal galaxy in Cassiopeia
Photo: SamH112358 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
NGC 185 is a dwarf spheroidal galaxy located 2.08 million light-years from Earth, appearing in the constellation Cassiopeia. It is a member of the Local Group, and is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31). NGC 185 was discovered by William Herschel on November 30, 1787, and he cataloged it "H II.707". John Herschel observed the object again in 1833 when he cataloged it as "h 35", and then in 1864 when he cataloged it as "GC 90" within his General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters. NGC 185 was first photographed between 1898 and 1900 by James Edward Keeler with the Crossley Reflector of Lick Observatory. Unlike most dwarf elliptical galaxies, NGC 185 contains young stellar clusters, and star formation proceeded at a low rate until the recent past. NGC 185 has an active galactic nucleus (AGN) and is usually classified as a Type II Seyfert galaxy, though its status as a Seyfert is questioned. It is possibly the closest Seyfert galaxy to Earth, and is the only known Seyfert in the Local Group.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~2.3 million light-years
Apparent mag.
+9.2
Apparent size
12.9′ × 10.8′
Best seen with
Telescope
Catalogue
C18 · NGC 185
Did you know
- Listed as Caldwell 18 in the Caldwell catalogue, also known as NGC 185.
- Found in the constellation Cassiopeia.
- Needs a telescope to see clearly.
