| Width | 1,396 pixels | |
| Height | 949 pixels | |
| 300 dpi print width | 4.7 inches | 11.8 centimetres |
| 300 dpi print height | 3.2 inches | 8.0 centimetres |
IC 342 should be one of the brightest galaxies in the sky - however, its light is heavily obscured by the gas and dust of our own galaxy, causing the discovery of IC 342 to be delayed. IC 342 is a member of the Maffei 1 group, or IC 342 group, and is one of two large members of that group. The other large galaxy of the group is Maffei 1, suffering even greater obscuration which delayed its discovery to 1968.