My View Of The Universe

2011-10-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Observed the possible supernova in UGC 1625 this evening - it's still there.

For previous observations, go to
http://myquestar.blogspot.com/2011/09/ugc-1626-and-possible-supernova-psn.html

Sagittarius and Scorpius September 30 2011

2011-09-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

With Scorpius and Sagittarius low in the sky, I thought I would catch a few Messier objects before they disappear for the season.

The moon is a thin crescent. Seeing is 4 out of 5. Transparency is 3 out of 5. Temperature 78 degrees, humidity 48. No wind. No clouds.

Instrument: Questar 3.5

M 69, NGC 6637 Sagittarius.
Globular Cluster
Magnitude 7.6
8:00 pm local
Very faint. Hint of elongation W-E. The core is brighter. There is some mottled appearance. Averted vision helps to see this mottling. The halo around the core is hazy.

M 69

M 70, NGC 6681- Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Magnitude 8.0
8:15 pm local
Globular cluster in a field of stars. Central star-like core has an outer halo.

M 70

M 54, NGC 6715 - Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Magnitude 7.6
8:30 pm local
Of the three Globular Clusters in Sagittarius (69, 70, and 54) this is the brightest and slightly larger. Diffuse ball, well defined core, averted vision resolves some mottling in the center.

M 54

M 54 - a photo of the object, using the Slooh telescope in the Canary Islands.
This image is viewed with N on top,
but the E is on the left and the W is on the right.
Many telescopes invert the views,
while the Questar shows all directions as true.
This shows the difference between the eye and the camera.

M 6, NGC 6405 - Scorpius
Open Cluster
Magnitude 4.2
Called the "Butterfly Cluster"
8:45 pm local
Cluster of fine stars. Some differences in magnitude.

M 6 - Butterfly Cluster

M 7 NGC 6475 - Scorpius
Open Cluster
Magnitude 3.3
8:55 pm local
Large and loose cluster of 20 plus stars. There is a distinct line of nebulosity on the south side. The nebulosity is fainter but present along the east.

M 7

M 22, NGC 6656, Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Magnitude 5.1
9:00 pm local
Large Globular Cluster. Mottling is quickly visible. With patience eye adjustments to resolve several stars at the core. Large halo.

M 22

PSN J02082141+4129123 - the possible supernova in UGC 1626

2011-09-24T17:29:00.000-07:00

Another image of the possible supernova in the very dim galaxy UGC 1626.

IC 1336

2011-09-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

IC 1336 imaged with the Slooh telescope in the Canary Islands.

IC 1336 close up.

Discovered by September 13, 1892 by Stephane Javelle.

Imaged by Maynard Pittendreigh with the Slooh telescope, Canary Islands Dome 2 High Magnification, September 24th, 2011 00:24:30 UTC

R.A. 20h 47m 54s Dec. -9° 59' 00"

UGC 1626 and possible supernova PSN J02082141+4129123

2011-09-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

The first picture is UGC 1626 taken by a friend long ago. The second is mine. This is a faint galaxy that needs more time to image than I gave it. However, put these two images side by side and you will be able to detect something extra - a possible supernova.

Two top lines point to the same two stars above the galaxy, the bottom line points to the nucleus of the dim galaxy, but the two arrows embrace the extra object that has recently appeared.

"PSN J02082141+4129123" was discovered on September 21, 2011 by F. Ciabattari and E. Mazzoni, both of the Italian Supernovae Search Project. The object is 2" west and 26" north of the center of UGC 1626. The magnitude is 15.9.

The coordinates are (2000.0):

Right Ascension: 02h 08m 24.0s

Declination: +41° 29' 00"

I imaged this with the Slooh telescope on September 24, 2011, 0943 UTC, using Dome 2 on the Canary Islands, high mag.

Here are some links to some other images:

Discovery image

Xing Gao image

Joseph Brimacombe image

GRAIL Launch

2011-09-08T23:59:00.000-07:00

I went to the Kennedy Space Center this morning to watch the launch of the GRAIL mission.

GRAIL, or Gravity Recovery And Interior Laboratory, is a mission involving placing two spacecraft into the same orbit around the Moon. The two spacecraft will fly over areas of greater and lesser gravity. Some of these variations in gravity are caused by visible features such as mountains and craters while others are caused by masses hidden beneath the lunar surface. As the two craft move slightly toward and away from each other, measurements will be taken so as to produce a high-resolution map of the Moon's gravitational field.

