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c38-1
Hubble · Caldwell 38 · NASA, ESA, and K. Ashman (University of Missouri); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Needle Galaxy

Galaxy in Coma Berenices · 58.615 million light-years (est. from redshift)

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationComa Berenices
Right ascension12h 36m 21s
Declination+25° 59′
Object distance58.615 million light-years (est. from redshift)
Apparent magnitude10.9
Apparent size16.8′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter286,446 light-years across
Also known asC38 · NGC 4565
Caldwell 38, popularly known as the Needle Galaxy, is a galaxy (NGC 4565) in the constellation Coma Berenices — a distant island of stars far beyond the Milky Way. It appears as number 38 in the Caldwell catalogue, Sir Patrick Moore's 1995 list of 109 bright deep-sky objects for amateur astronomers. It spans roughly 16.8 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 10.9, it is a fainter object best hunted with a moderate telescope under dark skies.

Although it appears about 16.8′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 286,446 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Needle Galaxy

Needle Galaxy lies in the constellation Coma Berenices and is best placed in the evening sky around March. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, and sits low for those far south. It is faint — plan for a moderate telescope and a dark, moonless sky. 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 Needle Galaxy in Universe Finder

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