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Home , 35 Vulpeculae, Butterfly Cluster, Crab Nebula, Eagle Nebula, Owl Nebula, Pinwheel Galaxy

Explore the universe with microObservatory

Messier objects Astronomers in the eighteenth century scanned the sky for undiscovered . The technology of the day made it difficult to distinguish comets from the other fuzzy objects scattered throughout

the sky, and in the second half of the century, French astronomer created a list 1: 2 3 4 5 of these “other” objects. With a few additions to the original list from fellow astronomers, today's Messier catalogue spans the sky and the imagination. Observers in classrooms across the country have photographed these clusters, and nebulae using the remote MicroObservatory developed by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The images on this poster are some of our observers' best works, and together, they create a gallery of some of the most beautiful objects in the night sky.

6: 7: Ptolemy's Cluster 8: 9 10

11: 12 13: Great Hercules 14 15 16: 17 18 19 20: Cluster

21 22 23 24: Patch 25 26 27: 28 29 30

31: Great Andromeda 32: M31 Satellite 33: Pinwheel 34 35 36 37 38 39 40: Winnecke 4 Galaxy Galaxy double star

41 42: The Great Orion 43: de Mairan's 44: The Beehive 45: 46 47 48 49 50 Nebula Nebula

51: 52 53 54 55 56 57: 58 59 60

61 62 63: Sunflower Galaxy 64: Blackeye Galaxy 65: part of Leo Triplett 66: Leo Triplet member 67 68 69 70

71 72 73: 4 star Asterism 74 75 76: Butterfly Nebula 77: Cetus A 78 79 80

81: Bode's Galaxy 82: Cigar Galaxy 83: Southern 84 85 86 87: Virgo A 88 89 90

91 92 93 94 95 96 97: 98 99 100

101: Pinwheel Galaxy Our 102: Spindle Galaxy 103 104: Sombero Galaxy 105 106 107 108 109 110: M31 Satellite Galaxy http://mo-www.harvard.edu/MicroObservatory The MicroObservatory telescopes stand about 3 1/2 feet tall and weigh 135 pounds. The primary mirror is 6 inches in diameter. Located at observatories across the country, each uses a digital imaging device to record electronic images of the objects requested by observers. Observers receive this data by email notification following the observation, and using image processing software on their own computers, they can create beautiful portraits of the objects in our universe. To learn more about MicroObservatory, please visit http://mo-www.harvard.edu/MicroObservatory

1: 2: 3: 4: 5: The Messier Catalogue Key Type: Remnant Type: Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster : Constellation: Aquarius Constellation: Canes Ven Constellation: Constellation: Ser Caput Distance: 6,300 ly Distance: 37,500 ly Distance: 33,900 ly Distance: 7,200 ly Distance: 24,500 ly 1 (ly) = approximately 6 trillion miles in our own Milky Way galaxy. The oldest know Size: 10 ly Size: 3.7 ly Size: 11 ly Size: 75 ly Size: 165 ly Asterism: This object is a group of stars that appear objects in the universe, though some are still forming Age: 950 Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 11.4 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years in starburst galaxies and from galaxies colliding. User: Gladys Flashote, 14 User: Edgar Salazar, 29 User: Justin Branch, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Hyun Ju Pyon, 17 to be next to each other in the sky. Location: Boston, MA Location: Boston, MA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Diffuse Nebula: This object is a region of interstellar : This object is a young, loosely packed gas and dust in our own Milky Way galaxy, frequently cluster of stars in our own Milky Way galaxy. places of active . : This object is the gaseous shell of a Double star: This object is a pair of stars that appear dying star as it moves away from its core. to be next to each other in the sky. These objects are very short lived and dissipate into the 6: Butterfly Cluster 7: Ptolemy's Cluster 8: Lagoon Nebula 9: 10: surrounding space. Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Diffuse Nebula Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Galaxy: This object is a massive collection of billions Constellation: Scorpius Constellation: Scorpius Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Ophiuchus Constellation: Ophiuchus of stars, gas and dust. These objects quickly formed : This object is the remains of the Distance: 1,600 ly Distance: 800 ly Distance: 5,200 ly Distance: 25,800 ly Distance: 14,300 ly within 1 billion years after the Big Bang. explosion of a massive star at the end of its life. at the end Size: 12 ly Size: 20 ly Size: 140x60 ly Size: 90 ly Size: 83 ly of its life. Black holes, neutron stars & white dwarf stars Age: 95 million years Age: 240 million years Age: 2 million years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Globular cluster: This object is an old, dense cluster of remain long after the remnant quickly disperses from view. User: Stephanie Ring, 18 User: Kimberly Leonard, 18 User: Brian Summer, 17 User: Kimberly Leonard, 18 User: Andrea Moore, 17 Location: Abington, VA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC

11: Wild Duck Cluster 12: 13: Gr. Hercules Cluster 14: 15: 16: Eagle Nebula 17: Omega 18: 19: 20: Trifid Nebula Type: Open Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Diffuse Nebula Type: Open Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Diffuse Nebula Constellation: Constellation: Ophiuchus Constellation: Hercules Constellation: Ophiuchus Constellation: Pegasus Constellation: Ser Caput Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Ophiuchus Constellation: Sagittarius Distance: 6,000 ly Distance: 16,000 ly Distance: 25,100 ly Distance: 30,300 ly Distance: 33,600 ly Distance: 7,000 ly Distance: 5,000 ly Distance: 4,900 ly Distance: 28,000 ly Distance: 5,200 ly Size: 21 ly Size: 75 ly Size: 145 ly Size: 100 ly Size: 175 ly Size: 15 ly Size: 15 ly Size: 17 ly Size: 140 ly Size: 50 ly Age: 250 million years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 5.5 million years Age: 1 million years Age: 32 million years Age: 14-16 billion years Age: 7 million years User: Blane Okean, 12 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Steve Rapp, 56 User: Elise Holmes, 18 User: Taylor Delk, 17 User: Fazir Ali, 17 User: Edgar Salazar, 29 User: Elise Holmes, 18 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Ken Kosaku, 17 Location: Palm Beach, FL Location: Lexington, NC Location: Abington, VA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Boston, MA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: N. Andover, MA

21: 22: 23: 24: Milky Way Patch 25: 26: 27: Dumbbell Nebula 28: 29: 30: Type: Open Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Object Star Cloud Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Planetary Nebula Type: Globular Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Scutum Constellation: Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Cygnus Constellation: Capricornus Distance: 4,250 ly Distance: 10,400 ly Distance: 2,150 ly Distance: 10,000 ly Distance: 2,000 ly Distance: 5,000 ly Distance: 1,250 ly Distance: 18,300 ly Distance: 4,000 ly Distance: 26,100 ly Size: 10 ly Size: 97 ly Size: 15 ly Size: 25 ly Size: 23 ly Size: 22 ly Size: 2.5 ly Size: 60 ly Size: 11 ly Size: 90 ly Age: 4.6 million years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 220 million years Age: 500 million years Age: 90 million years Age: 89 million years Age: 3 - 4000 years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 10 million years Age: 12-13.5 billion years User: Elise Holmes, 18 User: Edgar Salazar User: Elise Holmes, 18 User: Alan Mcrae, 53 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Jane Marrow, 18 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Robert Rharaszti, 17 User: Alan Mcrae, 53 Location: Lexington, NC Location: Boston, MA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Burlington, MA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: N. Andover, MA Location: Burlington, MA

31: 32: M31 Satellite Galaxy 33: The Pinwheel Galaxy 34: 35: 36: 37: 38: 39: 40: Winnecke 4 Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Double Star Constellation: Andromeda Constellation: Andromeda Constellation: Triangulum Constellation: Perseus Constellation: Constellation: Auriga Constellation: Auriga Constellation: Auriga Constellation: Auriga Constellation: Distance: 2-3 million ly Distance: 2-3 million ly Distance: 3 million ly Distance: 1,400 ly Distance: 2,800 ly Distance: 4,100 ly Distance: 4,400 ly Distance: 4,200 ly Distance: 825 ly Distance: 510 ly Size: 250,000 ly Size: 8,000 ly Size: 50,000 ly Size: 14 ly Size: 24 ly Size: 14 ly Size: 20-25 ly Size: 25 ly Size: 7 ly Size: 5 light seconds Age: 10-13 billion years Age: 11-13+ billion years Age: 12 billion years Age: 180 million years Age: 100 million years Age: 25 million years Age: 300 million years Age: 220 million years Age: 230 million years Age: 7 billion years User: Cole Breeden, 17 User: Rishi Patel, 10 User: User: Jaime Gilbert, 17 User: unknown User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Miranda Hucks, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Summer Lanning, 17 Location: Lexington, NC Location: Cambridge, MA Location: Cambridge, MA Location: N. Andover, MA Location: unknown Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC

