The Messier Ten Minute Challenge

M109 - Galaxy in Ursa Major

Click here for a review of the strengths and weaknesses of the Global Rent-A-Scope operation.

This image was created by median combining 7 x 90 second unfiltered images taken with a Takahashi Epsilon 250 with SBIG ST-8XE CCD. The image has been cut down to be 15 x 15 arc minutes in size.

M109 is a typical barred spiral galaxy. Rather surprisingly many visual observers are unable to detect either the bar or the outer arms, even with medium sized scopes, which makes this one of the less interesting Messier objects.

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In collaboration with the Remote Astronomical Society Observatory

Martin Nicholson - Daventry, United Kingdom.

This page was last updated on April 15th 2009.