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Messier 41

Messier 41 in Canis Major

Open cluster M21 (NGC 2287)

Visual magnitude ~ 4.5

Diameter ~ 39'

Distance ~ 2,100 light-years


Data Reference

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

Logbook

Date & Time: September 27, 2025, 5:57 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, calm, 18°C

Sunset: 7:03 pm

Sunrise: 7:07 am (September 27)

Moonset: 8:49 pm

Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (23%)

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

Messier 42

Messier 42 in Orion

Emission nebula and cluster M42 (The Great Orion Nebula NGC 1976)

Visual magnitude ~ 3.7

Dimensions ~ 1.5° x 1.0°

Distance ~ 1,500 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "The astrophotography hit parade", Rod Mollise, Sky & Telescope 127(2), February 2014, pp. 70-74.

Logbook

Date & Time: August 22, 2025, 4:32 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, light breeze, 18°C

Sunset: 8:11 pm

Sunrise: 6:24 am (August 23)

Moonset: 8:08 pm

Moon Phase: New moon (0%)

Technical: ~ 1-hr & 4-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, home wifi, minor post-processing using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra editing tools

Messier 43

Messier 43 in Orion

Emission nebula M43 (NGC 1982)

Visual magnitude ~ 6.8

Dimensions ~ 20' x 15'

Distance ~ 1,500 light-years


Data Reference

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

Logbook

Date & Time: September 13, 2025, 3:20 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, calm, 7°C

Sunset: 7:33 pm (September 12)

Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (66%)

Moonrise: 9:49 pm (September 12)

Technical: 1-hour Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, home wifi, enhanced using the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo editing tools

Messier 44

Messier 44 in Cancer

Open cluster M44 (Beehive Cluster NGC 2632)

Visual magnitude ~ 3.1

Diameter ~ 70'

Distance ~ 577 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "Stargazing simplified", James Mullaney, Sky & Telescope 127(4), April 2014, pp. 38-41.

Logbook

Date & Time: September 21, 2025, 4:27 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 7°C

Sunset: 7:18 pm

Moon Phase: New Moon (1%)

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

Messier 45

Messier 45 in Taurus

Open cluster M45 (Pleiades)

Visual magnitude ~ 1.5

Diameter ~ 2°

Distance ~ 440 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "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.
  2. "The Seven Sisters", Fred Schaaf, Sky & Telescope 127(1), January 2014, p. 47.


Logbook

Date & Time: August 3, 2025, 4:05 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 46

Messier 46 in Puppis

Open cluster M46 (NGC 2437)

Visual magnitude ~ 6.1

Diameter ~ 20°

Distance ~ 5,300 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "The Messier open clusters of winter", Rod Mollise, Sky & Telescope 127(1), January 2014, pp. 38-40.

Logbook

Date & Time: September 29, 2025, 4:12 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, light wind, 13°C

Sunrise: 7:13 am

Moonset: 10:11 pm (September 28)

Moon Phase: First quarter (43%)

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

Messier 47

Messier 47 in Puppis

Open cluster M47 (NGC 2422, NGC 2478)

Visual magnitude ~ 4.4

Diameter ~ 25'

Distance ~ 1,500 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "The Messier open clusters of winter", Rod Mollise, Sky & Telescope 127(1), January 2014, pp. 38-40.

Logbook

Date & Time: September 29, 2025, 4:47 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, light wind, 13°C

Sunrise: 7:13 am

Moonset: 10:11 pm (September 28)

Moon Phase: First quarter (43%)

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

Messier 48

Messier 48 in Hydra

Open cluster M48 (NGC 2548)

Visual magnitude ~ 5.8

Diameter ~ 30'

Distance ~ 2,400 light-years


Data Reference

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


Logbook

Date & Time: September 29, 2025, 5:23 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temperature: Clear, light wind, 13°C

Sunrise: 7:13 am

Moonset: 10:11 pm (September 28)

Moon Phase: First quarter (43%)

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

Messier 49

Messier 49 in Virgo

Elliptical galaxy M49 (NGC 4472)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.4

Dimensions ~ 8.1' x 7.1'

Distance ~ 52.5 million light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "See winter's best Messier objects", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 51(2), February 2023, pp. 24-27.
  2. "A universe of galaxies", David J. Eicher, Astronomy Special Issue: Cosmos, Origin and Fate of the Universe, 2020, pp. 8-15.
  3. "A universe of galaxies", David J. Eicher, Astronomy 47(3), March 2019, pp. 20-27.
  4. "The last Messier", Sue French, Sky & Telescope 127(4), April 2014, pp. 56-58.

Logbook

Date & Time: June 26, 2025, 10:08 pm

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, line power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

Messier 50

Messier 50 in Monoceros

Open cluster M50 (NGC 2323)

Visual magnitude ~ 5.9

Diameter ~ 15'

Distance ~ 3,300 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "The Messier open clusters of winter", Rod Mollise, Sky & Telescope 127(1), January 2014, pp. 38-40.

