Galaxy NGC 2403

History

The galaxy NGC 2403 was discovered on 1 November 1788 by William Herschel with his 18.7 inch reflecting telescope. He cataloged it as V 44 (class V = very large nebulae) and described it: «Considerably bright, round, very gradually brighter in the middle, bright nucleus 6 or 7' diameter with a faint branch extending a great way to the northern preceeding side not less than 1/2 degree, and to the north or north following the nebulosity diffused over a space not less than a whole degree.» [464] On 2 February 1886 the french astronomer Guillaume Bigourdan pointed the 12.4 inch refractor of the Paris Observatory to this nebula and found within a «very faint, very small» knot, which later became NGC 2404. [277]

NGC 2403
NGC 2403: Galaxy in Camelopardalis; 500 mm Cassegrain f/7.2; SBIG STL11K; 150-50-50-50 min LRGB; Bernese Highlands; © 2011 Radek Chromik [32]
NGC 2403
NGC 2403: First light image; Takahashi FS 152 on a Centaurus V24 mount, ZWO ASI 183; -30°C chip temperature, R/G/B 2×2 binning: R 10×5 min, G 11×5 min, B 10×5 min; Mirasteilas Observatory, Falera; © 21. 11. 2020 Beat Kohler, Hansjörg Wälchli [35]

Physical Properties

Distance determinations range from 3.1 Mpc to 4.2 Mpc. [145] The galaxy belongs to the M 81 galaxy group. It is home to several H-II star-forming regions, the brightest of which has its own NGC designation: NGC 2404.

Revised+Historic NGC/IC Version 22/9, © 2022 Dr. Wolfgang Steinicke [277]
Name RA Dec Type bMag vMag B-V SB Dim PA z D(z) MD Dreyer Description Identification, Remarks
NGC 2403 07 36 50.6 +65 36 06 Gx (SBc) 8.9 8.5 0.4 14.4 23.4 × 11.8 127 0.000437 1.85 3.580 !! cB, eL, vmE, vgmbMN UGC 3918, MCG 11-10-7, CGCG 309-40, IRAS 07321+6543, KARA 197, CGCG 310-3
NGC 2404 07 37 07.0 +65 36 40 GxyP 14.5 0.4 3.580 vF, vS HII/Association in N 2403

Finder Chart

The galaxy NGC 2403 is located in the constellation Camelopardalis. The best time for observation is from September through March, when it is highest in the night sky.

Finder Chart Galaxy NGC 2403
Galaxy NGC 2403 in constellation Camelopardalis. Charts created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. Limiting magnitudes: Constellation chart ~6.5 mag, DSS2 close-ups ~20 mag. [149, 160]

More Objects Nearby (±15°)

References