41: 42: Great 43: de Mairan's Nebula 44: The Beehive 45: Pleiades 46: 47: 48: 49: 50: Type: Open Cluster Type: Diffuse Nebula Type: Diffuse Nebula Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Galaxy Type: Open Cluster Constellation: Constellation: Orion Constellation: Orion Constellation: Cancer Constellation: Taurus Constellation: Puppis Constellation: Puppis Constellation: Hydra Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Monoceros Distance: 2,300 ly Distance: 1,600 ly Distance: 1,600 ly Distance: 577 ly Distance: 380 ly Distance: 5,400 ly Distance: 1,600 ly Distance: 1,500 ly Distance: 6 million ly Distance: 3,000 ly Size: 26 ly Size: 30 ly Size: 7.5 ly Size: 10 ly Size: 4.6 ly Size: 30 ly Size: 12 ly Size: 23 ly Size: 160,000 ly Size: 18 ly Age: 190 million years Age: 1 million years Age: 1 million years Age: 730 million years Age: 100 million years Age: 300 million years Age: 78 million years Age: 300 million years Age: 11-13+ billion years Age: 78 million years User: Matt Hartley, 17 User: Edgar Salazar, 29 User: Michael Richard, 50 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Danielle Thomas, 17 User: unknown User: Michael Graham, 17 User: John Everhart, 50 User: Lucas Wagner, 18 User: unknown Location: Lexington, NC Location: Boston, MA Location: Weymouth, MA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: unknown Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: unknown

51: Whirlpool Galaxy 52: 53: 54: 55: 56: 57: Ring Nebula 58: 59: 60: Type: Galaxy Type: Open Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Planetary Nebula Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Constellation: Canes Ven Constellation: Cassiopeia Constellation: Coma Ber Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Lyra Constellation: Lyra Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Virgo Distance: 37million ly Distance: 5,000 ly Distance: 56,400 ly Distance: 82,800 ly Distance: 16,600 ly Distance: 31,600 ly Distance: 4,100 ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Size: 65,000 ly Size: 19 ly Size: 220 ly Size: 300 ly Size: 100 ly Size: 85 ly Size: 2.4 ly Size: 50,000 ly Size: 90,000 ly Size: 120,000 ly Age: 10-13 billion years Age: 35 million years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 6-8000 years Age: 10-12 billion years Age: 10-11 billion years Age: 11.7 billion years User: Michael Graham, 17 User: James Seithalil, 16 User: Sam Parnell, 16 User: Elise Holmes, 18 User: Fazir Ali, 17 User: Hyun Ju Pyon, 17 User: Jaime Intveld, 16 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC

61: 62: 63: Sunflower Galaxy 64: Blackeye Galaxy 65: part of Leo Triplett 66: Leo Triplet member 67: 68: 69: 70: Type: Galaxy Type: Globular Cluster Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Open Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Ophiuchus Constellation: Canes Ven Constellation: Coma Ber Constellation: Leo Constellation: Leo Constellation: Cancer Constellation: Hydra Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Sagittarius Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 21,500 ly Distance: 37 million ly Distance: 19 million ly Distance: 35 million ly Distance: 35 million ly Distance: 2,700 ly Distance: 32,300 ly Distance: 26,700 ly Distance: 28,000 ly Size: 100,000 ly Size: 100 ly Size: 60,000 ly Size: 51,000 ly Size: 90,000 ly Size: 100,000 ly Size: 80 ly Size: 106 ly Size: 61 ly Size: 68 ly Age: 10-11 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 10-13 billion years Age: 10-13 billion years Age: 12-13 billion years Age: 12-13 billion years Age: 4 billion years Age: 13 billion years Age: 13 billion years Age: 13 billion years User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Hyun Ju Pyon, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Kelsey Janes, 13 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Summer Lanning, 17 User: Julieanne Allen, 17 User: Elise Holmes, 18 User: Alan Mcrae, 53 User: Alex Keith, 18 Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Kansas City, KS Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Burlington, MA Location: Lexington, NC

71: 72: 73: 4 star Asterism 74: 75: 76: Butterfly Nebula 77: Cetus A 78: 79: 80: Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Type: Star Group Type: Galaxy Type: Globular Cluster Type: Planetary Nebula Type: Galaxy Type: Diffuse Nebula Type: Globular Cluster Type: Globular Cluster Constellation: Sagitta Constellation: Aquarius Constellation: Aquarius Constellation: Pisces Constellation: Sagittarius Constellation: Perseus Constellation: Cetus Constellation: Orion Constellation: Lepus Constellation: Scorpius Distance: 11,700 ly Distance: 52,800 ly Distance: 2,000 ly Distance: 35 million ly Distance: 57,700 ly Distance: 3,400 ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 1,600 ly Distance: 41,100 ly Distance: 27,400 ly Size: 27 ly Size: 106 ly Size: 2.5 ly Size: 95,000 ly Size: 130 ly Size: 5 ly Size: 170,000 ly Size: 4 ly Size: 118 ly Size: 95 ly Age: 13 billion years Age: 13 billion years Age: 2 billion years Age: 12 billion years Age: 13 billion years Age: 20-40,000 years Age: 10 billion years Age: 1 million years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years User: Jared Robbins, 16 User: Alan Mcrae, 53 User: Matt Hartley, 17 User: unknown User: James Seithalil, 16 User: Tyler Leonard, 18 User: James Seithalil, 16 User: Ashley Dally, 17 User: Matt Carroll, 16 User: Michael Graham, 17 Location: Lexington, NC Location: Burlington, MA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Burlington, MA Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: N. Andover, MA Location: Lexington, NC

