Messier 102 (M 102)

Introduction | Map | My Best Own Photos | My Own Observations | References || Appendix: My Own Photos

On this page I collect my observations of the lenticular galaxy M 102 (Spindle Galaxy; NGC 5866) in the constellation Draco.

Introduction

The lenticular galaxy M 102 (Spindle Galaxy; NGC 5866) in the constellation Draco is seen edge-on; it shares the name "Spindle Galaxy" with two other galaxies.

In a Vespera Pro mosaic, you can capture M 102 together with NGC 5907(06), NGC 5905, NGC 5908, as well as NGC 5879. More on those galaxies an page NGC 5907.

M 102 (NGC 5866)	NGC 5879
Size: 2' x 1' / 6.5' x 3.1' (Stoyan/Wikipedia) Distance: 40 million light years Rating: * (Stoyan)	Size: 4.2' × 1.3' (Wikipedia) Distance: 41 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ---

NGC 5907 (also NGC 5906)	NGC 5908	NGC 5905
Size: 12.8' x 1.4' (Wikipedia) Distance: 36 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ** (Stoyan)	Size: 3.3' × 1.4' (Wikipedia) Distance: 154 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ---	Size: 4.0' × 2.6' (Wikipedia) Distance: 158 million light years (Wikipedia) Rating: ---

Map

The Spindle Galaxy M 102 in the constellation Draco (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

My Best Own Photos

eVscope


M 102 - Jun 12, 2020	M 102 - Aug 8, 2020	M 102 - Jun 1, 2021

M 102 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed	M 102 - Aug 8, 2020, photo on top processed	M 102 - Jun 1, 2021, photo on top processed (Polarr)

eVscope 2 (3)


M 102 - Sep 6, 2023, 3 min		M 102 - Sep 6, 2023, photo left processed

Vespera Pro


M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min		M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, photo left processed

		M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, photo top left processed and denoised (PAI)

M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, processed from TIFF		M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, processed from TIFF and denoised (PAI)

M 102 and more...


NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 2000p, 80 min, mosaic		NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 2000p, 80 min, mosaic, processed

NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 80 min, mosaic, processed, galaxies marked		NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 2000p, 80 min, mosaic, processed and denoised (PAI)

My Own Observations

Observations March to August 2020

March 15 and 23, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 102 photographed
April 21, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 102 photographed
June 12, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 102 photographed in the new rectangular format without overlay
August 8, 2020 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 102 photographed (r.f., n.o.)

Observations June 2021

June 1, 2021 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope): M 102 photographed (n.o., r.f.), new image size and processing.

Observations September 2023

September 6, 2023 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: eVscope2): M 102 photographed; new image processing (DDT, app version 2.4.1), 3 min

Observations April 2025

April 4, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 102 photographed (30 min)
April 6, 2025 (Mühlhausen/Kraichgau: Vespera Pro): M 102 photographed together with NGC 5907/08/05/5879 (80 min)

References

Messier Catalogue - Messier 102: messier.seds.org/m/m102.html
Messier 102 (Wikipedia): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_102

On this Site

Appendix: My Own Photos

eVscope


M 102 - Mar 17, 2020	M 102 - Mar 23, 2020	M 102 - Apr 21, 2020

M 102 - Mar 17, 2020, photo on top processed	M 102 - Mar 23, 2020, photo on top processed	M 102 - Apr 21, 2020, photo on top processed

M 102 - Jun 12, 2020	M 102 - Aug 8, 2020	M 102 - Jun 1, 2021

M 102 - Jun 12, 2020, photo on top processed	M 102 - Aug 8, 2020, photo on top processed	M 102 - Jun 1, 2021, photo on top processed (Polarr)

eVscope 2 (3)


M 102 - Sep 6, 2023, 3 min		M 102 - Sep 6, 2023, photo left processed

Vespera Pro


M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min		M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, photo left processed

		M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, photo top left processed and denoised (PAI)

M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, processed from TIFF		M 102, Apr 4, 2025 - 1800p, section, 30 min, processed from TIFF and denoised (PAI)

M 102 and more...


NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 2000p, 80 min, mosaic		NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 2000p, 80 min, mosaic, processed

NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 80 min, mosaic, processed, galaxies marked		NGC 5907/08/05/5879 with M 102, Apr 6, 2025 - 2000p, 80 min, mosaic, processed and denoised (PAI)