| Maffei 2 | |
| Epoch: | J2000 |
| Type: | SAB(rs)bc[1] |
| Dist Ly: | 9.8 Mly |
| Z: | -17 ± 5 km/s |
| Appmag V: | 16.0 |
| Size V: | 15.2 × 7.0 |
| Constellation Name: | Cassiopeia |
| Names: | UGCA 39, PGC 10217, Sharpless 197 |
Maffei 2 is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 10 million light-years away[2] in the constellation Cassiopeia. Maffei 2 and Maffei 1 were both discovered by Paolo Maffei in 1968 from their infrared emission. Maffei 2 lies in the Zone of Avoidance and is about 99.5% obscured by the Milky Way's foreground dust clouds,[3] and as a result is barely detectable at optical wavelengths. It had been suggested soon after its discovery that Maffei 2 may be a member of the Local Group, but it is now thought to be a member of another nearby group, the IC 342/Maffei Group, the galaxy group that is the closest to the Local Group.