Twelve Month Tour of the Messier Catalog

June Messier Objects

This month we attack the heart of the

Virgo cluster of galaxies. We will

be hunting 13 galaxies all within less than 100 square degrees of sky.

The brightest of these galaxies, M87, is only 8.6 in total magnitude so this

will be a telescope only month. Plan on searching for small faint fuzzies,

dark skies are a must.

Successfully navigating the Virgo cluster is the biggest challenge in the

Messier Catalogue, and is affectionately known as “Heartbreak Ridge” to

marathoners. What makes the Virgo cluster such a challenge is the closeness

of the Messier objects to each other, and the large number of other galaxies

in this region. It is easy to become lost among the galaxies, and not be

able to tell which one you are looking at. Here are several tips that can

be of use as you navigate your way through the cluster.

Get a good chart of the region that shows not only the M objects, but also
the brighter NGC galaxies. You should also have pictures of the objects in

the region to help in confirmation of a sighting.
Use low power while searching. When you find an object you can switch to
higher powers to see more detail.
Avoid large aperature scopes. Small telescopes 6″-8″ in size make finding
the M-objects easier. Large scopes will show many of the other faint

galaxies and may help you become disoriented. Same is true for sky darkness.

Minimal light pollution will also help to “filter out” the dimmer galaxies

from the brighter Messier objects. In my moderately light polluted back

yard with an 8″ scope I can find the Messier objects easily, but can barely

see the other galaxies. Of course to really enjoy and get the most out of

any galaxy you want the largest scope and darkest skies you can find.
Plot your paths through the cluster, including a “home base”. Your
home base should be an easily recognizable M-object or field in the cluster.

This will be the starting point for any excursions you plan, and a place to

return to should you become lost. I use M84, M86 as my home base. I can

find this pair of galaxies easily by pointing my accurately aligned telrad

on the midpoint of a straight line from Denebola (beta leonis) to

Vindemiatrix (epsilon virginis). This matched pair of small fuzzy balls

will both be within a low power field of view every time I do this.

I’ve heard of other people using M87 as their home reference because of

it’s brightness.

The paths I like to use are
```
                    M84,M86 -> M87 -> M89,M90 -> M91 -> M88

                        |----> M87 -> M89 -> M58 -> M59,M60

                        |----> M99 -> M98 -> M100
```
As you move from an identified object in search of a new object keep track
of how far you have travelled. At low power the most you should have to move

between objects is 3 or 4 fields of view. If you go much farther than that

go back to your last object or all the way back to home.
Have patience and keep trying. Getting to know this area of sky is very
rewarding. Under dark skies and with a large scope I can easily get seven

galaxies into the same field of view. An amazing sight to behold.
Remember, you are looking for light that left it’s source about 70 million
years ago. Most of these objects at low power are not much more than dim,

fuzzy, out of focus looking stars. Allow your eyes to become fully dark

adapted and take your time looking at each field. When done with this

challenge be sure to swing over to M3 or M13 to let your photon starved

retinas feast on a real meal.