81: Bode's Galaxy 82: Cigar Galaxy 83: S. Pinwheel Galaxy 84: 85: 86: 87: Virgo A 88: 89: 90: Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Constellation: Ursa Major Constellation: Ursa Major Constellation: Hydra Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Coma Ber Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Coma Ber Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Virgo Distance: 12 million ly Distance: 12 million ly Distance: 15 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Size: 36,000 ly Size: 10,000 ly Size: 80,000 ly Size: 120,000 ly Size: 125,000 ly Size: 125,000 ly Size: 120,000 ly Size: 130,000 ly Size: 150,000 ly Size: 150,000 ly Age: 12-13 billion years Age: 10-11 billion years Age: 10-11 billion years Age: 11-12 billion years Age: 11-12 billion years Age: 12 billion years Age: 12 billion years Age: 13 billion years Age: 10.5 billion years Age: 10-11 billion years User: unknown User: Steve Rapp, 56 User: Summer Lanning, 17 User: Coman Wall, 17 User: Matt Zimmerman, 17 User: Coman Wall, 17 User: Jeannie Miller, 17 User: Coman Wall, 17 User: Coman Wall, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 Location: Kansas City, KS Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC

91: 92: 93: 94: 95: 96: 97: Owl Nebula 98: 99: 100: Type: Galaxy Type: Globular Cluster Type: Open Cluster Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Planetary Nebula Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Constellation: Coma Ber Constellation: Hercules Constellation: Puppis Constellation: Canes Ven Constellation: Leo Constellation: Leo Constellation: Ursa Major Constellation: Coma Ber Constellation: Coma Ber Constellation: Coma Ber Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 26,400 ly Distance: 3,600 ly Distance: 14.5 million ly Distance: 38 million ly Distance: 38 million ly Distance: 2,600 ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Distance: 60 million ly Size: 100,000 ly Size: 109 ly Size: 20-25 ly Size: 30,000 ly Size: 50,000 ly Size: 100,000 ly Size: 2 ly Size: 180,000 ly Size: 120,000 ly Size: 150,000 ly Age: 12-13 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 100 million years Age: 12-13 billion years Age: 13 billion years Age: 13 billion years Age: 6,000 years Age: 12 billion years Age: 12-13 billion years Age: 12-13 billion years User: John Everhart, 50 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Coman Wall, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Coman Wall, 17 User: John Everhart, 50 User: James Seithalil, 16 User: Michael Graham, 17 Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC

101: Pinwheel Galaxy Our 102: Spindle Galaxy 103: 104: Sombero Galaxy 105: 106: 107: 108: 109: 110: M31 Satellite Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Open Cluster Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Globular Cluster Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Type: Galaxy Constellation: Ursa Major Constellation: Draco Constellation: Cassiopeia Constellation: Virgo Constellation: Leo Constellation: Canes Ven Constellation: Ophiuchus Constellation: Ursa Major Constellation: Ursa Major Constellation: Andromeda Distance: 27 million ly Distance: 40 million ly Distance: 8,000 ly Distance: 50 million ly Distance: 38 million ly Distance: 25 million ly Distance: 19,600 ly Distance: 45 million ly Distance: 55 million ly Distance: 2.9 million ly Size: 170,000 ly Size: 60,000 ly Size: 15 ly Size: 50,000 ly Size: 100,000 ly Size: 30,000 ly Size: 80 ly Size: 180,000 ly Size: 200,000 ly Size: 20,000 ly Age: 10 billion years Age: 11 billion years Age: 25 million years Age: 10 billion years Age: 10 billion years Age: 10 billion years Age: 12-13.5 billion years Age: 10-11 billion years Age: 12 billion years Age: 10 billion years User: Erik Walsh, 18 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Coman Wall, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Scott Rumley, 17 User: Michael Graham, 17 User: Brian Summer, 17 User: Ashlet Tussey, 17 User: Ashlet Tussey, 17 User: Edgar Salazar Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Lexington, NC Location: Boston, MA