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Messier 40
Messier 40 Winnecke 4
Credit: NASA, ESA

M40 (WNC 4) - Winnecke 4

Messier 40 (WNC 4), also known as the Winnecke 4, is a double star located in the constellation Ursa Major, in the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy in the Local Group of galaxies. M40 is 1,100 | 460 light years away from Earth.

M40 is best viewed during early spring, is magnitude 9.6 | 10.1, and can be viewed with small telescope. M40 is in apparent size. For reference, the full moon is 30' (arc minutes) in size.

      1. Name:
      2. Winnecke 4
      1. Type:
      2. double star
      1. NGC or IC:
      2. WNC 4
      1. Magnitude:
      2. 9.6 | 10.1
      1. Viewing:
      2. small telescope
      1. Distance (light years):
      2. 1,100 | 460 LY
      1. RA:
      2. 12h 20.0m
      1. Dec:
      2. 58 22'
      1. Season:
      2. early spring
      1. Milky Way location:
      2. Orion Arm
      1. Galaxy group:
      2. Local Group

    * The naked eye can see up to magnitude 8 objects under ideal dark sky conditions.