Three Basic Types of Galaxies
There are three basic types of galaxies, and they each look different. Most people probably think of a spiral when they think of a galaxy, but not all spirals are created or look the same through a telescope.
For example, there are barred spirals, where the galaxy’s core has a central bar, face-on spirals, where we see the galaxy as though we were looking straight down at it; and edge-on galaxies, where we see the galaxy from the side.
From an observational or photographic point of view, spiral galaxies are the most aesthetic. As the right equipment can show a lot of structure and detail. M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy. It is an excellent example of a face-on spiral, while M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, is an easy edge-on galaxy that anyone can enjoy.
Elliptical galaxies are precisely that; they often appear oval-shaped and are usually pretty bland and featureless. They can also be faint, making them a challenge to observe, but two brighter examples are M32 and M110 (NGC 205), both satellite galaxies of the Andromeda Galaxy.
An irregular galaxy is neither spiral nor elliptical. Many of these tend to be primordial and often originate from a time before spirals and ellipticals formed and, given their distance, lie beyond the reach of many amateur telescopes. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, satellites of our Milky Way galaxy, are irregular, but you’ll need to be in the southern hemisphere to see either one.
Eyeing the Galaxies
Unfortunately, binoculars will only show a little when it comes to the type of galaxies. As the targets in question are too distant and faint to allow for detailed observation. Instead, the challenge – and the thrill – comes in tracking down those galaxies for yourself. While understanding the immensity of what you’re looking at. As with the Andromeda Galaxy, they each contain potentially hundreds of billions of stars, trillions of planets, and countless numbers of nebulae, star clusters, black holes, and strange stars.
Being able to gather more light, telescopes can see further and reveal more detail, but you may only see a little more with a smaller scope. Mid-sized and large scopes can show more detail, including the galaxy’s spiral arms and the dark dust lanes that bisect the types of galaxies that appear edge-on to us.
The Season for Galaxies is Spring
If there’s one time of year best suited to observing galaxies, it’s spring. At that time of year, the Earth is in an excellent position to look away from our Milky Way galaxy and out into the depths of space. As a result, we can see far distant galaxies that lie millions of light-years out.
Bode’s Galaxy
For example, the galaxy pair of M81 (Bode’s Galaxy) and M82 (the Cigar Galaxy) can be found high in the skies to the north throughout the season. You can find them by drawing a line through Phecda and Dubhe, two of the four stars that make up the bowl of the Big Dipper. It then continues for roughly an equal distance beyond.
Both can be detected with binoculars, but you’ll need a telescope to get the best view. You can increase the magnification to around 50x and still fit the pair within the same field of view, with M81 appearing as an oval glow with a bright core that fades off toward the edges and M82 showing as an elongated streak, some three or four times longer than it is wide.
A large aperture scope and a higher magnification can reveal more detail in both galaxies. For example, mid-sized and large scopes at 100x can show the faint spiral arms of M81 and the dark band that splits M82 in half. The galaxy will also appear to have other dark marks and texture along its entire length.
Whirlpool Galaxy
Also high in the spring sky is M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, despite being found within the same binocular field of view as Alkaid. This star marks the end of the dipper’s handle and lies just over the border in neighboring Canes Venatici.
A famous face-on spiral galaxy and a favorite with astrophotographers. The chances are you’ve seen images of this before. Besides the large spiral galaxy itself (NGC 5194, or M51a). There’s a smaller dwarf galaxy known as NGC 5195 (or M51b) that appears at the end of one of its arms. In reality, the two galaxies interact as they pass one another in space. It will most likely result in M51b being devoured by the larger galaxy.
You can see both with a small telescope, but they may only appear as two faint, hazy circular glows. A medium-sized scope and a magnification of around 100x will show a bright core and some texture in M51a. But the arm connecting it to M51b may remain invisible. A large scope will show more detail in the larger galaxy, including its spiral structure, dark dust lanes, and the connecting arm to M51b.
Galaxy in Summer
Besides the galaxy pair of M81 and M82, another bright galaxy in Ursa Major remains visible through summer. Like last season’s M51, the Whirlpool Galaxy, M101 can be found within the same binocular field of view as Alkaid, but it can be challenging unless you have dark skies.
Although the galaxy is reasonably bright, its light is spread out over a relatively large area, making it a little tricky to locate. However, if the conditions are right – the skies are dark, and the air is steady – it’s possible to detect the galaxy with binoculars.
Like M51, you won’t see much with either binoculars or a small scope. The galaxy will likely only appear as a faint and misty circular patch with a slightly brighter core. A face-on spiral, mid-sized scopes, and a magnification of close to 100x will start showing its structure, with two arms potentially visible. Larger scopes can reveal further details, including clumps of star-forming regions and texturing throughout the arms.
If you live under dark skies, away from light pollution, you can see, the Milky Way, on almost any night of the year. However, there’s one time of year when the Milky Way is at its best: during the warm summer months.
The Milky Way
When we look up at the Milky Way, we look at the galaxy from inside one of its arms. The Earth’s vantage point changes as it orbits the Sun. During the summer months, the Earth’s night side faces the galaxy’s center.