GRAIL will be launched aboard a Delta rocket - a family of rockets that has been used since 1960 when a Delta launched ECHO into earth orbit. The launch vehicle for GRAIL will be a Delta II Heavy.

I had wondered if I would be able to see the launch of a Delta II Heavy from my backyard, but the timing of this launch allowed me to travel from the Gulf side of Florida to the space center to see the launch up close.

After leaving the launch viewing area, I enjoyed some time at the Visitor Complex, where I was able to meet Charlie Duke, an astronaut from Apollo 16 who walked on the moon in 1972.

Unfortunately, the launch was scrubbed.

It was still a pleasant day. I happened to meet Cecilia Barnbaum, astronomy professor at Valdosta State University. We sat together and chatted while waiting for the launch that would not happen as planned.

After leaving the launch viewing area, I enjoyed some time at the Visitor Complex, where I was able to meet Charlie Duke, an astronaut from Apollo 16 who walked on the moon in 1972.

Duke is a fascinating man, and very personable and approachable. He is full of fascinating stories about his trip to the moon. I asked him how the trip the moon impacted his spirituality. "I did not view the trip to the Moon as a spiritual experience," he said. "To me it was an adventure, and a great adventure. However, I did have a tremendous spiritual awakening after I returned from the moon." I have not read the book, but he says the last chapters deal with how this spiritual awakening came about and changed his life.

"Do you think America's commitment to space is waning," I asked.

"Not at all. People are still very interested in space travel. America will continue to lead the way into space. It is frustrating right now because there is a lot of uncertainty, but it is time for us to move out of the low earth orbit that the Space Shuttle had bound us. The GRAIL mission is one of many great robotic missions in NASA, and human space flight will always be part of NASA's mission."

I had Charlie Duke sign his autobiography, which he inscribed with the words, "To Pastor Maynard, aim high, Charlie Duke."

It just so happens that I viewed the launch of Apollo 16 from the area around the VAB.

Me and Mom at the launch of Apollo 16

Charlie Duke told me that at the moment of the launch, he was concerned that something was very wrong. "There was so much vibration from side to side. I looked at John Young, who had already flown atop a Saturn V and he was quite calm. I asked the flight surgeon about my heart rate at launch and he said it was 144. He told me, 'you seemed to be a little excited.' John's was a mere 70."

I saw Apollo 8, 11, 16 and 17 launches in person - and except for Apollo 8 I viewed them in the restricted area near the VAB. The launch of Apollo 16 was the quietest of the launches - I suspect it had to do with the direction of the wind, but I'm not sure.

Today also happens to be the 45th anniversary of the premiere of the original Star Trek series on television, and there is a special, temporary exhibit about Star Trek at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. There are lots of props, costumes, and even a replica of the bridge of the original Enterprise. Here I am in the Captain's chair, wondering why nothing happened when I pushed the button, "Battle Stations."

As for GRAIL, it will be launched later - but I'll be seeing it from my backyard on the other side of Florida (or from television).

INDEX OF SOLAR SYSTEM, PLANETS, ETC

2011-09-04T17:57:00.000-07:00

Observing Planets

Neptune In Motion
Neptune's Moon Triton Occults a Star

Moon - Observing Cassini
Moon - Sunrise over Crater Babbage
Moon - Eclipse

Mercury Transit 2006

Mars

Asteroid Triberga passing by M77

Uranus and its Moons

BLOG INDEX

2011-09-04T16:52:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my astronomy blog.

To read the latest entry, click here!

Index of Messier Deep Sky Objects -- click here

Index of Comet Observations -- click here

Index of General Observations and Comments -- click here

Index of Arp Peculiar Galaxies Observations -- click here

Index of Planetary Nebulae -- click here

Index of Solar System, Planets, Etc -- click here

Index of Messier Deep Sky Objects

2011-09-03T10:25:00.001-07:00

This is an index of the my entries on the Messier deep sky objects. Click the M number for a link to the entry on that object.

NGC 1952

NGC 7089

NGC 5272

NGC 6121

NGC 5904

NGC 6405

M 7
NGC 6475

M 8

NGC 6523

M 9
NGC 6333

NGC 6254

NGC 6705

NGC 6218

NGC 6205

NGC 6402

M 15
NGC 7078

NGC 6611

NGC 6618

NGC 6613

NGC 6273

NGC 6514

NGC 6531

NGC 6656

NGC 6494

NGC 6603

IC 4725

M 26
NGC 6694

M 27

NGC 6853

M 28

NGC 6626

M 29
NGC 6913

M 30
NGC 7099

M 31

NGC 224

M 32

NGC 221

M 33

NGC 598

M 34
NGC 1039

NGC 2168a

NGC 1960

NGC 2099

NGC 1912
M 39

NGC 7092

NGC 2287

M 42

NGC 1976

M 43

NGC 1982

M 44

NGC 2632

M 45

No listing

M 46

NGC 2437

M 47

NGC 2422 / NGC 2478 (same object)

