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Caldwell 72
Hubble · Caldwell 72 · NASA, ESA, R. de Jong (Leibniz-Institut fur Astrophysik Potsdam [AIP]), and G. Illingworth (University of California – Santa Cruz); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Caldwell 72

Galaxy in Sculptor · 6.8 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationSculptor
Right ascension0h 14m 54s
Declination−39° 12′
Object distance6.8 million light-years
Apparent magnitude8.5
Apparent size29.9′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter59,143 light-years across
Also known asC72 · NGC 55
Caldwell 72 is a galaxy (NGC 55) in the constellation Sculptor — a distant island of stars far beyond the Milky Way. It appears as number 72 in the Caldwell catalogue, Sir Patrick Moore's 1995 list of 109 bright deep-sky objects for amateur astronomers. It spans roughly 29.9 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 8.5, it shows up in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 29.9′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 59,143 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Caldwell 72

Caldwell 72 lies in the constellation Sculptor and is best placed in the evening sky around September. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the southern hemisphere, and sits low for those far north. 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.

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Sources

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