So what are the easiest galaxies to see with telescope or binoculars? Are you interested in galaxies? Do you like observing start and planets? Now Insider Monkey recently published an article in which we can find lots of interesting facts about his topic. If you are a beginner, binoculars can be a better choice than a telescope, as they offer wider view – you can look both eyes through them, and are much pore portable and easier to use than a telescope, although they are the best for observing constellations.
Galaxies can be divided inot three main types by their shape: Spiral, Elliptical and Irregular. Elliptical galaxies have spheroid shapes, but because we can only see them in two dimensions, they look like elliptical or oval-shaped disks. Spiral galaxies have a spherical structure in their center, called the bulge. Irregular galaxies do not have a specific structural pattern, hence their name. Galaxy with an exceptionally fast rate of star formation is classified as the starburst galaxy.
In order to make their list, Insider Monkey has consulted the website BinocularSky. You won’t find our Galaxy, The Milky Way Galaxy in the list as it would be too obvious. For now we have picked three galaxies from their list: Cat’ Eye Galaxy (M94:NGC 4736) Apparent Magnitude 8.2, The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83:NGC 5263) Apparent Magnitude 8.0; and The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) Apparent Magnitude 8.0. Cat’ Eye Galaxy (M94:NGC 4736) Apparent Magnitude 8.2 is located in the constellation of Canes Venatici lies Messier 94. It is a spiral galaxy, and known as Cat Eye galaxy. It’s 16 million light years from the Earth. M94 has two starburst rings of interstellar material, which is a rare feature. It requires extremely good conditions to be seen with binoculars, and even then appears only as a small, dim patch of light, it is best observed during the spring. The next one is The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83:NGC 5263). Messier 83 is situated in the eastern section of the constellation of Hydra. It features well-defined spiral arms, and because of that it’s nicknamed the southern Pinwheel galaxy. M83 is a barred spiral galaxy, and is also a starburst galaxy. The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253) Apparent Magnitude 8.0 is an intermediate spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor, classified as a starburst galaxy, discovered by Caroline Herschel – the first woman who was awarded a Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society. It is also known as the Silver Coin galaxy. Only one supernova has been discovered in NGC 253 which is a relatively low number of supernovas for a starburst galaxy.
For any further interesting information, you should read Insider Monkey’s article about the easiest galaxies to see with telescope or binoculars.
