Unlocking the Mysteries of the Hidden Galaxy (IC 342)

IC 342, fondly referred to as the Hidden Galaxy, is a captivating spiral galaxy nestled within the constellation of Camelopardalis. Discovered by Edward Barnard in August 1890, this celestial marvel sits approximately 11 million light-years away from us.

Cloaked by Cosmic Dust: The Hidden Galaxy

Despite its impressive luminosity and relative proximity, observing the Hidden Galaxy can be quite challenging. Its location, concealed behind dusty regions along the galactic equator, has earned it the fitting nickname of the Hidden Galaxy. Were it not for this cosmic camouflage, the galaxy would be a sparkling spectacle for the naked eye.

A Unique Member of the Cosmic Neighborhood

The Hidden Galaxy stands as the brightest entity within the IC 342/Maffei Group, one of the closest galaxy clusters to our Local Group. Morphologically, it is an intermediate spiral, straddling the line between a pure spiral and a barred spiral galaxy.

Spanning roughly 75,000 light-years, the Hidden Galaxy is characterized by an H II nucleus, indicative of its active star formation zones. Its heart houses a supermassive black hole, weighing between 1.5 and 5 million solar masses. This vibrant star formation rate also qualifies the Hidden Galaxy as a starburst galaxy.

Discovering the Hidden Galaxy's Satellite

Recent discoveries have unveiled the first satellite galaxy of the Hidden, dubbed KKH 32, a dwarf spheroidal galaxy.

Image: Composite image of the Hidden Galaxy captured with ESA's Euclid Space Telescope, created using broadband filters centered at 0.7 μm (R-band, red), 1.1 μm (Y-band, green), and 1.7 (H-band, blue).

Image Credit: ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. Anselmi.