Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Ursa Major (UMa)  ·  Contains:  M 108  ·  NGC 3556
M108, AlBroxton
M108
Powered byPixInsight

M108

Equipment

Loading...

Acquisition details

Loading...

Description

Messier 108 (also known as NGC3556) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain February 19th in 1781 or 1782. From the perspective of the Earth, this galaxy is seen almost edge-on. Distance is 45 million light years away. This galaxy is an isolated member of the Ursa Major Cluster of galaxies in the Virgo super cluster. It has a morphological classification of type SBbc in the de Vaucouleurs system, which means it is a barred spiral galaxy with somewhat loosely wound arms. The maximum angular size of the galaxy in the optical band is 11′.1 × 4′.6, and it is inclined 75° to the line of sight. This galaxy has an estimated mass of 125 billion times the mass of the Sun and includes about 290 ± 80 globular clusters.

Observation Notes : M 108 Bright, large, very much elongated in PA 80 at 100X. Even at 200X, this is the most stellar nucleus I remember seeing.

Comments

Revisions

  • M108, AlBroxton
    Original
  • Final
    M108, AlBroxton
    B

Sky plot

Sky plot

Histogram

M108, AlBroxton

In these collections

Allen Broxton
Galaxies