Astronomy:Maffei 2

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Short description: Galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia
Maffei 2
Image by Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS)
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
ConstellationCassiopeia
Right ascension 02h 41m 55.1s[1]
Declination+59° 36′ 15″[1]
Redshift-17 ± 5 km/s[1]
Distance9.8 Mly[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)16.0[1]
Characteristics
TypeSAB(rs)bc[1]
Apparent size (V)15.2 × 7.0[1]
Other designations
UGCA 39,[1] PGC 10217,[1] Sharpless 197

Maffei 2 is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 10 million light-years away[2] in the constellation Cassiopeia. Maffei 2 and Maffei 1 were both discovered by Paolo Maffei in 1968 from their infrared emission. Maffei 2 lies in the Zone of Avoidance and is about 99.5% obscured by the Milky Way's foreground dust clouds,[3] and as a result is barely detectable at optical wavelengths. It had been suggested soon after its discovery that Maffei 2 may be a member of the Local Group, but it is now thought to be a member of another nearby group, the IC 342/Maffei Group, the galaxy group that is the closest to the Local Group.

See also

References


Coordinates: Sky map 02h 41m 55.1s, +59° 36′ 15″