M 48

NGC 2548

M 49

NGC 4472

M 50

NGC 2323

M 51

NGC 5194

M 52

NGC 7654

M 53

NGC 5024

M 54

NGC 6715

M 55

NGC 6809

M 56

NGC 6779

M 57

NGC 6720

M 58

NGC 4579

M 59

NGC 4621

M 60

NGC 4649

M 61

NGC 4303

M 62

NGC 6266

M 63

NGC 5055

M 64

NGC 4826

M 65

NGC 3623

M 66

NGC 3627

M 67

NGC 2682

M 68

NGC 4590

M 69

NGC 6637

M 70

NGC 6681

M 71

NGC 6838

M 72

NGC 6981

M 73

NGC 6994

M 74

NGC 628

M 75

NGC 6864

M 76

NGC 650 and NGC 651

M 77

NGC 1068

M 78

NGC 2068

M 79

NGC 1904

M 80

NGC 6093

M 81

NGC 3031

M 82

NGC 3034

M 83

NGC 5236

M 84

NGC 4374

M 85

NGC 4382

M 86

NGC 4406

M 87

NGC 4486

M 88

NGC 4501

M 89

NGC 4552

M 90

NGC 4569

M 91

NGC 4548

M 92

NGC 6341

M 93

NGC 2447

M 94

NGC 4736

M 95

NGC 3351

M 96

NGC 3368

M 97

NGC 3587

M 98

NGC 4192

M 99

NGC 4254

M 100

NGC 4321

M 101

NGC 5457

M 102

NGC 5866

M 103

NGC 581

M 104

NGC 4594

M 105

NGC 3379

M 106

NGC 4258

M 107

NGC 6171

M 108

NGC 3556

M 109

NGC 3992

M 110

NGC 205

M 110

2011-08-20T13:38:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

M31 is the most distant object we can readily see without a telescope. M110 was added to the Messier list after K. Glyn Jones proposed the addition in 1967.

M 109

2011-08-18T13:37:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

Owen Gingerich added NGC 3992 to Messier's list as M109 in 1953. It is a spiral galaxy. Photographs show very dim arms.

HOW TO FIND IT:

Find Gamma Ursae Majoris. M109 is less than a degree southeast. M109 has a good guide star, so it qualifies as a level 3, but it is a hard level 3.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Look for a smudge. M109 appears as a nebula. Its shape may be difficult to discern, appearing at times circular and at times somewhat elongated. Even with an 8 inch reflector, spiral arms cannot be detected.

What you might be able to detect is some granulation within the nebula.

This is one that you will not be able to find in binoculars. Use a good size telescope.

M 108

2011-08-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

M108 was first discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1781, but it was not commonly included in Messier's catalog until the 1970's. It is now generally accepted that NGC 3556 was the M108 Messier listed. From Earth's perspective, M108 is a nearly edge-on spiral galaxy.

HOW TO FIND IT:

Find the bottom of the Big Dipper's cup. The two stars forming the cup's bottom are Alpha and Gamma. Draw an imaginary line from Beta toward Gamma. You will want to slowly scan that area until you come to a triangle of stars. This triangle will be closer to Beta than Gamma and will point inward toward the Big Dipper's cup. Look at the point of that triangle and slowly scan and stop, scan and stop, until you locate either M108 or M97. M108 should be the easier of the two and you might just barely be able to see it with a very good pair of binoculars on a very good night.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

For M108 look for an elongated smudge. Sometimes, it looks to me to have a saucer shape as viewed from the side. There will be a star like nucleus that should be visible. Another star on the galaxy's western side is actually one of our own Milky Way's star between us and M108.

M 107

2011-08-12T13:35:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

Look south of Zeta Ophiuchi.

This is another good time to use the guide stars we used for M10 and M12. If you recall, we used the head stars of Scorpius (Pi, Delta and Beta) to direct us to the area of M10 and M12. You should be able to see four stars in a row,

irregularly spaced. These are Zeta, Upsilon, Epsilon and Delta. To find M10 and M12, we continued beyond these four stars, but this time, we want to move back toward Scorpius.

If you still have difficulty, sweep between Zeta and Theta Ophiuchi.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M107 will be fairly loosely packed.

