IC 342 (also catalogued as Caldwell 5) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Camelopardalis. The galaxy is located near the galactic equator where dust obscuration makes it a difficult object for both amateur and professional astronomers to observe. That's why sometimes this galaxy is called "the Hidden Galaxy".IC 342 is one of the brightest two galaxies in the IC 342/Maffei Group of galaxies, one of the galaxy groups that is closest to the Local Group. The galaxy was discovered by William Frederick Denning in 1895. Its apparent size is 21' and its apparent magnitude is 9,1m.