Cocoon Galaxy
Also known as NGC 4490
Cocoon Galaxy is a galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici, about 29.06 million light-years from Earth.
Galaxy in Canes Venatici wrapped round by its small companion NGC 4485
Facts
| Type | Galaxy (shape SAB) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Canes Venatici |
| Position (J2000) | 12h 30m 36s, +41° 38′ |
| Distance | 29.06 million light-years (its light set off about 29.06 million years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 9.79 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 6.8′ × 2.1′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | No filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.) |
| Studied in | 627 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Cocoon Galaxy is highest in the sky at midnight in March. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 68° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 82°. To see it you need a small telescope.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Canes Venatici
- Croc's Eye Galaxy (M94)
- Hockey Stick Galaxy
- M3 (NGC 5272)
- M106 (NGC 4258)
- Sunflower Galaxy (M63)
- TON 618
- Whale Galaxy
- Whirlpool Galaxy (M51)
Everything in Canes Venatici · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits