M31 Andromeda Galaxy
Fun facts M31 Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and is the closest major galaxy to the Milky Way, where the Solar System resides. It was originally named the Andromeda Nebula and is cataloged as Messier 31, M31, and NGC 224. Andromeda has a diameter of about 46.56 kiloparsecs (152,000 light-years) and is approximately […]
M33 Triangulum Galaxy
Target Fun Facts The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy 2.73 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Triangulum. With the D25 isophotal diameter of 61,100 light-years, the Triangulum Galaxy is the third-largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, behind the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way. The galaxy is the smallest spiral galaxy […]
Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC3638)
Fun facts The Leo Triplet (also known as the M66 Group) is a small group of galaxies about 35 million light-years away in the constellation Leo. This galaxy group consists of the spiral galaxies M65, M66, and NGC 3628. {From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leo_Triplet } Other Catalog Designations: M65, M66, NGC3638 (Hamburger Galaxy)Subtype: Spiral GalaxyDistance from Earth: 35 […]
M106 Hunting Dog Galaxy
Fun facts Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. My main target was M106, what I’m calling the Hunting Dog Galaxy. That’s not its official name, it’s just referred to as the “galaxy in Cane Venatici.” The […]
M63 Sunflower Galaxy
Fun facts Messier 63 or M63, also known as NGC 5055 or the seldom-used Sunflower Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy in the northern constellation of Canes Venatici with approximately 400 billion stars. M63 was first discovered by the French astronomer Pierre Méchain, then later verified by his colleague Charles Messier on June 14, 1779. The […]
M81 Bodes Galaxy & M82 Cigar Galaxy
Fun facts Messier 81 (also known as NGC 3031 or Bode’s Galaxy) is a grand design spiral galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It has a D25 isophotal diameter of 29.44 kiloparsecs (96,000 light-years). Messier 81 was first discovered by Johann Elert Bode on 31 December 1774. Thus, it is […]
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Fun facts The Whirlpool Galaxy, also known as Messier 51a (M51a) or NGC 5194, is an interacting grand-design spiral galaxy with a Seyfert 2 active galactic nucleus. It lies in the constellation Canes Venatici, and was the first galaxy to be classified as a spiral galaxy. It is about 31 million light-years (9.5 Mpc) away […]
NGC2359 Thor’s Helmet
Fun facts NGC 2359 Thor’s Helmet is an emission nebula in the constellation Canis Major. The nebula is approximately 11.96 thousand light years away and 30 light-years in size. The central star is the Wolf-Rayet star WR7, an extremely hot star thought to be in a brief pre-supernova stage of evolution. It is similar in […]
M101 Pinwheel Galaxy
Fun facts M101 Pinwheel Galaxy (also known as Messier 101, M101 or NGC 5457) is a face-on spiral galaxy 21 million light-years (6.4 megaparsecs) away from Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and was communicated that year to Charles Messier, who verified its position for inclusion in […]