M110 is a satellite galaxy of the great Andromeda Galaxy. It is dimmer and less condensed than the Andromeda Galaxy's other nearby satellite galaxy M32. It was independently discovered on the night of August 27, 1783 by Caroline Herschel, the same night that she discovered NGC 891. Many historians believe, however, that Messier may have been the first to observe the galaxy in 1773, though it was never entered into his original 18th century catalog. During the 20th century, several astronomers who studied Messier's work proposed that this galaxy and six others known to Messier be formally added to the original list, bringing the total number of objects in the Messier catalog to 110.
M110 is a large bright E5 elliptical galaxy. The galaxy is so elliptical that it is twice as long as it is wide. M110 is 5,400 light-years long. M110 shines at about magnitude 9. The galaxy is composed of millions of faint stars. It can be seen with a 3-inch telescope.
M110 is a member of the Local Group of galaxies. Our Milky Way galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy are the two dominate members of the Local Group, a galaxy cluster of about 30 galaxies. M33 is also a member of the gravitationally bound Local Group.
This is a CCD image taken with an ST-8E at prime focus on a Takahashi Epsilon 250 at f3.4.
M110 (NGC 205)
Constellation: Andromeda
RA: 00h 40m 33.5s Dec: +41d 41' 59"
October 6, 2002
Image by Sid Leach
Dark sky site near Phoenix, Arizona
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