Messier objects gallery. M100-M110

The last post of this gallery that will include all Messier objects, 110.

Charles Messier (June 26, 1730 – April 12, 1817) was a French astronomer most notable for publishing an astronomical catalogue consisting of deep sky objects such as nebulae and star clusters that came to be known as the 103 “Messier objects”. The purpose of the catalogue was to help comet hunters, as he was, and to help other astronomical observers to distinguish between permanent and transient objects in the sky. Other astronomers, using side notes in Messier’s texts, eventually filled out the list to 110 objects.

This post contains 2 popular space objects : Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) and the beautiful Sombrero Galaxy (M104)

If you have missed the previous objects please also visit:

Messier 100 (also known as NGC 4321) is a spiral galaxy about 52.5 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. It is one of the brightest galaxies in the Virgo cluster. Five supernovae have been identified in M100: SN 1901B, SN 1914A, SN 1959E, SN 1979C and SN 2006X. M100 also has a satellite galaxy named NGC 4323.

1 Messier 100 (also known as NGC 4321) is a spiral galaxy about 52.5 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. It is one of the brightest galaxies in the Virgo cluster. Five supernovae have been identified in M100: SN 1901B, SN 1914A, SN 1959E, SN 1979C and SN 2006X. M100 also has a satellite galaxy named NGC 4323. Credit: N.A.Sharp/NOAO/AURA/NSF #

The Pinwheel Galaxy (also known as Messier 101 or NGC 5457) is a face-on spiral galaxy about 27 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major.
It was discovered by Pierre Méchain on March 27, 1781, and he subsequently communicated his discovery to Charles Messier who verified its position and added it to the Messier Catalogue as one of the final entries.

2 The Pinwheel Galaxy (also known as Messier 101 or NGC 5457) is a face-on spiral galaxy about 27 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain on March 27, 1781, and he subsequently communicated his discovery to Charles Messier who verified its position and added it to the Messier Catalogue as one of the final entries. Credit: NASA/ESA #

Messier 102 (also known as M102) is a galaxy listed in the Messier Catalogue that has not been identified unambiguously. Its original discoverer Pierre Méchain later claimed that it was a duplicate observation of Messier 101, but there are historical and observational reasons to believe that it would actually be NGC 5866, although other galaxies have been suggested as possible identities.

3 Messier 102 (also known as M102) is a galaxy listed in the Messier Catalogue that has not been identified unambiguously. Its original discoverer Pierre Méchain later claimed that it was a duplicate observation of Messier 101, but there are historical and observational reasons to believe that it would actually be NGC 5866, although other galaxies have been suggested as possible identities. Credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) #

Messier 103 (also known as M103, or NGC 581) is an open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M103 is at a distance of about 8,000 light-years from Earth.

4 Messier 103 (also known as M103, or NGC 581) is an open cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M103 is at a distance of about 8,000 light-years from Earth. Credit: Hillary Mathis, N.A.Sharp/NOAO/AURA/NSF #

The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as M104 or NGC 4594) is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It has a bright nucleus, an unusually large central bulge, and a prominent dust lane in its inclined disk. The dark dust lane and the bulge give this galaxy the appearance of a sombrero. The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of +9.0, making it easily visible with amateur telescopes. The large bulge, the central supermassive black hole, and the dust lane all attract the attention of professional astronomers.

5 The Sombrero Galaxy (also known as M104 or NGC 4594) is an unbarred spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It has a bright nucleus, an unusually large central bulge, and a prominent dust lane in its inclined disk. The dark dust lane and the bulge give this galaxy the appearance of a sombrero. The galaxy has an apparent magnitude of +9.0, making it easily visible with amateur telescopes. The large bulge, the central supermassive black hole, and the dust lane all attract the attention of professional astronomers. Credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) #

Messier 105 (also known as M105 and NGC 3379) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Leo. Messier 105 is known to have a supermassive black hole.

6 Messier 105 (also known as M105 and NGC 3379) is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Leo. Messier 105 is known to have a supermassive black hole. Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF #

Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. It is also a Seyfert II galaxy, which means that due to x-rays and unusual emission lines detected, it is suspected that part of the galaxy is falling into a supermassive black hole in the center.

7 Messier 106 (also known as NGC 4258) is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Canes Venatici. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. M106 is at a distance of about 22 to 25 million light-years away from Earth. It is also a Seyfert II galaxy, which means that due to x-rays and unusual emission lines detected, it is suspected that part of the galaxy is falling into a supermassive black hole in the center. Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Univ. of Maryland/A.S. Wilson et al.; Optical: Pal.Obs. DSS; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech; VLA: NRAO/AUI/NSF #

Globular Cluster M107 (also known as Messier Object 107 or NGC 6171) is a very loose globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in April 1782 and independently by William Herschel in 1793. It wasn't until 1947 that Helen Sawyer Hogg added it and three other objects discovered by Méchain to the list of Messier objects.
M107 is close to the galactic plane at a distance of about 20,900 light-years from Earth. There are 25 known variable stars in this cluster.

8 Globular Cluster M107 (also known as Messier Object 107 or NGC 6171) is a very loose globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in April 1782 and independently by William Herschel in 1793. It wasn't until 1947 that Helen Sawyer Hogg added it and three other objects discovered by Méchain to the list of Messier objects. M107 is close to the galactic plane at a distance of about 20,900 light-years from Earth. There are 25 known variable stars in this cluster. Credit: NASA/STScI/WikiSky #

Messier 108 (also known as NGC 3556) is an edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 or 1782.[4]

9 Messier 108 (also known as NGC 3556) is an edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 or 1782.[4] Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF #

Messier 109 (also known as NGC 3992) is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 46 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. M109 can be seen southeast of the star Phecda (γ UMa).

10 Messier 109 (also known as NGC 3992) is a barred spiral galaxy approximately 46 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major. M109 can be seen southeast of the star Phecda (γ UMa). Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF #

Messier 110 (also known as M110 and NGC 205) is a dwarf elliptical galaxy that is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy. M110 contains some dust and hints of recent star formation, which is unusual for dwarf elliptical galaxies in general.

11 Messier 110 (also known as M110 and NGC 205) is a dwarf elliptical galaxy that is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy. M110 contains some dust and hints of recent star formation, which is unusual for dwarf elliptical galaxies in general. Credit: NOAO/AURA/NSF #

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Messier objects gallery. M100-M110 - 11 fotos

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