M 106

2011-08-11T13:34:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

Although certainly observed by Messier, it was not added to the catalogue and given and M-number until 1947.

HOW TO FIND IT:

M106 is in the constellation of Canes Venatici, but the guide stars that I recommend using for this object are in Ursa Major, so find the Big Dipper. Notice the top outside rim of the cup and the and the inside bottom of the cup.

These are Alpha and Gamma. Draw a line from Alpha, through Gamma and continue for about 3/4ths that distance.

Slowly scan this area. On a good night, you might be able to see it in the view finder.

My eyes always catch a glimpse of a tight triangle of stars in the area. These point toward M106.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M106 will appear as a long elliptical haze.

M 105

2011-08-10T13:33:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

Sweep between Alpha and Theta. You should be able to locate star 52. Moving away from the brighter stars of Leo, you will find star 53. These galaxies can be found sweeping the area between 53 and 52. M95 and M96 are 9 degrees east of Alpha, or Regulus. M95 and M96 can be viewed together at a low power.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M95 and M96 can be viewed in the same field, if the power is low enough, but many will want to view each separately.

M95 will appear very circular. M96 will appear somewhat more oval. Look for a dark lane in M96. I've seen the dark lane in an 8 inch telescope, but not in smaller instruments.

M96 will be the brighter of the two galaxies.

M105 is nearly a degree northeast of M96 and is in another visual cluster of galaxies.

M105 has one of the smallest apparent diameters of the Messier objects. It will look like a circular nebula with a bright center. Actually, it may look similar to a globular cluster.

When observing M105, look for two other galaxies in the field of view. These will be NGC 3384, which will appear as a slightly elongated nebula, and NGC 3389 which is very difficult to see with a shape that is difficult to discern.

M 104

2011-08-09T13:32:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

1. Find the constellation Corvus. M104 is in Virgo, but your guide stars are in Corvus.

2. Line up Epsilon and Delta. Draw an imaginary line from Epsilon to Delta and extend that line beyond Delta for a distance that is somewhat less than that that separates Epsilon and Delta.

3. In your viewfinder, locate a square. One side of that square should be part of a slightly arching triad of stars.

4. Concentrate on that triad of stars and zoom in on what would be a fourth star in that pattern.

5. At this point, I go to low power in my Questar and see a distinctive line of stars. Putting these near the edge of my field of view, they will point to M104, which will be right on the edge. In some telescopes, the field may be larger, or it may be smaller and you will need to extend beyond in the direction these stars point.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

The nickname for this galaxy is the Sombrero, with a little imagination, that is what you will see. You should definitely see a rather bright galaxy, showing as a white line with a distinct bulge in the middle. One of the interesting features of this galaxy is the dark lane that cuts through the rim. You will not see this with binoculars. You will need a 6 or 8 inch telescope for this.

M 103

2011-08-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

Discovered by Pierre Mechain is 1781. This is the last of the entries in Messier's personal catalogue. M104 through M110 have been added by others based on Messier's observations.

HOW TO FIND IT:

Look on the first leg of the "W" in Cassiopeia. These stars will be Delta and Epsilon. Scan between them. There will be other clusters in the area that are included in the New General Catalogue and are worth taking a look at, but the Messier object is the one closest to Delta.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

This will be a rather loose cluster, but it is still very attractive.

M 102

2011-08-07T13:30:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

If you have found M101, M102 should be easy. They are one in the same. An error in the 18th century, M101 was given two numbers. Pierre Mechain discovered M101 and also described a similar discovery nearby. Messier gave both objects numbers. Mechain himself realized the error, and that his discovery of M102 was simply a stumbling over his previously observed galaxy.

M 101

2011-08-06T13:29:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

Find Mizar and Alkaid, the two stars at the end of the dipper's handle. With these two stars, M101 forms a triangle.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

This might be tough to locate. You need to have a steady telescope. Take your time. Scan and stop, focusing your eyes on that area before continuing your search with further scanning and stopping. You can look right at it and miss it. The slightest moonlight, or neighbor's porch light, will make it invisible.

Look for a small oval. You will not see the pinwheel seen in photographs, but you may see a hazy around the oval.

M 100

2011-08-05T13:28:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

First, find Beta Leonis. Then find 6 Coma, which will be an undistinguished star. It will be easy to find because of the pattern of four stars forming an arrow point. Zoom in on 6 Coma. Draw a line along the three stars, including 6 Coma, that form the base of the arrow point, and continue out away from 6 Coma. With my Questar at its lowest setting, I can put 6 Coma on one edge of my field of view and M98 shows up on the other edge.

M99 can be found by zooming in on the head star in that arrow point.

For M100, return to the base of the arrow point. Draw that imaginary line along the three base stars, including 6 Coma, but this time continue the line on the side opposite of 6 Coma.

For me, this arrow point with 6 Coma is the key to the Realm of the Galaxies. I use it to point my way around several other galaxies.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M98 will look like a grain pencil line.

M99 appears as a circular nebula. It is a spiral galaxy viewed face-on, but I can not detect any spiral arms. M99 is the easiest of the three to spot.

M100 is the dimmest of the three. It appears to me like a star with a haze around it. At best, I can see a uniform, circular nebula, but I've never detected any hint of spiral arms, even though M100 is a spiral that is seen nearly face-on.

M 99

2011-08-04T13:27:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

M99 can be found by zooming in on the head star in that arrow point.

For M100, return to the base of the arrow point. Draw that imaginary line along the three base stars, including 6 Coma, but this time continue the line on the side opposite of 6 Coma.

For me, this arrow point with 6 Coma is the key to the Realm of the Galaxies. I use it to point my way around several other galaxies.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M98 will look like a grain pencil line.

M99 appears as a circular nebula. It is a spiral galaxy viewed face-on, but I can not detect any spiral arms. M99 is the easiest of the three to spot.

M 98

2011-08-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

M99 can be found by zooming in on the head star in that arrow point.

For M100, return to the base of the arrow point. Draw that imaginary line along the three base stars, including 6 Coma, but this time continue the line on the side opposite of 6 Coma.

For me, this arrow point with 6 Coma is the key to the Realm of the Galaxies. I use it to point my way around several other galaxies.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M98 will look like a grain pencil line.

M99 appears as a circular nebula. It is a spiral galaxy viewed face-on, but I can not detect any spiral arms. M99 is the easiest of the three to spot.

M 97

2011-08-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

Pierre Mechain discovered M97 in 1781. When Lord Rosse observed it, he drew a picture that looked similar to an owl's face and it has since been called the Owl Nebula.

HOW TO FIND IT:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M97 is a dim one. Forget the binoculars and don't expect to see any hint of it in the viewfinder. Don't look for the owl's face. Look for a faint circular nebula. You will probably see no features at all. This makes the Owl Nebula something that you will want to observe at greater length. You don't want to just locate this object. You want to study it. You ought to study it every evening. You know those eyes are in that owl face, and you want to see them. It will take some time.

M 96

2011-07-30T13:24:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M95 and M96 can be viewed in the same field, if the power is low enough, but many will want to view each separately.

M95 will appear very circular. M96 will appear somewhat more oval. Look for a dark lane in M96. I've seen the dark lane in an 8 inch telescope, but not in smaller instruments.

M96 will be the brighter of the two galaxies.

M105 is nearly a degree northeast of M96 and is in another visual cluster of galaxies.

M105 has one of the smallest apparent diameters of the Messier objects. It will look like a circular nebula with a bright center. Actually, it may look similar to a globular cluster.

M 95

2011-07-29T13:23:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M95 and M96 can be viewed in the same field, if the power is low enough, but many will want to view each separately.

M95 will appear very circular. M96 will appear somewhat more oval. Look for a dark lane in M96. I've seen the dark lane in an 8 inch telescope, but not in smaller instruments.

M96 will be the brighter of the two galaxies.

M105 is nearly a degree northeast of M96 and is in another visual cluster of galaxies.

M105 has one of the smallest apparent diameters of the Messier objects. It will look like a circular nebula with a bright center. Actually, it may look similar to a globular cluster.

M 94

2011-07-28T13:22:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

All your guide stars will be in Canes Venatici.

Find Alpha and Beta first.

Then find 20, which will form a triangle of stars with Alpha and Beta. Actually, 20 will be a set of four stars, which are designated as 18, 19, 20 and 23. They form a distinctive pattern which will help you correctly identify 20.

Now draw an imaginary line from 20 to Beta.

M94 is along that line, and is closer toward Beta.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Look for a slightly oval shaped nebula with a bright center. Some observers see a comet like appearance. You may be able to see a bright nucleus, surrounded by a halo or ring.

M 93

2011-07-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

HOW TO FIND IT:

Find Canis Major. Chi Puppis is not far from the triangle formed by Epsilon, Eta, and Delta Canis Majoris. You will need to locate Chi Puppis in the sky and zoom in on that star. In a telescope's viewfinder that is focused on Chi, you will probably be able to see M93 as a small nebulous object.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

You will see a nice compact cluster at low power. Some have seen shapes, such as a star, starfish, or butterfly.

M 92

2011-07-26T13:20:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

You will be looking between Beta Draconis and Pi Herculis.

1. Find the keystone of Hercules.

2. Zoom in on Pi at the corner of Hercules.

3. Notice the triangle, formed by Pi, Rho and 69.

4. Rho and 69 form the base of an asterism that looks likes a child's line drawing of a house.

5. Off to the side of that house, in the direction opposite the direction the triangle Rho, 69 and Pi point towards, there is a pair of stars.

6. These two stars point in a GENERAL direction of M93.

7. The pair will remain in most view finders when M93 is located.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

I believe M92 is brighter than its neighbor, M13, but its about half the size. It is fairly noticeable in the telescope as you sweep by. It's fairly small in binoculars.

M 91

2011-07-25T13:19:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

M91 was a "missing" Messier object for many years. At one time, it was believed that M91 was a duplicate of the observation of M58. Others suggested M91 was an unrecognized comet of 1781. Most lists now identify M91 with NGC 4548.

HOW TO FIND IT:

M88 is not that hard to spot, but there are no guide stars in the area. I still begin with 6 Coma as my starting point. I slowly scan the area shown on the chart.

Once you have found M88, slowly and carefully scan for M91.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M91 has an irregularly shaped oval.

M 90

2011-07-21T13:18:00.000-07:00

M 89

2011-07-20T13:17:00.000-07:00

M 88

2011-07-08T13:16:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

M88 is not that hard to spot, but there are no guide stars in the area. I still begin with 6 Coma as my starting point. I slowly scan the area shown on the chart.

Once you have found M88, slowly and carefully scan for M91.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

With M88, you will see a miniature Andromeda Galaxy. The nucleus is bright, and there is a varying amount of brightness around the edges hinting at its arm structures.

M 87

2011-07-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

M 86

2011-07-04T13:15:00.000-07:00

M 85

2011-07-02T13:14:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

Return to the arrow point with 6 Coma in it. Draw an imaginary line from the head star to the base star opposite 6 Coma, as shown on the chart.

M85 is one of the Realm's brightest galaxies.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

A faint halo around a star-like object. You may be able to see this one with binoculars.

M 84

2011-07-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

M 83

2011-06-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

M83 was discovered in 1752 by Lacaille. An unusually large number of supernovae have been observed in M83 in recent years.

HOW TO FIND IT:

Between Beta Centuri and Gamma Hydra, there is a set of 4 stars -- designated h, k, g and l. Draw a line from g, through l and continue at least twice that distance. You will have to pass NGC 5253, another galaxy, which many beginners will not be able to see.

I have been told that M83 can be a challenge for those living in the northern latitudes.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

You should be able to see this through a pair of binoculars.

Through a telescope, look for a bright nucleus surrounded by a haze. See if you can detect any hint of the spiral arms. With an 8 inch reflector or better, you stand a good chance.

M 82

2011-06-29T13:11:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

REMARKS: M81 was discovered by J.E.Bode in 1774, and it is sometimes referred to as Bode's Nebula. This is a spiral galaxy tilted at about 32 degrees from being edge-on.

M82 is the brightest and best known of the irregularly shaped galaxies. Because of photographic evidence and the fact that M82 is a strong radio source, many have believed that the galaxy was exploding. The galaxy is certainly in turmoil of some sort. What may have happened is a close passage with M81 some 200 million years ago. The gravitational tidal effects disturbed stellar orbits. Gas clouds were effected, colliding, and creating new stars. Some mass may have been thrown outward.

DIFFICULTY RATING: Level 3

HOW TO FIND IT:

Draw an imaginary line from Gamma Ursae Majoris to Alpha Ursae Majoris. Continue that imaginary line an equal distance beyond Alpha.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

First, be aware that M81 and M82 are close neighbors, but you will be able to distinguish which is which.

When looking at M81, look for an diffused oval shape. You should be able to see the bright nucleus of the galaxy. What you might not see are the spiral's arms. You might need a telescope the size of an 8 inch reflector to see these arms, but some can see hints with smaller telescopes. Look for a string of faint stars around the diffuse area, or a halo.

M82 will be a cigar shaped object in the sky, not far from M81. It will not be as bright as M82. It will have an irregularity of brightness, but without the granular texture of M81.

M 81

2011-06-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

REMARKS: M81 was discovered by J.E.Bode in 1774, and it is sometimes referred to as Bode's Nebula. This is a spiral galaxy tilted at about 32 degrees from being edge-on.

HOW TO FIND IT:

Draw an imaginary line from Gamma Ursae Majoris to Alpha Ursae Majoris. Continue that imaginary line an equal distance beyond Alpha.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

First, be aware that M81 and M82 are close neighbors, but you will be able to distinguish which is which.

M82 will be a cigar shaped object in the sky, not far from M81. It will not be as bright as M82. It will have an irregularity of brightness, but without the granular texture of M81.

M 80

2011-06-27T13:09:00.000-07:00

Messier and Mechain both made nearly simultaneous discoveries of M80 in January, 1781. M80 is one of the few globular clusters to have had a nova, seen in May, 1860.

HOW TO FIND IT:

Sweep from Sigma toward Beta. M80 is a bright globular cluster about half way between these two stars.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M80 appears round, with a bright center.

M 79

2011-06-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

First challenge -- find the constellation Lepus. It is not one of the most popular constellations and beginners won't be the only ones who might have trouble remembering where it is and what it looks like.

Here's a hint -- forget Lepus and find Orion. It's a lot easier. Look under Orion's feet. Just as Orion's belt is made up of a row of three stars, Lepus is made up of TWO rows of three stars. Unlike Orion's belt, these are not straight, but have a slight curve. These two parallel rows are about the same distance from the feet of Orion as the Orion's feet is from his belt.

Having found those two rows, you have found Lepus. As illustrated in the charts for M79, you want to locate a triangle of stars just below the bottom curving row of stars in Lepus. This triangle seems to point toward Lepus.

Zoom in on the head of that triangle's point. That will be star 41 Leporis. M79 will not be visible in your viewfinder. Look at 41 Lepus in your telescope on low power and slowly scan from there. The cluster may well be in the same field of view as 41 Lepus, but you may have to scan beyond it to find M79.

Another way to find it is to find the center stars in each of the two rows of Lepus mentioned above. These will be Alpha and Beta Leporis. Draw an imaginary line from Alpha and Beta to extend in the direction opposite of Orion. Continue this imaginary line for the same distance that is apparent between Alpha and Beta and you should find M79.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M79 will appear as a small nebula with a central star. It offers an interesting appearance on an evening with poor viewing. Because of the atmospheric disturbance of the low horizon, it will appear to fluctuate, flutter and change shape.

M 78

2011-06-15T13:07:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

This will not be as easy as the Orion Nebula, but it should not take long to locate. M78 and the belt of Orion form somewhat of a right angle. You will not see any hint of the nebula in the viewfinder of your telescope, so once you find the approximate area, slowly scan the area on low power.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M78 will be a dim nebula. It will have the shape of a faint comet, with two 10th magnitude stars within the "comet's" head.

M 77

2011-06-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

To find the constellation Cetus, locate Taurus. The "V" shaped arrow of Taurus known as the Hyades points to Alpha, Delta and Gamma in Cetus. M77 will be near Delta, just outside the triangle's area.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M77 is a spiral galaxy that we view face-on, but it will still have a slight oval shape.

M 76 - the Little Dumbbell

2011-06-08T13:05:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

Be warned: this is one of the fainter objects in Messier's list. It is one of the most difficult to locate.

You will not see it with the viewfinder, sweep the area with your telescope's low power.

M76 is just one degree north and slightly west of Phi Persei. Once you find Phi, you'll want to scan just a little away from the star in the direction toward Cassiopeia.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Look for a bar that is slightly brighter at the ends. William Herschel thought this was a double nebula, and so it has two numbers in the New General Catalogue. Some say this looks like a smaller version of Dumbbell Nebula, M27, and so is sometimes called the Little Dumbbell.

M 75

2011-06-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

HOW TO FIND IT:

With this globular cluster, we move away from any good guide stars to work with. My best suggestion is to draw a line from Epsilon Sagittarii, through Zeta Sagittarii, and to continue for almost twice that distance. Epsilon and Zeta make up the bottom of the teapot.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Look for a perfectly round haze.

M 74

2011-06-06T13:03:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

Draw a line from Alpha through Beta Arietis, leading you to Eta Piscium. Then locate Rho Piscium and star 105. These three will form a triangle. M74 will be in the middle of the smallest leg of that triangle, between Eta and 105. In a low power telescope, such as a 4 1/4 inch reflector, you will be able to see the galaxy and Eta in the same field of view.

You will not see this one with your viewfinder or your binoculars.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

This is one of the most difficult and least observed of the Messier objects. Webb didn't mention it in his survey. Norton simply said it was "faint and elusive."

Look for a faint star. Carefully examine each star in the general area. M74 will appear as a star-like object surrounded by a haze of nebula. What you are looking at is a spiral galaxy's bright nucleus surrounded by its spiral arms.

M 73

2011-06-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

This is a hard one to find because there really isn't anything to find. The best guide star is the globular cluster M73. M72 is 1 1/2 degree east, and slightly south.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

You will only have to find this one once. One look and you will have seen all there is to observe. M73 is not a deep sky object. It is an asterism, or pattern created by the alignment of the stars and earth. This apparent cluster of 3 or 4 stars contained what Messier referred to as "very little nebulosity." There is no nebulosity.

Unless you are trying to check off all Messier objects, M73 is not worth the trouble.

M 72

2011-06-03T13:02:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

Scan between Theta in Capricornus and Epsilon in Aquarius.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

It can appear grainy, but is extremely difficult to resolve into individual stars. This is one of the smaller of the Messier globular clusters.

M 71

2011-06-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

M71 is half way between Delta and Gamma in Sagitta. The big challenge is finding the constellation Sagitta. First, memorize the small pattern of stars in Sagitta. It is supposed to be an arrow, and (with some of that averted imagination) it does look vaguely like an arrow. Once outside, start with Altair in the constellation Aquila. With your eyes, survey the area between Aquila and Cynus. You should be able to locate Sagitta.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

Look for a hazy circle, with one side brighter than the other.

M 70

2011-06-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

At an estimated distance of 70,000 light years, M54 is the most distant globular in the Messier list. The other two, M69 and M70, are about half that distance from us and are relatively close to each other.

HOW TO FIND IT:

These three globular clusters are all found by scanning the area between Zeta and Epsilon Sagittarii, which are the two stars that make up the bottom of the "teapot." Draw a line from Zeta to Epsilon, and you will first come to M54, followed by M70. M69 will be somewhat north of the line, in the teapot area.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M54 will be one of the most densely packed globular clusters in Messier's list. M69 was described by Messier as a "nebula without a star." All three appear rather small. M70 may appear with a slightly irregular outline.

M 69

2011-05-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M 68

2011-05-20T12:46:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT: Draw a line from Eta through Beta Corvus and continue about half that distance.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

This is a relatively small globular cluster. It is faint, but can be viewed through binoculars as a dim puff of haze.

M 67

2011-05-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

HOW TO FIND IT:

Find Alpha Canci. The cluster is nearby, being 2 degrees west.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M67 may be easily dismissed because of its spectacular neighbor, M44. Don't make that mistake!

Look at M67 with different powers of magnification. Small telescopes or binoculars will reveal a group of stars with a cloudy background. Increase that power, and the cloud will be resolved into individual stars.

M 66

2011-05-10T12:45:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

These two galaxies are about 30 million light years away. They are part of a cluster of galaxies that include NGC 3628. M65 and M66 were discovered by Mechain in 1780. Messier completely missed these galaxies less than 10 years earlier when he was keeping track of a comet that would have appeared to have passed between M65 and M66. It might be possible that the comet's brightness obscured the galaxies from view.

HOW TO FIND IT:

Look for the triangle of Leo and identify Theta in that grouping of stars. Locate Iota on the outside of the triangle. Just as Theta, Beta and Delta form a triangle, so does Iota, Theta and Beta. About half-way between Theta and Iota is an asterism of stars forming what I see as a "cup." Three of those stars will form a nice 90 degree angle. Look at the central star of that angle. M65 and M66 will probably be just in the same field of view as that particular star.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M65 and M66 will appear in the same field of view in most amateur telescopes. M66 is the easiest to find.

M66 is an oval shape and has been compared with the Andromeda Galaxy, M31.

M65 has a bit of a twirl to it, revealing its spiral nature. With good observing, you might be able to see some dark lanes.

Another galaxy in the area is NGC 3628. It is also in the same field of view, but is considerably dimmer. Neither Messier nor Mechain were aware of NGC 3628, but give it a try. Knowing it is there helps find it because you will take the extra time that Messier and Mechain did not take.

M 65

2011-05-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

Photo by Pittendreigh

HOW TO FIND IT:

WHAT TO LOOK FOR:

M65 and M66 will appear in the same field of view in most amateur telescopes. M66 is the easiest to find.

M66 is an oval shape and has been compared with the Andromeda Galaxy, M31.

M65 has a bit of a twirl to it, revealing its spiral nature. With good observing, you might be able to see some dark lanes.