Galaxy NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis

About the object

A spiral galaxy in Camelopardalis, a member of the M81 group and one of the nearest spirals outside our Local Group. Tilted towards us, it shows patchy arms dotted with pink star-forming regions; the largest, NGC 2404, is visible even in small telescopes. The galaxy sits high in the north, so it is reachable from the balcony almost all year round.

Distance: about 8 million light-years, apparent size in the sky: 22′ × 12′, constellation Camelopardalis.

How it was shot

Everything here was shot with a DWARF Mini smart telescope from a balcony in a city in Ukraine: light-polluted sky, only the eastern half of it visible, and a roof overhang that cuts off the south. 2 nights (all in September), 2 sessions, 355 frames with exposures of 30 s, without a filter, in broadband. The stack holds 2 h 54 min of light; the longest night, 7 September, gave 1 h 28 min. The goal for this object is 8 h, 36% done so far. First night 5 September 2026, last one 8 September 2026.

Galaxy NGC 2403 in Camelopardalis in the night log: 4 September, 7 September.

How it went

Two nights of thirty-second frames without a filter on a galaxy that the DWARF Mini shows as a small oval patch with a hint of arms. It sits high in the north, so the roof does not interfere, but broadband and city light pollution limit the detail. The goal is still gathering light: the galaxy needs darker nights and a longer series.