More specifically, the galaxy’s center appears within the boundaries of Sagittarius. A constellation best seen from around mid-July to mid-August. The brightest stars of Sagittarius form a conspicuous teapot-shaped asterism. The heart of our galaxy appearing as steam emanating from the teapot’s spout.
It is a great area to scan with binoculars, or any telescope at low power. You will see that the misty river of the Milky Way is made up of countless stars huddled close together. However, there’s one particular area, just a little way above the lid of the teapot, that’s particularly interesting.
Sagittarius Star Cloud
M24, also known as the Sagittarius Star Cloud. It is located in another arm of the galaxy, closer to the core than our own. While it’s bright enough to be seen with the naked eye under dark skies, it’s best seen with binoculars or a telescope.
That said, it’s too large to be seen in its entirety through a telescope, even at low power. And a small scope will show a field of stars through a low magnification eyepiece, with two dark patches of dust obscuring the light of the stars that lay beyond. NGC 6603, a small, dense star cluster, can be glimpsed toward the northwestern edge. Mid-sized scopes can reveal more of the cloud, but NGC 6603 requires a high magnification to resolve its members. The view through larger scopes can be breathtaking. With numerous groups and chains of stars becoming apparent against a backdrop formed by unresolved stars of uniform brightness.
Neighbors in Autumn
Besides the Milky Way, there’s one other galaxy you can quickly see with your own eyes under dark skies. M31, the Andromeda Galaxy. It appears as a tiny, elongated misty patch, and at a distance of 2.5 million light-years. It’s the most distant object visible without optical aid. Despite the mind-boggling length (its light left the galaxy as the first humans were starting to walk the Earth), the Andromeda Galaxy is the closest central galaxy to our own.
Using a Small Telescope
Through a small telescope, it appears as a large, elongated misty oval with a reasonably bright core. You might also see the dark dust lane that seems to slice through the galaxy in photographs. And its two small satellite galaxies, M32 and M110 (aka NGC 205.)
With a mid-sized scope, it’s possible to see a second, fainter dark dust lane along with some mottling and texture throughout the galaxy’s halo. A magnification of more than 100x can also resolve the core into individual stars, with the galaxy’s center starting to resemble a globular cluster.
Large scopes go one step further. A very high magnification of 250x or more can show bright clumps within the galaxy where stars are being born. Spotting some of the galaxy’s attendant globular clusters is also possible, but you’ll need to know where to look for them.
Triangulum Galaxy
We can spy upon another neighboring galaxy this season, but unfortunately, it’s not so easily seen as M31.
M33, the Triangulum Galaxy, is roughly half a million light-years more distant than M31. However, that’s not why it’s harder to see. While it’s relatively bright (theoretically visible to those with good eyesight and dark skies), its light is spread over an area roughly twice the size of the full Moon.
As a result, it appears fainter than it usually would, making it a little tricky to spot. A small telescope at low power will barely reveal it, and it could disappear entirely if you look directly at it. Looking at it with your peripheral vision will show the galaxy as brighter at the core.
Unfortunately, the view only improves a little with a mid-sized scope. At the same time, the galaxy’s elongated form becomes a little more conspicuous. The increase in aperture won’t necessarily result in a visible increase in detail. However, a large scope can start to show the ghostly spiral arms of the galaxy. Some texture near the core and faint, dark lanes of gas and dust following the curves of the arms. Look carefully; you can also see many individual stars. Star-forming regions, and several of the galaxy’s globular clusters.
Galactic Whirlpools for Winter
After seeing two of our closest galactic neighbors in the autumn. You might also be tempted to continue your adventure throughout the winter. Due to their distance and corresponding faintness, galaxies can be tricky to find and observe. The galaxies of winter typically remain faithful to this general rule. However, one of these galaxies, M77, is at least relatively easy to find. It is located in the constellation Cetus, the Whale, within the same binocular field of view as Delta Ceti.
Through a small telescope at low power, you’ll notice a faint star just to the east of the galaxy. At first glance, you might think you’re looking at a double star. However, look carefully, and you’ll see that one of the stars is a little hazy, and this haziness gives the galaxy away.
Increase the magnification to around 100x, and the galaxy appears spherical and not stellar. It’s reasonably bright, with a large core extending about halfway out to the halo’s edge.
A medium-sized scope won’t reveal much more, and while you may be able to detect some texture in the halo. You’ll need a large scope to see any hint of the arms or the galaxy’s dark lanes.
Northern Constellation Camelopardalis
Other winter galaxy lies in the northern constellation Camelopardalis. It’s a faint constellation that’s difficult to identify. Making the galaxy NGC 2403 equally challenging to find. But on the plus side, it’s bright enough to be detected with binoculars.
It’s located roughly halfway between Muscida (Omicron Ursae Majoris) and HR 2209, a faint star on the edge of naked-eye visibility in Camelopardalis. The galaxy appears as an elongated haze with a slightly brighter core through a small telescope. While a mid-sized scope will show a few individual stars in the galaxy’s halo.
Large scopes can show the galaxy’s arms, with areas of star formation lending some texture to their form. There’s also the possibility of spotting the galaxy’s dark dust lanes cutting across the halo and faint stars scattered throughout.
Each type of galaxies in deep space can be tricky to spot. However, it is worth the time and effort spent locating these targets. As they will impress once you set your eyes on them.
