| Galaxy |
Apparent
Magnitude |
Distance |
Constellation |
Notes |
| Milky Way |
−6.5[a] |
0 |
Sagittarius (centre) |
This is the galaxy containing the Sun and its Solar System, and therefore Earth. Most things visible to the naked eye in the sky are part of it, including the Milky Way composing the Zone of Avoidance.[8] |
| Large Magellanic Cloud |
0.9 |
160 kly (49 kpc) |
Dorado/Mensa |
Visible only from the southern hemisphere. It is also the brightest patch of nebulosity in the sky.[8][9][10] |
| Small Magellanic Cloud (NGC 292) |
2.7 |
200 kly (61 kpc) |
Tucana |
Visible only from the southern hemisphere.[8][11] |
| Andromeda Galaxy (M31, NGC 224) |
3.4 |
2.5 Mly (770 kpc) |
Andromeda |
Once called the Great Andromeda Nebula, it is situated in the Andromeda constellation.[8][12] |
| Triangulum Galaxy (M33, NGC 598) |
5.7 |
2.9 Mly (890 kpc) |
Triangulum |
Being a diffuse object, its visibility is strongly affected by even small amounts of light pollution, ranging from easily visible in direct vision in truly dark skies to a difficult averted vision object in rural/suburban skies.[13] |
| Centaurus A (NGC 5128) |
6.84 |
13.7 Mly (4.2 Mpc) |
Centaurus |
Centaurus A has been spotted with the naked eye by Stephen James O'Meara.[14] |
| Bode's Galaxy (M81, NGC 3031) |
6.94 |
12 Mly (3.7 Mpc) |
Ursa Major |
Highly experienced amateur astronomers may be able to see Messier 81 under exceptional observing conditions.[15][16][17] |
| Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) |
7.2 |
12 Mly (3.7 Mpc) |
Sculptor |
NGC 253 has been observed with the naked eye by Timo Karhula.[18] |
