Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M83 Spiral Galaxy 13h 37m 01s -29° 51′ 56″ Hydra +7.1 13.6×13.2 arcmin Overview In this challenge, we’re hunting for M83, which is a beautiful, archetypal, spiral galaxy. The brightest galaxy in the snake constellation is also known as the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, and is located a …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size NGC 3242 Planetary Nebula 10h 24m 46s -18° 38′ 38″ Hydra +7.3 0.7×0.6 arcmins Overview All three of this month’s challenges are in the constellation of Hydra. Our first object is a bright but small planetary nebula nestled midway along the long, sprawling body of Hydra the …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M48 Open Cluster 8h 13m 43s -05° 45′ 00″ Hydra +5.8 30 arcmins Overview M48 was known as the ‘missing Messier’ because Charles Messier, for whom the catalog is named, wrote the wrong coordinates down. He made note of a cluster that with a declination coordinate 5° …
