Maffei 1

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Maffei 1
Observation data (J2000 epoch)
Constellation Cassiopeia
Right ascension 02h 36m 35.4s[1]
Declination +59° 39′ 19″[1]
Redshift 13 ± 22 km/s[1]
Distance 9.8 ± 2.0 Mly (3.0 ± 0.6 Mpc)[2]
Type S0- pec[1]
Apparent dimensions (V) 3′.36 × 1′.68[1]
Apparent magnitude (V) 11.4[1]
Other designations
PGC 9892[1], Sharpless 191
See also: Galaxy, List of galaxies

Maffei 1 is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Cassiopeia . Maffei 1 is the closest giant elliptical galaxy to the Milky Way. Once believed to be a member of the Local Group, it is now known to be a member of the IC 342/Maffei Group. It was discovered with the neighbouring Maffei 2 by Paolo Maffei in 1968 from their infrared emissions. Maffei 1 might have two possible satellites (MB1 and MB2).

Maffei 1 lies in the zone of avoidance and is heavily obscured by the Milky Way's stars and dust. It had been previously been catalogued as an emission nebula or H II region. If it were not obscured, it would be one of the brightest and best known galaxies in the sky.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database. Results for NGC 404. Retrieved on 2006-11-18.
  2. ^ Karachentsev, I. D.; Kashibadze, O. G. (2006). "Masses of the local group and of the M81 group estimated from distortions in the local velocity field". Astrophysics 49 (1): 3–18. doi:10.1007/s10511-006-0002-6. 

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