Galaxy · Coma Berenices

C36 NGC 4559

Magnitude
10
Season
Spring
Difficulty
Very Hard
Planner
Star-hop chart
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10.0° vertical field
RA 12h 35m 58sDec +27.96°0° · N/E orientation
Imaging reference
NGC 4559 (C36) Galaxy

Observer's guide

About NGC 4559

NGC 4559 (C36) is catalogued as a galaxy in Coma Berenices. Its J2000 position is RA 12:35:58, Dec +27:57:36, corresponding to 188.9902 degrees RA and 27.96 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 32,000,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 7.23 by 3.01 arcminutes.

Observing tips

This is rated as a very hard target at magnitude 10. It is associated with spring observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around March. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 66 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.

Because it is faint, use a larger aperture where possible, avoid bright Moon conditions, and use averted vision.

What to expect

The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is H2G. SIMBAD records the morphology as SABcd. A published radial velocity value is 815 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 671 bibliographic references.

At roughly 7.2 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 7.23 by 3.01 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.

Sourced catalogue data

Scientific record

Coordinates (J2000/ICRS)
RA 188.990168° · Dec 27.959961°
SIMBAD classification
H2G
Morphology
SABcd
Angular extent
7.23′ × 3.01′
Position angle
142°
Surface brightness
21.97 mag/arcsec²
Radial velocity
815 km/s
Redshift
0.00272225
Linked bibliography
671 references
Best midnight placement
March
Observable latitude range
-62° to 90°

Source: SIMBAD ↗

24-hour altitude profile

Photographic sky survey