Author Archives: JosepM

Hi all, Messier 96 is an unusual galaxy. It is strongly asymmetrical but beautiful. M96 is the brightest member of the M96 group and has as neighbors two more Messier objects: M95 and M105. You can find the image and some more info at: Messier 96. NGC 3368 Enjoy, Josep

Hi all, An image of the spiral galaxy Messier 99 has been uploaded. A pretty, nearly face-on, unbarred spiral, M99 is quite fluffy. It has the same size as the Milky Way, but only 5% of its mass. The image as well as some more info can be found at: Messier 99. NGC 4254 Enjoy, […]

Hi all, An image of the globular cluster Messier 71 has been uploaded. This cluster has been discussed as open or globular since it was classified as a cluster. After several switches, finally in the 1970’s it was classified as globular based upon photometry and the presence of a horizontal branch in the H-R diagram, […]

Hi all, An image of Messier 105 has been uploaded. M105 harbors a massive black hole (140-200 million solar masses) and it is considered an AGN (Active Galactic Nucleus). You can find its image as well as more info at: Messier 105. NGC 3379 Enjoy, Josep

Hi all, Now, another Messier and another elliptical galaxy, Messier 49. This galaxy is larger than any galaxy in the Local Group and it is the largest in the Virgo Cluster. You can find the image as well as some more info at:: Messier 49. NGC 4472 Enjoy, Josep

Hi all, This time, a small compact elliptical galaxy has been uploaded. Messier 32 is a satellite of our neighbor, M31, and has a large number of helium-burning stars close to its center. The image as well as some more info can be found at: Messier 32. NGC 221 Enjoy, Josep

Hi all, This time, another open cluster belonging to the Messier catalog has been uploaded. Messier 38 is located in Auriga and is experiencing a fly-by by another, close, open cluster, NGC 1907. The image and some more info can be found at: Messier 38. NGC 1912. The Starfish Cluster Enjoy, Josep

Hi all, Still another open cluster belonging to the Messier Catalog. Messier 39 is a small open cluster with 30-50 stars. But five of its stars are “peculiar”. This is the adjective used to describe stars that show unusual metallicities. The image and some more info can be found at: Messier 39. NGC 7092 Enjoy, […]

Hi all, An image of Messier 34, an open cluster, has been uploaded. This cluster is associated to several other open clusters (like M45 and others), sharing distance and motion type. The image and some more info can be found at: Messier 34. NGC 1039 Enjoy, Josep

Hi all, Another Messier open cluster (M37) has been uploaded. This is a rather old cluster with over a dozen red giants. You can find the image and some more info at: Messier 37. NGC 2099 Enjoy, Josep