IC 342

Galaxy IC 342 (Caldwell 5) is one of the Council of Giants (12 sizable galaxies near the Local Group). It is a spiral galaxy that is somewhat obscured by dust in the Milky Way's galactic plane. Current distance estimates vary, in the range of 7 to 11 Mly. It is considered part of group around two major galaxies (perhaps similar to the Local Group) called the IC 342/Maffei Group, the other major member being Maffei 1 (PGC 9892). IC 342 characteristics:

• Camelopardalis - constellation.
• 03h46m48.5s - right ascension.
• +68deg05m46s - declination.
• 10.7 Mly - distance.
• SAB(rs)cd - galaxy type.
• 20 arcmin - apparent dimension (angular diameter).