IC 342 (Camelopardalis)
Fig. 1 - Hidden from clear view: The spiral galaxy IC 342 in Camelopardalis, photographed with a 16-inch f/4.5 Dob on an equatorial platform.
| Object name: | Constellation: | Coordinates: | Apparent size: | Visual brightness: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IC 342 | Camelopardalis | 03h47m / +68°06' | 21.4' x 20.9' | 9.1 mag |
The spiral galaxy IC 342 ("The Hidden Galaxy", Caldwell 5) in the constellation Camelopardalis. Despite its size and actual brightness, its location behind dusty areas near the galactic equator makes it difficult to observe, leading to the nickname "The Hidden Galaxy". Since the light of IC 342 has to cross the dusty equator plane of our Milky Way in order to reach Earth, IC 342 appears fainter and "redder" than it actually is. If the galaxy were not obscured, it would be visible by naked eye.
IC 342 is one of the brightest in the IC 342/Maffei Group, one of the closest galaxy groups to the Local Group. By angular size, IC 342 is one of the largest spiral galaxy known, smaller only than the Magellanic Clouds, the Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the Triangulum Galaxy (M33). The dust makes it difficult to determine its precise distance; modern estimates range from about 7 million light-years to about 11 million light-years. The galaxy was discovered by William Frederick Denning in 1892 (source: Wikipedia).
Exposure time: 2h 20min (43x approx. 3min) at ISO 800, taken on November 8 / 9, 2015. Processing with Deep Sky Stacker and Photoshop. No calibration frames were taken.
Equipment: Canon EOS 450D Baader modified camera, TeleVue Universal Paracorr coma corrector, 16" f/4.5 "Ninja" dobsonian telescope riding on a dual-axis Tom Osypowski equatorial platform, Lacerta MGEN autoguider, Lacerta off axis system.
Field of view comparison: image of the moon with the same setup.
Fig. 2 - Search chart for IC 342. Copyright 2025 'The Mag-7 Star Atlas Project', www.siaris.net.