M102
Spindle Galaxy
NGC 5866
Type: Lenticular (S0) Galaxy
Constellation: Draco
Magnitude: 10.5
Size: 5.2' x 2.3'
RA-Dec: 15h 6.5m - 55 45
Difficulty: C E=easy, T=tough, C=challenging
Description:
M102 is probably a mistake.   Messier most likely recorded a duplicate observation of M101, and never saw the galaxy which we now call M102.   Also known as NGC 5866, this is a large edge-on lenticular galaxy with a thin dark lane visible in larger telescopes under dark skies.   A small telescope reveals an elongated glow gradually brightening towards its center.   M102 is the brightest member of a large group of galaxies (the NGC 5866 group).
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