Messier 101

Messier 101 in Ursa Major

Spiral galaxy M101 (The Pinwheel Galaxy NGC 5457)

Visual magnitude ~ 7.9

Dimensions ~ 26.0' x 26.0'

Distance ~ 25 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Image Comparison References

"101 cosmic objects you must see", Michael Bakich, Alan Goldstein, Phil Harrington, and Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 50(1), January 2022, pp. 6-31, 40-65.
"Secrets of the Northern Pinwheel Galaxy", Rod Pommier, Astronomy 48(3), March 2020, pp. 52-55.
"The outer limits universe", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 47(6), June 2019, pp. 44-49.

Logbook

Date & Time: July 4, 2025, 11:55 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Partly cloudy, calm, 18°C

Sunset: 9:07 pm

Moonset: 1:08 am

Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (70%)

Technical: 40-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

MESSIER 102

Messier 102 in Draco

Lenticular galaxy M102 (NGC 5866)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.9

Dimensions ~ 6.6' x 3.2'

Distance ~ 48 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Image Comparison References

"Draco, the Dragon", Sue French, Sky & Telescope 126(1), July 2013, pp. 56-58.
"Messier's 102nd object", Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 53(5), May 2025, p. 50.

Logbook

Date & Time: August 3, 2025, 1:01 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, calm, 9°C

Sunset: 8:42 pm

Moonset: 12:19 am

Moon Phase: First quarter (64%)

Moonrise: 3:37 pm

Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery & power tank, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

Messier 103

Messier 103 in Cassiopeia

Open cluster M103 (NGC 581)

Visual magnitude ~ 7.4

Diameter ~ 6'

Distance ~ 8,130 light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Logbook

Date & Time: June 27, 2025, 1:59 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, calm, humid, 15°C

Sunset: 9:08 pm

Moonset: 10:46 pm

Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (3%)

Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

Messier 104

Messier 104 in Virgo

Spiral galaxy M104 (Sombrero Galaxy NGC 4594)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.0

Dimensions ~ 7.1' x 4.4'

Distance ~ 34 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Image Comparison References

"101 cosmic objects you must see", Michael Bakich, Alan Goldstein, Phil Harrington, and Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 50(1), January 2022, pp. 6-31, 40-65.
"The outer limits universe", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 47(6), June 2019, pp. 44-49.
"A universe of galaxies", David J. Eicher, Astronomy 47(3), March 2019, pp. 20-27.

Logbook

Date & Time: June 11, 2025, 10:03 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 20°C

Sunset: 9:04 pm

Moonset: 5:05 am

Moon Phase: Full Moon (100%)

Technical: 1-hour Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

Messier 105

Messier 105 in Leo

Elliptical galaxy M105 (NGC 3379)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.3

Dimensions ~ 3.9' x 3.9'

Distance ~ 38 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Image Comparison References

"See winter's best Messier objects", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 51(2), February 2023, pp. 24-27.
"Target 10 galaxy groups", Alan Goldstein, Astronomy 51(5), May 2023, pp. 40-43.
"The sky's best elliptical galaxies", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 48(4), April 2020, pp. 58-61.

Logbook

Date & Time: October 4, 2025, 5:16 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 10°C

Sunset: 6:53 pm

Moonset: 2:39 am (October 4)

Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (87%)

Technical: ~ 35-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power plus power tank, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

MESSIER 106

Messier 106 in Canes Venatici

Spiral galaxy M106 (NGC 4258)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.4

Dimensions ~ 20.0' x 8.4'

Distance ~ 24 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Image Comparison References

"Observing extragalactic starburst regions", Scott Harrington, Sky & Telescope 149(5), May 2025, pp. 60-67.
"101 cosmic objects you must see", Michael Bakich, Alan Goldstein, Phil Harrington, and Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 50(1), January 2022, pp. 6-31, 40-65.

Logbook

Date & Time: July 19, 2025, 12:16 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 22°C

Sunset: 8:59 pm

Moon Phase: Last quarter (39%)

Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

Messier 107

Messier 107 in Ophiuchus

Globular cluster M107 (NGC 6171)

Visual magnitude ~ 7.8

Diameter ~ 13'

Distance ~ 20,900 light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Logbook

Date & Time: September 15, 2025, 8:34 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, calm, 18°C

Sunset: 7:27 pm

Moonrise: 12:42 am (September 16)

Moon Phase: Waning crescent (33%)

Technical: 20-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power plus power tank, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

MESSIER 108

Messier 108 in Ursa Major

Spiral galaxy M108 (NGC 3556)

Visual magnitude ~ 10.0

Diameter ~ 8.1' x 2.1'

Distance ~ 47 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Logbook

Date & Time: July 19, 2025, 1:56 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 22°C

Sunset: 8:59 pm

Moon Phase: Last quarter (39%)

Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

MESSIER 109

Messier 109 in Ursa Major

Barred spiral galaxy M109 (NGC 3992)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.8

Diameter ~ 7.6' x 4.3'

Distance ~ 81 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Image Comparison References

"Galaxy-hopping in the Great Bear, Ted Forte, Sky & Telescope 147(3), March 2024, pp. 18-25.
"101 cosmic objects you must see", Michael Bakich, Alan Goldstein, Phil Harrington, and Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 50(1), January 2022, pp. 6-31, 40-65.
"See winter's best Messier objects", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 51(2), February 2023, pp. 24-27.

Logbook

Date & Time: July 26, 2025, 11:05 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Mostly clear, calm, 16°C

Sunset: 8:51 pm

Moonset: 10.05 pm

Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (6%)

Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

MESSIER 110

Messier 110 in Andromeda

Dwarf spheroidal galaxy M110 (NGC 205)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.1

Diameter ~ 19.5' x 12.5'

Distance ~ 2.5 million light-years

Data Reference

The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.

Image Comparison References

"Local Group dwarf galaxies", Sue French, Sky & Telescope 126(6), December 2013, pp. 56-58.
"Stargazing simplified", James Mullaney, Sky & Telescope 127(4), April 2014, pp. 38-41.

Logbook

Date & Time: August 3, 2025, 2:45 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, calm, 9°C

Sunset: 8:42 pm

Moonset: 12:19 am

Moon Phase: First quarter (64%)

Moonrise: 3:37 pm

Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery & power tank, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

Messier 101

Messier 101 in Ursa Major

Logbook

MESSIER 102

Messier 102 in Draco

Logbook

Messier 103

Messier 103 in Cassiopeia

Logbook

Messier 104

Messier 104 in Virgo

Logbook

Messier 105

Messier 105 in Leo

Logbook

MESSIER 106

Messier 106 in Canes Venatici

Logbook

Messier 107

Messier 107 in Ophiuchus

Logbook

MESSIER 108

Messier 108 in Ursa Major

Logbook

MESSIER 109

Messier 109 in Ursa Major

Logbook

MESSIER 110

Messier 110 in Andromeda

Logbook

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