Observer's guide
About IC 1613
IC 1613 (C51) is catalogued as a galaxy in Cetus. Its J2000 position is RA 01:04:48, Dec +02:07:04, corresponding to 16.2017 degrees RA and 2.1195 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 2,300,000 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 16.2 by 14.5 arcminutes.
Observing tips
StarWatchr rates this as a hard target at magnitude 9.9. It is associated with autumn observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around October. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 40.1 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 GiC. SIMBAD records the morphology as IB(s)m. A published radial velocity value is -233 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 1325 bibliographic references.
At roughly 16.2 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 16.2 by 14.5 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.
