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Hubble · Caldwell 3 · NASA, ESA, P. Seitzer (University of Michigan), and M. Regan (STScI); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Caldwell 3

Galaxy in Draco · 11.7 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationDraco
Right ascension12h 16m 42s
Declination+69° 28′
Object distance11.7 million light-years
Apparent magnitude9.8
Apparent size23.5′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter79,980 light-years across
Also known asC3 · NGC 4236
Caldwell 3 is a galaxy (NGC 4236) in the constellation Draco — a distant island of stars far beyond the Milky Way. It appears as number 3 in the Caldwell catalogue, Sir Patrick Moore's 1995 list of 109 bright deep-sky objects for amateur astronomers. It spans roughly 23.5 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 9.8, it shows up in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 23.5′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 79,980 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Caldwell 3

Caldwell 3 lies in the constellation Draco and is best placed in the evening sky around March. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It sits far enough north to be circumpolar from mid-northern latitudes, and never rises for most of the southern hemisphere. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

See Caldwell 3 in Universe Finder

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Sources

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