Messier 81 & 82

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Spiral galaxies M81 (Bode's Galaxy NGC 3031) and M82 (Cigar Galaxy NGC 3034)

Visual magnitudes ~ 6.9 (M81) and 8.4 (M82)

Dimensions ~ 24.0' x 13.0' (M81) and 12.0' x 5.6' (M82)

Distance ~ 12 million light-years

Data Reference

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

Image Comparison References

1. "Galaxy-hopping in the Great Bear, Ted Forte, Sky & Telescope 147(3), March 2024, pp. 18-25.
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. "The outer limits universe", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 47(6), June 2019, pp. 44-49.
4. "All about our local supercluster", Liz Kruesi, Astronomy 47(3), March 2019, pp. 32-35.
5. "How to observe galaxies", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 47(3), March 2019, pp. 44-48.
6. "The astrophotography hit parade", Rod Mollise, Sky & Telescope 127(2), February 2014, pp. 70-74.
7. "Stargazing simplified", James Mullaney, Sky & Telescope 127(4), April 2014, pp. 38-41.

Elliptical galaxy M84 (NGC 4374)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.1

Dimensions ~ 5.1' x 4.1'

Distance ~ 55 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. "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. "Imaging the Messier marathon", Alex McConahay, Sky & Telescope 125(4), April 2013, pp. 72-76.

Elliptical/spiral galaxy M86 (NGC 4406)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.9

Dimensions ~ 12.0' x 9.3'

Distance ~ 53 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. "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. "The sky's best elliptical galaxies", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 48(4), April 2020, pp. 58-61.
4. "Imaging the Messier marathon", Alex McConahay, Sky & Telescope 125(4), April 2013, pp. 72-76.

Spiral galaxy M88 (NGC 4501)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.6

Dimensions ~ 6.1' x 2.8'

Distance ~ 62 million light-years

Data Reference

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

Spiral galaxy M90 (NGC 4569)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.5

Dimensions ~ 10.5' x 4.4'

Distance ~ 40 million light-years

Data Reference

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

Globular cluster M92 (NGC 6341)

Visual magnitude ~ 6.5

Diameter ~ 14'

Distance ~ 27,100 light-years

Data Reference

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

Image Comparison References

1. "Great balls of fire", Ken Hewitt-White, Sky & Telescope 148(1), July 2024, pp. 55-57.
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. "Tackle a globular cluster showdown", Stephen James O'Meara, Astronomy 47(8), August 2019, pp. 52-57.

Spiral galaxy M94 (Croc's Eye Galaxy NGC 4736)

Visual magnitude ~ 8.2

Dimensions ~ 13.2' x 1.4'

Distance ~ 17 million 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. "Hunt the deep sky in the Hunting Dogs", Michael E. Bakich, Astronomy 47(4), April 2019, pp. 54-55.

Spiral galaxy M96 (NGC 3368)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.2

Dimensions ~ 6.9' x 4.6'

Distance ~ 35 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. "Target 10 galaxy groups", Alan Goldstein, Astronomy 51(5), May 2023, pp. 40-43.

Spiral galaxy M98 (NGC 4192)

Visual magnitude ~ 10.1

Dimensions ~ 9.1' x 2.1'

Distance ~ 52 million light-years

Data Reference

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

Spiral galaxy M100 (The Mirror Of M99, NGC 4321)

Visual magnitude ~ 9.3

Dimensions ~ 6.2' x 5.3'

Distance ~ 56 million 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.