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Reflection nebula · Gemini

IC 444

Deep skyIC 444

Scientific overview

IC 444 is a reflection nebula in the constellation Gemini. It shines at apparent magnitude 7.03 and spans about 8 arcminutes of sky.

Observation guide

Difficulty
Small telescope
Recommended equipment
≈ 80–100 mm telescope
Best observed
Winter (N. evening sky)
Best hemisphere
Northern

Guidance follows standard observing practice, derived from the object's real magnitude and position. A dark, moonless sky always helps.

Location in the sky

Constellation
Gemini
RA / Dec
6.3094h / 23.3133°
Hemisphere
Northern
Season
Winter

Precision measurements

Distances and velocities from SIMBAD · IC 444

Right ascension (ICRS)94.641667 degSIMBAD · measured
Declination (ICRS)23.313333 degSIMBAD · measured
Full field-level provenance
  • Right ascension (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · ra · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11
  • Declination (ICRS): Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS) · SIMBAD · basic · dec · direct catalogue measurement · retrieved 2026-07-11

Physical size is derived from the OpenNGC angular size and the catalogued distance (small-angle: size = angle × distance). This is a Galactic object: its Doppler shift is shown as a radial velocity, not a cosmological redshift. Fields a source did not provide are omitted, never invented.

ObjectTypeMagSize (′)
M 35M 35 · NGC 2168Open cluster5.124
NGC 2129NGC 2129Open cluster6.73.9
NGC 2395NGC 2395Open cluster84.62
NGC 2420NGC 2420Open cluster8.37.5
IC 2157Open cluster8.42.7
NGC 2331NGC 2331Open cluster8.54.8
NGC 2158NGC 2158Open cluster8.68.4
NGC 2266NGC 2266Open cluster9.54.2

Sources

The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.

  • OpenNGCOpenNGC (M. Verga) — NGC/IC, Messier, and Caldwell catalogue data

    Openly-licensed deep-sky catalogue: object types, positions, magnitudes, sizes, morphology, and cross-identifiers.