The Needle Galaxy is renowned among astrophotographers for its strikingly thin, elongated profile and prominent central bulge, making it one of the most visually impressive edge-on spirals in the night sky. Its well-defined dust lanes bisect the bright galactic core, creating a dramatic visual contrast that is especially evident in long-exposure images. The galaxy’s needle-like appearance is best captured with moderate to large telescopes and sensitive cameras, revealing intricate details along its disk. NGC 4565 is often considered a benchmark target for galaxy season, offering both visual and imaging challenges due to its relatively faint magnitude and extended structure.
Names and Catalog numbers
- Needle Galaxy
- Caldwell 38 (C38)
- NGC 4565
- UGC 7772
- PGC 42038
Position and the cosmic neighborhood
The Needle Galaxy is situated in the northern constellation Coma Berenices, about 1.7 degrees east of the variable star 17 Comae. It is a member of the Coma-Virgo galaxy cluster region, which is densely populated with other galaxies, including the nearby NGC 4559 and the famous Coma Cluster. This area of the sky is particularly rich for deep-sky observers and astrophotographers, with multiple galaxies often visible in wide-field images. The galaxy’s orientation and location make it a prime target during spring nights in the northern hemisphere.
Nice to Know
- The Needle Galaxy is one of the most famous and photogenic edge-on spiral galaxies, often used as a reference for this galaxy type.
- Its dark dust lane and bright central bulge are best revealed in long-exposure astrophotography using moderate to large telescopes.
- NGC 4565 was discovered by William Herschel in 1785 and has been admired by astronomers for over two centuries.
- The galaxy is roughly the same size as the Milky Way, spanning about 100,000 light-years in diameter.
Brightnes, distance and size
The Needle Galaxy has an apparent magnitude of 12.4, making it a target for medium to large amateur telescopes under dark skies. It is located approximately 57 million light-years from Earth and measures about 100,000 light-years across, similar to the Milky Way. In the sky, NGC 4565 extends roughly 15.9 by 1.85 arcminutes, presenting a slender, needle-like shape that stands out in deep-sky astrophotography images.
