Messier 81 Bode’s Galaxy
Messier 81, also known as Bode’s Galaxy, is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. Discovered by the German astronomer Johann Elert Bode in 1774, M81 is one of the brightest…
Messier Objects
Messier 80
DescriptionVisible From Pacific NorthwestMarch To JulyBest Time To ObserveMayMinimum Size Of Viewing DeviceSmall TelescopeObject TypeGlobular ClusterDesignationsMessier 80, M80, NGC 6093, GCl 39, C 1614-228, MWSC 2376Right Ascension16h 17m 02.41sDeclination-22°58’33.9”ConstellationScorpiusNumber Of StarsMore Than 200,000Apparent magnitude +7.87Apparent dimensions 10′Object…
Messier 79
Discovered by Charles Messier’s colleague Pierre Méchain in 1780, Messier 79 is a globular cluster in the constellation Lepus the Hare. Messier 79 lies in an unusual location, about 60,000 light years from the Milky…
Messier 78
Messier 78 or M 78, also known as NGC 2068, is a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and included by Charles Messier in his catalog of…
Messier 77
Messier 77 (M77), also known as Cetus A, is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Cetus. It is one of the largest Messier objects to be in the catalogue. DescriptionVisible From Pacific NorthwestSeptember…
Messier 76 Little Dumbbell Nebula
Messier 76 is a planetary nebula, which is an expanding shell of gas around an aging or dying star, and it is one of only four planetary nebulas in Charles Messier’s catalog. M76 is located…
Messier 75
Messier 75 is the most centrally concentrated globular cluster in the entire Messier catalogue, with about 400,000 stars. It also known as NGC 6864 and is a globular cluster of stars in the southern constellation…
Messier 74 Phantom Galaxy
Messier 74, nicknamed the Phantom Galaxy, is a grand design spiral galaxy located in the constellation Pisces. Messier 74 is a perfect example of a grand design spiral galaxy. It has two clearly defined spiral…
Messier 73
Messier 73 is an asterism formed by four physically unrelated stars located in the southern constellation Aquarius. The four stars that form the Y-shaped asterism only appear close to each other in the sky because…
Messier 72
Messier 72 is a globular star cluster located in the constellation Aquarius, the Water Bearer. Pierre Méchain, a French astronomer and colleague of Charles Messier, discovered the globular cluster M72 in 1780. It was the first of…