Camelopardalis

NGC 2403, a hidden northern spiral with active star formation. 🌌 Overview Name: NGC 2403 Type: Intermediate Spiral Galaxy (SAB(s)cd) Constellation: Camelopardalis Distance from Earth: ~8 million light-years Apparent Magnitude: ~8.9 Angular Size: ~21 × 12 arcminutes Group: M81 Group (same galaxy group as M81 and M82) ✨ What We See NGC 2403 is a bright, nearby spiral galaxy showcasing: Well-defined spiral arms dotted with H II regions Bright stellar associations and dust lanes A slightly tilted orientation revealing internal galactic structure Several large, pink star-forming regions, visible even in modest exposures 🔭 Scientific Highlights Part of the M81 galaxy group, though further out toward the outskirts Studied extensively due to its proximity and resemblance to our Milky Way Hosts numerous Cepheid variable stars — critical for distance scale calibration 📷 Equipment Used Telescope: TS-Optics 80PHQ (544mm f/6.8 Quintuplet APO) Camera: SVBONY SV605MC (IMX533 Mono) Mount: Sky-Watcher EQ5 Pro Guiding: Off-Axis Guider with veLOX 178 C Filters: LRGB Software: NINA, PHD2, PixInsight, Photoshop Signature: Custom watermark overlay 📝 Final Thoughts Often overlooked due to its obscure location, NGC 2403 is a gem of the northern sky. With a beautiful spiral form and bright H II knots, it’s a rich target both scientifically and visually — perfect for spring skies and wide-field imaging. ...