Galaxy
Spindle Galaxy
Lenticular galaxy · M102 · NGC 5866
Lenticular galaxy in Draco
Photo: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Messier 102 is a galaxy listed in the Messier Catalogue that cannot be unambiguously identified. Its original discoverer Pierre Méchain retracted his discovery two years after publication and said that it was a duplicate observation of Messier 101. Later historical evidence favors that M102 is actually the galaxy NGC 5866, although other galaxies have been suggested as possible identities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) considers it to be the same as NGC 5866.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~50 million light-years
Apparent mag.
+9.9
Apparent size
4.7′ × 1.9′
Best seen with
Telescope
Catalogue
M102 · NGC 5866
Did you know
- Listed as Messier 102 in the Messier catalogue, also known as NGC 5866.
- Found in the constellation Draco.
- Needs a telescope to see clearly.
