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IC342

Classification: Spiral Galaxy IC342 (Caldwell 5)
Constellation: Camelopardalis (CAM)
Object Location: Ra 03h 48m 20s Dec +68° 08’18° (current)
Size & Distance: 21.2 x 20.6 Apx 10 million light-years.

Date & Location: 12-30-2008 Red Cloud area, CA
Exposure: LRGB L= 6 @ 10min (bin 1x1) RGB= 3 @ 10nim (bin 2x2)
Optics: Telescope Engineering Company APO140ED @ f/7 F/ L 980mm.
Mount: Astro-Physics 900 GTO / ATS 10x36 Pier
Camera: SBIG-ST10XME
Filters: Astrodon G2 LRGB
Software: MaxImDL 4.56, Photoshop CS.

Notes: Sky conditions: Good seeing, calm winds, low 40’s
Image Field of view is 39 x 33.5 arc-min.
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IC 342 (also known as Caldwell 5) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Camelopardalis. The galaxy is near the galactic equator where dust obscuration makes it a difficult object to observe, though it can readily be detected even with binoculars. 

IC 342 is one of the brightest two galaxies in the IC 342/Maffei Group of galaxies, one of the galaxy groups that is closest to the Local Group. The galaxy was discovered by William Frederick Denning in 1895. Edwin Hubble first thought it to be in the Local Group, but later it was demonstrated that the galaxy is outside the Local Group.
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