Searching the Messier Galaxies

Abstract

There are 39 Messier galaxies in total. Sometimes a 40th, M 102, is added in the form of NGC 5866 but this was not on Messier’s original list. M 102 is usually assumed to be identical to M 101. The Messier galaxies are bright, which is why they could be spotted with primitive 18th century telescopes. With the equipment now in many amateurs’ hands, they can easily be checked visually for supernovae. The majority of the Messier galaxies are best placed in spring for Northern Hemisphere observers. While hunting down as many Messier objects as possible (all of them in one night is achievable) is a favorite March-time occupation of deep sky fanatics, just finding all of the Messier galaxies in Virgo and Coma Berenices is enough of a challenge for most beginners. Of course, if you use an accurate GO TO system, the task is not especially formidable, but, for the beginner, with a 150-mm telescope, just seeing the fuzzy patch with certainty is something to be proud of. In practice, it is unfriendly back-breaking eyepiece positions, the freezing cold, and the infuriations of dew, cloud, light pollution, and equipment failures that sap the strength of most beginners when faced with such a challenge. Sitting indoors in the warm is simply far more pleasant. With an equatorially mounted telescope featuring good old-fashioned mechanical setting circles, there is a very good starting point to your galaxy quest (see Figure 11.1). Find the star Denebola, the most easterly bright star in the constellation of Leo, and set the right ascension circle to 11 hours 49 minutes. The declination circle should read +141/2°.