This superb image of the galaxy IC 342 was taken by astronomers at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The release coincides with the opening of a two-day Carnegie Institution symposium entitled “The Night: Why Dark Hours Are So Important”.
IC 342 is a face-on spiral in the constellation Camelopardalis (love that name) and is 10 to 11 million light-years from us. Although it is a large galaxy, well, similar to Andromeda, it’s a rather dim 9.1 magnitude; not a problem with a telescope and a dark sky, but you won’t just pop out and see it. According to the release, it would be one of the brightest galaxies in our skies if it weren’t for the dust and interstellar gas between us and it.
Here’s a link to the press release.
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