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Fornax A (NGC 1316)

Also known as Fornax A · NGC 1316

Fornax A (NGC 1316) is a galaxy in the constellation Fornax, about 70.06 million light-years from Earth.

Fornax A (NGC 1316): a sky-survey photograph of its field
Sky survey view (DSS2 colour, or a backup survey)

Facts

TypeGalaxy (shape E)
ConstellationFornax
Position (J2000)3h 22m 41s, −37° 12′
Distance70.06 million light-years (its light set off about 70.06 million years ago)
Brightnessmagnitude 8.53 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6)
Size on the sky9.7′ × 6.5′ (the full Moon is about 31′)
FilterNo filter (It shines in starlight of every colour, so a nebula filter would only dim it; a dark sky helps more.)
Redshiftz = 0.00603
Studied in1,509 scientific papers (SIMBAD)

When and how to see it

Fornax A (NGC 1316) is highest in the sky at midnight in November. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 33° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 3°. To see it you need binoculars.

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 Fornax

Everything in Fornax · All 88 constellations · All sky objects

Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits