M 96 – Spiral galaxy Description: The spiral galaxy Messier 96 is located in the constellation Leo about 41 million light years from us. It is almost the same size as our Milky Way. M96 is a very asymmetric galaxy with regions of dust and gas distributed very...
M 101 – The Pinwheel Galaxy Description: The Pinwheel Galaxy is much larger than our Milky Way galaxy and its distance is estimated at 22 million light years. The fact that it is seen face-on gives it a low surface brightness. It is therefore not easy to observe...
M 106 Description: M 106 is a spiral galaxy located 23 million light years away in the constellation Canes Venatici (Hunting Dogs). Although it bears the designation M (Messier’s catalog), Charles Messier has never observed it. It was added to this catalog by...
M 109 – Barred spiral galaxy Description: M 109 is a fine example of a barred spiral galaxy, ie whose spiral arms are not attached to the nucleus but rather to a more or less long bar which includes the nucleus. The most plausible theory concerning this...
NGC 672 and IC 1727 Description: This picturesque duo of interacting galaxies is in the constellation Triangulum and is located 24 million light-years from us. A third one, standing vertically, is 540 million light-years away. Many more fainter ones can be seen and...
