An image of Messier 91 has been uploaded

Hi all,

An image of a barred spiral galaxy, Messier 91, has been uploaded. This is an “anemic” galaxy, due to its low star formation rate. This is due to the lack of neutral Hydrogen (HI) that has been stripped from it due to the pressure exerted by the intergalactic medium as M91 moves. This is also what happens to M90. You can find the image as well as some more information at:

Messier 91. NGC 4548

Enjoy,
Josep

An image of Messier 85 has been uploaded

Hi all,

A second Messier object, M85, has been uploaded today. M85 is an unusual elliptical galaxy. Due to a recent merger, M85 shows an external structure with faint, but clearly visible, outer shells. This deep image shows them. Another peculiarity is the absence of any supermassive black hole residing at M85’s center. Actually, similar to M31, M85 has a double nucleus and no X-Ray activity. You can find the image as well as some more information at:

Messier 85. NGC 4382

Enjoy,
Josep

An image of a double Globular Cluster has been uploaded

Hi all,

I know that it has been a while since my latest uploaded image. I apologize for that. Today, we have a new image displaying a double Globular Cluster: Messier 53 and NGC 5053. These clusters show a very peculiar tidal bridge between them as a consequence of a possible close gravitational encounter. This was discovered and described in 2010 (reference in the web site below).

Messier 53 and NGC 5053. A peculiar pair

Enjoy,
Josep

An image of the spiral galaxy M94 has been uploaded

Hi all,

An image of the unusual spiral galaxy Messier 94 has been uploaded. M94 has three distinct rings, the very bright inner one, the central one (with fine structure given by the dust lanes) and the outer one that looks like not having any structure, but this is only in the optical region. In images taken with UV filters of in the mid-IR region, this outer ring shows a complex structure with spiral arms. You can see the image as well as some more info at

Messier 94. NGC 4736

Enjoy,
Josep

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