M 110

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 98

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 97

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:

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. For M97, you will have to have a telescope.

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.