| IC 438 | |
|---|---|
IC 438 imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2021 | |
| Observation data (J2000 epoch) | |
| Constellation | Lepus |
| Right ascension | 05h 53m 00.0676s |
| Declination | −17° 52′ 33.684″ |
| Redshift | 0.004256±0.000006 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 3,123±4 km/s |
| Distance | 136.45 ± 4.29 Mly (41.835 ± 1.314 Mpc) |
| Group or cluster | IC 438 Group (LGG 134) |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 12.74 |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | SA(rs)c |
| Size | ~155,100 ly (47.55 kpc) (estimated) |
| Apparent size (V) | 2.8′ × 2.1′ |
| Other designations | |
| ESO 555- G 009, IRAS 05508-1753, UGCA 115, MCG -03-15-025, PGC 18047 | |
IC 438 is a spiral galaxy in the constellation of Lepus. Its velocity with respect to the cosmic microwave background is 3,199±6 km/s, which corresponds to a Hubble distance of 153.9 ± 10.8 Mly (47.18 ± 3.30 Mpc). However, 17 non-redshift measurements give a much closer distance of 136.45 ± 4.29 Mly (41.835 ± 1.314 Mpc). It was discovered by American astronomer Lewis Swift on 7 January 1891.
IC 438 is a Seyfert I Galaxy, i.e. it has a quasar-like nucleus with very high surface brightnesses whose spectra reveal strong, high-ionisation emission lines, but unlike quasars, the host galaxy is clearly detectable.
According to A.M. Garcia, IC 438 is one of five members of the IC 438 galaxy group (also known as LGG 134), which includes IC 2143, UGCA 113, MCG-03-15-021, and ESO 555-5.
Three supernovae have been observed in IC 438: