Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M41 (NGC 2287) Open Cluster 06h 46m 01s -20° 45′ 00″ Canis Major 4.5 39 arcmins Overview M41, the open cluster also known as the Little Beehive Cluster is bright enough that it may first have been recorded by Aristotle in 325 BC. We know it was […]
M41, An Open Cluster in Canis Major Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M41 (NGC 2287) Open Cluster 06h 46m 01s -20° 45′ 00″ Canis Major 4.5 39 arcmins Overview M41, the open cluster also known as the Little Beehive Cluster is bright enough that it may first have been recorded by Aristotle in 325 BC. We know it was
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M84 (NGC 4374) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 25m 04s +12° 53′ 14″ Virgo +9.0 7.4×6.4 arcmin M86 (NGC 4406) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 26m 12s +12° 56′ 45″ Virgo +8.8 11.5×8.4 arcmin Overview We’re taking these two galaxies together because they’re so close to each other, comfortably both visible
M84 & M86, Galaxy Pair in Virgo Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M67 (NGC 2682) Open Cluster 08h 53m 44s +11° 48′ 00″ Cancer +6.9 25.0 arcmin Overview Sometimes known as the King Cobra or Golden Eye Cluster, M67 was discovered by Kohler in sometime between 1772 and 1779. Messier recorded it for himself in April 1780. Messier was
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M44 (NGC 2632) Open Cluster 08h 40m 24s +19° 40′ 00″ Cancer +3.1 70.0 arcmin Overview The Beehive Cluster, also known as Praesepe, is unusual in that it is brighter than any of the stars in its home constellation. Easily seen with the naked eye, M44 is
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M3 (NGC 5272) Globular Cluster 13h 42m 12s +28° 22′ 38″ Canes Venatici +6.2 18 arcmins Overview The Jellyfish cluster is a globular cluster in the tiny constellation of Canes Venatici, and is the third entry in the Messier catalog. Messier discovered it in 1764 (it was
M3, The Jellyfish Cluster in Canes Venatici Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size NGC 188 Open Cluster 00h 47m 28s +85° 15′ 00″ Cepheus +8.1 17 arcmin Overview NGC 188 is a star cluster lying in a quiet part of the night sky just a few degrees away from Polaris in the constellation of Cepheus. It is visible throughout the
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Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M51 (NGC 5194) Spiral Galaxy 13h 29m 53s +47° 11′ 43″ Canes Venatici +7.9 14×12 arcmin Overview Messier discovered what he called ‘A very faint nebulae without stars’ in October 1773. We since discovered the concept of galaxies – there was no such thing in Messier’s time
M51, Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici Read More »
Target Type R.A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M31 (NGC 224) Spiral Galaxy 00h 42m 44s +41° 16′ 08″ Andromeda 3.3 178×70 arcmin M32 (NGC 221) Elliptical Galaxy 00h 42m 42s +40° 51′ 55″ Andromeda 8.0 7.7×4.9 arcmin Overview There are two members of the Messier catalog vying for title of “most famous deep sky object”.
M31 & M32, Andromeda Galaxy in Andromeda Read More »
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M20 (NGC 6514) Bright Nebula 18h 02m 36s -23° 02′ 00″ Sagittarius 6.3 29×27 arcmins Overview The Trifid Nebula was discovered by Charles Messier in June 1764. Its name literally means ‘three lobes’ and while detailed images like the one below appear to show four lobes, we
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