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Bright stars scatter across the field of view, more closely concentrated at the lower right. Dark brown lanes of dust spread throughout the view.
Hubble · Messier 108 · NASA, ESA, and H. Bond (The Pennsylvania State University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

Messier 108

Galaxy in Ursa Major · 46 million light-years

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TypeGalaxy
ConstellationUrsa Major
Right ascension11h 11m 31s
Declination+55° 40′
Object distance46 million light-years
Apparent magnitude10.1
Apparent size4′ (arc-minutes)
Approx. true diameter53,523 light-years across
Also known asM108 · NGC 3556
Messier 108 is a galaxy (also catalogued as NGC 3556) in the constellation Ursa Major — an island of billions of stars far beyond our own Milky Way. It was recorded by Charles Messier in his famous catalogue of 110 deep-sky objects. It spans roughly 4 arc-minutes on the sky. At about magnitude 10.1, it shows up well in a small backyard telescope.

Although it appears about 4′ wide on the sky, its real span is roughly 53,523 light-years — the difference is a measure of how far away it lies.

Observing Messier 108

Messier 108 lies in the constellation Ursa Major and is best placed in the evening sky around March. Its maximum altitude above the horizon depends on your latitude. It is best placed for observers in the northern hemisphere, and sits low for those far south. A small backyard telescope will show it; binoculars may hint at it under dark skies. Note that the listed magnitude is spread across the whole object — diffuse galaxies and nebulae are often harder to see than the number alone suggests, so dark, moonless skies help a great deal.

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Sources

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