Desert Fire Astronomy

   The Andromeda Galaxy is a well known target among astronomers and a popular target for beginners.  Located about 2.4 million light years in the constellation Abndromeda; this galaxy is the closest spiral galaxy to our own Milky Way.  Catalogued as M31 in the Messier catalogue the Andromeda galaxy also has two smaller companion galaxies catalogued as M32 and a very faint M110. 

   M31 and M32 can be easily seen in my 80mm refractor under light polluted skies.  M32 shows as a dim fuzzy ball in small scopes and M31 shows as a moderate white ball.  There is also a third galaxy that can be seen from darker skies catalogued as M110.  M110 is a very faint smudge located just south of the larger and brighter M31. 

   All three of these galaxies were easily visable in my 16" f/4.5 dobsonian from a darker light polluted sky at Lake Pleasant, Arizona.  All three galaxies just fit inside my 35 Panoptic with a very nice view.  M110 shows nicely and M31 shows dust lanes from much dark skies.  A 16" dob is not needed to view all three galaxies but it is all about the sky conditions. 

Stay tunned for more observations of more objects.