Also Known as: NGC 205
Object Type: Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy
Constellation: Andromeda
Distance from Earth: 2.69 million light years
Apparent Magnitude: 8.92
Coordinates: RA 00H 40M 22.05446S DEC 41 deg 41 min 07.4963 sec
Actual Size: 17,000 light years in diameter
Apparent Dimensions: 21.0 arc-minutes x 11.0 arc-seconds
Discovered by: Charles Messier never added M110 to his catalogue, but he depicted both this object and M32 on a drawing of M31, the “Great Andromeda Nebula.”.
He first observed M110 on August 10, 1773.
Description: M110 is a dwarf elliptical galaxy that is a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy in the Local Group.
This small elliptical galaxy has approximately 10 billion stars, as well as at least eight globular clusters (the brightest of which can be seen with large telescopes).
Messier 110 shows evidence of recent star forming activity as it contains a population of young blue stars at its center.
It also has some dust, which is unusual for a galaxy of this type and likely a result of interaction with its large neighbor, M31.
M110 is classified as a peculiar elliptical galaxy because of its unusual dark structures and signs of recent star formation.
The galaxy does not appear to have a supermassive black hole at its center.
Messier 110 is often catalogued as a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, which makes it the only galaxy of this type listed in the Messier catalogue.
It is, however, much brighter than other galaxies of this kind and is sometimes classified simply as a spheroidal galaxy.
Unlike M32, M110 lacks evidence for a supermassive black hole at its center.
Tidal interactions with M31 may have stripped away a significant fraction of the expelled gas and dust.
Click Below Image(s) for Full Size:
Messier 110 is easy to find as it lies next to the Andromeda Galaxy.
With a telescope, M110 is fairly easy to spot near the core of the much larger and brighter Andromeda galaxy.
Smaller telescopes will only reveal a faint, diffuse patch of light, while larger telescopes will unveil an oval shape with a brighter core.
The best time to view M110 is during November.
Platesolve
M110 Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy