Barnard's Galaxy (NGC 6822)

Barnard’s Galaxy (NGC 6822, Caldwell 57) is a member of the Local Group. It is a barred irregular galaxy. It was discovered by E. E. Barnard in 1884. Its structure is very similar to the Small Magellanic Cloud.

It is located about 1.6 million LY from earth. It is the closest galaxy to the Milky Way which is not a satellite. Its magnitude is 8.6. It is about 7,000 LY across.

Its type is IB(s)m:

* I = irregular

* B = barred

* (s) = the spiral arms have an open pattern

* m = no bulge component