Spiral galaxy · Cetus

M77 Cetus A

Also known as: NGC 1068

mag 8.87′ across

About

M77 (Cetus A) is a spiral galaxy of magnitude 8.8 in Cetus, about 7′ across.

M77 is in the constellation Cetus.
Best evenings: around mid-December it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 80° N.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
Binoculars (10×50)A faint smudge, only from a dark site.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A faint oval glow with a brighter middle — no spiral arms without a camera.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	M77, NGC 1068, PGC 10266, UGC 2188
Type	Spiral galaxy (Sb)
Magnitude	8.8The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	7′ × 6.4′the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	22.4 mag/arcsec²Average over its disc, in the blue band: the lower the number, the easier it is to see.
Constellation	Cetus
Right ascension (J2000)	02h 42m 40.7s
Declination (J2000)	−00° 00′ 48″