IC 342 is a nearby giant spiral (classified as SAB(rs)cd according to the NED) low-inclination (∼25°) galaxy that lies along a line of sight through the Galactic plane (l = 138° b = 10°), thus has a significant light extinction by Galactic dust. The value of the extinction, however, is matter of some debates with recent estimations of about 2 magnitudes in visual wavelengths. Due to this IC 342 the most robust results have been obtained on the basis of radio studies of its neutral hydrogen (HI) and molecular gas components. For the same reason all the photometric distance estimations are the subject of large uncertainty, resulting to the astonishing discrepancy range, from 1.7 to 4.5 Mpc, that is a really huge variance for such a nearby object. While the exact size (angular size is more than 20°) and mass of this galaxy is still subject of controversy, there are strong indications (e.g. rotation velocity) that in many respects IC 342 resembles giant spiral similar to our own Galaxy. IC&nbps;342 competes with two others nearest giant spirals, Milky Way and Andromeda (M 31), for the gravitational influence in the Local Volume. Together with its companion in the group, nearest giant elliptical galaxy Maffei 1, IC 342 might have played a significant role in the evolution of the Local Group (e.g., Buta and McCall 1999,ApJSS, 124, 33).

Images of IC342 (colors are the RGB-combination of the V, R, and I bands), obtained by the author with the 6m BTA telescope (SAO, Russia).

Field S1 Field S2	Field S3 Field S4 Field S5
Field S6	DSS-image with the field map
Field S8
Field S9	Field S11	Field KK35

Radio	Hubble Space Telescope
1.44 GHz (21 cm; HI) image obtained with VLA.	Image of the central area of IC342, obtained with HST.