Hoag's Object
Hoag's Object is a galaxy in the constellation Serpens, about 599.47 million light-years from Earth.
A near-perfect ring galaxy
Facts
| Type | Galaxy (shape 3) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Serpens |
| Position (J2000) | 15h 17m 14s, +21° 35′ |
| Distance | 599.47 million light-years (its light set off about 599.47 million years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 15.1 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 0.3′ × 0.3′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Redshift | z = 0.04242 |
| Studied in | 58 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Hoag's Object is highest in the sky at midnight in May. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 88° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 62°. To see it you need a large telescope or long-exposure photos.
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 Serpens
Everything in Serpens · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · Data sources & credits