Spindle Galaxy
Galaxy in Draco · 50 million light-years
🔭 Explore Spindle Galaxy in the 3D map →| Type | Galaxy |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Draco |
| Distance | 50 million light-years |
| Apparent magnitude | 9.9 |
| Apparent size | 6.5′ (arc-minutes) |
| Also known as | M102 · NGC 5866 |
| Imaged by | Hubble |
Messier 102 is a disputed entry that most astronomers identify with NGC 5866, the Spindle Galaxy — a lens-shaped (lenticular) galaxy in Draco seen almost exactly edge-on, so that a sharp dark dust lane cuts across its glowing disk. It lies roughly 50 million light-years away. Some historians instead treat M102 as an accidental duplicate observation of the Pinwheel Galaxy (M101), and the debate has never been fully settled. It was recorded by Pierre Méchain, Messier's colleague, and later added to the catalogue.
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Related objects
- Andromeda Galaxy — galaxy
- Triangulum Galaxy — galaxy
- Whirlpool Galaxy — galaxy
- Sombrero Galaxy — galaxy
- Messier 110 — galaxy