Messier 66: a new, deep image
When it started operations early in 2011, the PlaneWave 17″ robotic unit, part of the Virtual Telescope Project imaged Messier 66, a very nice spiral galaxy, about 36 millions of light years from us and...
Category: galaxy
NGC 2903 – Leo
From a distance of almost 30 millions of light year, lurking among the stars of Leo, the elegance of the barred spiral of NGC 2903 is astonishing. The central core of this realm of...
M 77 – Cetus
Messier 77 was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780 and it is a peculiar galaxy in the constellation of Cetus, the Whale. Located at about 50 millions of light years, it is classified as hosting an...
NGC 925 – Tri
Relatively neglected despite its beauty, NGC 925 is barred spiral galaxy, located in the Triangulum constellation, at about 31 millions of light years from us. The distance is known quite well, thanks to the...
M74 – Psc
Messier 74 is a gorgeous galaxy in Pisces, showing an almost perfect spiral structure. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1780. Because of its low surface brightness, it is one of the Messier...
Supernova SN 2011dh in Messier 51
On 31 may 2011, several observers discovered SN 2011dh in Messier 51, the well-known “Whirlpool” galaxy. It was the third object of this kind found in this galaxy since 1994. A few days later,...
NGC 891 – And
Floating in space at about 30 millions of light years from us, NGC 891 is superb edge-on spiral galaxy, discovered in 1784 by W. Herschel. Dust across the disk is clearly apparent in...
The Stephan’s Quintet – Peg
The famous Stephan’s Quintet was the first compact group of galaxies ever discovered and was spotted by Édouard Jean-Marie Stephan in 1877. It is probably the most studied group of its kind and...
NGC 7331 – Peg
Located at about 40 millions of light years, NGC 7331 is a beautiful, almost edge-on spiral galaxy, in Pegasus. It is the largest member of the so-called Deer Lick Group. It was discovered in...
M 66 – Leo
The wonderful galaxy M66, in Leo, discovered by C. Messier on March 1, 1780 and located at about 35 millions of light years. It is part of the so-called “Leo’s Triplet” (with NGC...
M 81 – UMa
This is the wonderful spiral galaxy M81, in Ursa Major. It was discovered on 31 Dec. 1774 by J.E. Bode. Its distance in estimated in 12 millions of light years. Here, it was imaged...
NGC 4565 – Com
Perhaps one of the most famous galaxies in the sky, NGC 4565 is a superb, edge-on spiral galaxy, in Coma Berenices. It was discovered in 1785 by W. Herschel. Its distance in estimated in...
M 51 and NGC 5195 – CVn
M51, a stunning face-on spiral galaxy, was discovered in 1774 by C. Messier , while its companion, NGC 5195, was discovered by P. Méchain in 1785. Its distance in estimated in about 30 millions...
NGC 4631 – CVn
NGC 4631, also known as “The Whale”, was discovered in 1787 by W. Herschel. Its distance in estimated in 30 millions of light years. Here, it was imaged with the Planewave 17 unit, part...