Logbook

Date & Time: September 21, 2025, 4:01 am

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 7°C

Sunset: 7:18 pm

Moon Phase: New Moon (1%)

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

Messier 51

Messier 51 in Canes Venatici

Spiral galaxy M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy NGC 5194)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.4

Dimensions~ 11.2' x 6.9'

Distance ~ 27 million light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "Galactic tides", Akarsh Simha, Sky & Telescope 149(2), February 2025, pp. 58-60.
  2. "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.
  3. "A universe of galaxies", David J. Eicher, Astronomy Special Issue: Cosmos, Origin and Fate of the Universe, 2020, pp. 8-15.
  4. "Hunt the deep sky in the Hunting Dogs", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 47(4), April 2019, pp. 54-55.
  5. "A universe of galaxies", David J. Eicher, Astronomy 47(3), March 2019, pp. 20-27.
  6. "The astrophotography hit parade", Rod Mollise, Sky & Telescope 127(2), February 2014, pp. 70-74.

Logbook

Date & Time: July 18, 2025, 9:52 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 22°C

Sunset: 8:59 pm

Moon Phase: Last quarter (39%)

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

MESSIER 52

Messier 52 in Cassiopeia

Open cluster M52 (The Scorpion NGC 7654)

Visual magnitude ~ 6.9

Diameter ~ 16'

Distance ~ 5,100 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "A deep-sky winter wonderland", Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 47(1), January 2019, pp. 48-53.
  2. "Friends", Sue French, Sky & Telescope 126(5), November 2013, pp. 54-56.



Logbook

Date & Time: July 19, 2025, 2:43 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 53

Messier 53 in Coma Berenices

Globular cluster M53 (NGC 5024)

Visual magnitude ~ 7.7

Diameter ~ 13'

Distance ~ 58,400 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "Enjoy the sky's great globulars", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 48(6), June 2020, pp. 58-63.


Logbook

...

Messier 54

Messier 54 in Sagittarius

Globular cluster M54 (NGC 6715)

Visual magnitude ~ 7.2

Diameter ~ 12'

Distance ~ 86,400 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "Survivors from the Milky Way's birth", Rod Pommier, Astronomy 52(8), August 2024, pp. 22-27.
  2. "Our solar system's origin", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 49(1), January 2021, pp. 40-42.

Logbook

Date & Time: September 22, 2025, 8:02 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Mostly clear, calm, 14°C

Sunset: 7:14 pm

Moon Phase: New Moon (1%)

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

Messier 55

Messier 55 in Sagittarius

Globular cluster M55 (NGC 6809)

Visual magnitude ~ 6.3

Diameter ~ 19'

Distance ~ 17,600 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "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.
  2. "Tackle a globular cluster showdown", Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 47(8), August 2019, pp. 52-57.

Logbook

Date & Time: September 20, 2025, 10:56 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 13°C

Sunset: 7:18 pm

Moon Phase: New Moon (1%)

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

MESSIER 56

Messier 56 in Lyra

Globular cluster M56 (NGC 6779)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.3

Diameter ~ 7'

Distance ~ 30,600 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "Survivors from the Milky Way's birth", Rod Pommier, Astronomy 52(8), August 2024, pp. 22-27.
  2. "Tackle a globular cluster showdown", Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 47(8), August 2019, pp. 52-57.

Logbook

Date & Time: June 24, 2025, 11:10 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Partly cloudy, calm, humid, 24°C

Sunset: 9:08 pm

Moonset: 9:04 pm

Moon Phase: New Moon (0%)

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

MESSIER 57

Messier 57 in Lyra

Planetary nebula M57 (Ring Nebula NGC 6720)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.8

Diameter ~ 65"

Distance ~ 2,000 light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "The astrophotography hit parade", Rod Mollise, Sky & Telescope 127(2), February 2014, pp. 70-74.

Logbook

Date & Time: June 24, 2025, 11:43 pm

Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N

Sky & Temp: Partly cloudy, calm, humid, 24°C

Sunset: 9:08 pm

Moonset: 9:04 pm

Moon Phase: New Moon (0%)

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

MESSIER 58

Messier 58 in Virgo

Spiral galaxy M58 (NGC 4579)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.6

Diameter ~ 5.9' x 4.7'

Distance ~ 63 million light-years


Data Reference

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

Logbook

Date & Time: June 26, 2025, 10:41 pm

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, line power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing

MESSIER 59 & 60

Messier 59 and 60 in Virgo

Elliptical galaxies M59 and M60 (NGC 4621 and NGC 4649)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.6 (M59) and 8.8 (M60)

Dimensions ~ 5.4' x 3.7' (M59) and 7.1' x 6.1' (M60)

Distance ~ 51 (M59) and 55 (M60) million light-years


Data Reference

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


Image Comparison References

  1. "Discover the strangest galaxies in the sky", Alan Goldstein, Astronomy 49(9), September 2021, pp. 40-43.
  2. "The sky's best elliptical galaxies", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 48(4), April 2020, pp. 58-61.

Logbook

Date & Time: June 26, 2025, 11:26 pm

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

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