{"id":182547,"date":"2025-03-05T04:55:01","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T18:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/skywatching\/night-sky-network\/mar2025-night-sky-notes\/"},"modified":"2025-03-05T04:55:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-04T18:55:01","slug":"marchs-night-sky-notes-messier-madness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=182547","title":{"rendered":"March\u2019s Night Sky Notes: Messier Madness"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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3 Min Read<\/div>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMarch\u2019s Night Sky Notes: Messier Madness\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"A<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Showing a large portion of M66, this Hubble photo is a composite of images obtained at visible and infrared wavelengths. The images have been combined to represent the real colors of the galaxy.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCredits: <\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI\/AURA)-ESA\/Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgment: Davide De Martin and Robert Gendler<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

by Kat Troche of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

What Are Messier Objects?<\/h3>\n

During the 18th century, astronomer and comet hunter\u00a0Charles Messier<\/a>\u00a0wanted to distinguish the \u2018faint fuzzies\u2019 he observed from any potential new comets. As a result, Messier cataloged 110 objects in the night sky, ranging from star clusters to galaxies to nebulae. These items are designated by the letter\u00a0\u2018M\u2019<\/strong>\u00a0and a number. For example, the Orion Nebula is\u00a0Messier 42<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0M42<\/strong>, and the Pleiades are\u00a0Messier 45<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0M45<\/strong>. These are among the brightest \u2018faint fuzzies\u2019 we can see with modest backyard telescopes and some even with our eyes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Stargazers can catalog these items on evenings closest to the new moon. Some even go as far as having \u201cMessier Marathons,\u201d setting up their telescopes and binoculars in the darkest skies available to them, from sundown to sunrise, to catch as many as possible. Here are some items to look for this season:<\/p>\n

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M44 in Cancer and M65 and 66 in Leo can be seen high in the evening sky 60 minutes after sunset.<\/div>\n
Stellarium Web<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Messier 44<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in Cancer:<\/strong>\u00a0The Beehive Cluster, also known as Praesepe, is an open star cluster in the heart of the Cancer constellation. Use Pollux in Gemini and Regulus in Leo as guide stars. A pair of binoculars is enough to view this and other open star clusters. If you have a telescope handy, pay a visit two of the three galaxies that form the Leo Triplet \u2013\u00a0M65<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0M66<\/strong>. These items can be seen one hour after sunset in dark skies.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a><\/figure>
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Locate M3 and M87 rising in the east after midnight.<\/div>\n
Stellarium Web<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Messier 3<\/strong><\/a> Canes Venatici:<\/strong> M3 is a globular cluster of 500,000 stars. Through a telescope, this object looks like a fuzzy sparkly ball. You can resolve this cluster in an 8-inch telescope in moderate dark skies. You can find this star cluster by using the star Arcturus in the Bo\u00f6tes constellation as a guide.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Messier 87<\/strong><\/a> in Virgo:<\/strong> Located just outside of Markarian\u2019s Chain, M87 is an elliptical galaxy that can be spotted during the late evening hours. While it is not possible to view the supermassive black hole<\/a> at the core of this galaxy, you can see M87 and several other Messier-labeled galaxies in the Virgo Cluster using a medium-sized telescope.<\/p>\n

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\"A<\/a><\/figure>
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Locate M76 and M31 setting in the west, 60 minutes after sunset.<\/div>\n
Stellarium Web<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Plan Ahead<\/h3>\n

When gearing up for a long stargazing session, there are several things to remember, such as equipment, location, and provisions:<\/p>\n