Maffei I

Maffei I is a large elliptical galaxy (type E or S0) in Cassiopeia. Maffei I and Maffei II were both discovered by Paolo Maffei in 1968 from their infrared emissions.

Maffei I lies in the zone of avoidance and is heavily obscured by the Milky Way. It had been previously been catalogued as an emission nebula or H II region.

Lying approximately 10 million light years away from the Sun, Maffei I is the nearest large elliptical galaxy. It has been suggested that Maffei I may be a member of the Local Group, but it is now though to be a member of another nearby group, the Maffei Group.