Featured Deep Sky Objects M109

Deep Sky Object Chart | Stars in Ursa Major | M40 | M81/M82 | M97 | M101 | M109 | NGC2841 M109 (NGC 3992) is a barred spiral galaxy of magnitude 10.9, located just 40 arc minutes northwest of the third dipper star, Phecda. Of course, the star is merely a foreground object in our own galactic system. M109 is a designation which is not quite proper; Charles Messier's original list of "M" objects did not include this object, but some astronomers have added in other celestial targets. The New General Catalog number (3992), however, is universally accepted. This galaxy has what is sometimes called a "theta" structure, in that it has a central bar bisecting an outer ring which resembles that Greek letter. Home M101 NGC2841