A Ghostly Giant Behind the Veil
IC 342 is a massive spiral galaxy that would likely be visible to the naked eye if it weren't obscured by the 'Zone of Avoidance'—the thick band of dust from our own Milky Way. It is a face-on spiral, similar in appearance to the more famous Triangulum Galaxy (M33). Because of its location, the light we receive from IC 342 is heavily 'reddened' by interstellar dust, making it a difficult target to color-balance accurately. It is a member of the IC 342/Maffei Group, one of the closest galaxy groups to our own Local Group.
Imaging Challenges
- • Cutting through the heavy 'galactic cirrus' and dust that dims the galaxy's surface brightness.
- • Color calibration: The Milky Way's dust absorbs blue light, making the galaxy appear much yellower than it actually is.
- • Exposing long enough to reveal the faint, sprawling spiral arms that extend far beyond the bright core.
If IC 342 were not obscured by the Milky Way's dust, it would be the brightest galaxy in the sky after Andromeda and the Triangulum.