NGC 247 is a low-surface-brightness spiral galaxy located in the constellation of Cetus.

At a distance of 11.1 million light-years away, NGC 247 subtends an apparent angle of 21 x 5.6 arcminutes and shines at an apparent magnitude of 9.11.

NGC 247 lies 4.5 degrees north of NGC 253, the Sculptor galaxy. Both are members of the Sculptor Group, the nearest group of galaxies to our own Local Group, which includes the Milky Way.

The galaxy has a magnitude 9.5 foreground star that appears to be on the southern edge. This is just a chance alignment as the star is in our own galaxy. The northern side of the galaxy is irregularly shaped with a hollowed-out region that gives the galaxy its nickname appearance of a Needle's Eye.

NGC 247 was discovered by William Herschel in 1784.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 247 Catalogs: NGC 247, ESO 540-22 Common Name: Needle's Eye Object Type: SAB Spiral Galaxy Magnitude: 9.11v Size: 21' x 5.6' Constellation: Cetus Image Field Centered At: RA: 00h 47m 06s Dec: -20° 44' 25"