BEAUTY: 
BRAGGING RIGHTS: A beautiful sight
HOW EASY IS IT TO SEE? Best with a rich-field telescope
BEST TIME TO SEE IT: Winter (in Camelopardalis)
TYPE: Galaxy DISCOVERED: ~1890 by William F. Denning
Face-on spiral. Face-on spirals like Messier 51 and Messier 101 are challenging objects: their light is spread out over a large area, making them vulnerable to even a hint of light pollution or haze. Caldwell 5 is no better, but it is also no worse, which raises the question of why it isn’t more famous. Famed observer Stephen O’Meara even says that this galaxy’s spiral structure is “much easier to trace than either M74 or M101.” Find this object—just 3¼ degrees south of Gamma Camelopardalis—and decide whether or not he’s right.
Use low power. The galaxy is big and you’ll need low power to concentrate its light. Start at 25× and look at the core. Can you see any fuzziness with averted vision? If so, try to trace it out away from the core.
