Messier 57, the Ring Nebula in Lyra, is a bright planetary nebula of gas and dust surrounding a dying star—perfect for backyard observing.
Category Archives: Messier Objects
Messier 4 (NGC 6121): A Brilliant Southern Summer Cluster
Messier 4 (M4) is a brilliant globular cluster in the constellation of Scorpius, which is best viewed in summer.
At approximately 5,500 light-years away, M4 is one of the nearest globulars to Earth and one of the brightest in the night sky.
Messier 5 (NGC 5904): A Glorious Globular and Summertime Rose
On the night of May 5, 1702, Gottfried Kirch was comet hunting with his wife Maria when they discovered a “nebulous star” in the constellation of Serpens. The Kirches stumbled upon this cluster — one of the largest, brightest, and oldest in the heavens
Messier 3 (NGC 5272): A Globular Cluster with a Fiery Center
M3 is one of the finest globular clusters in the northern sky. An amazing 500,000 stars make up this cluster.
Messier 51: The Great Whirlpool
Few galaxies are a breathtaking as the majestic Whirlpool Galaxy in the springtime sky near the Big Dipper.
The Garden Astronomer 