M109 - the barred spiral that swirls at the heart of the Big Bear
Messier 109 is a subtle but rewarding barred spiral galaxy in Ursa Major, a faint treasure tucked near the bright star Phecda in the bowl of the Big Dipper. It is one of the most northerly galaxies in the Messier catalog, and while not as showy as some of its famous neighbors, its delicate glow and graceful spiral structure make it a worthy catch for patient observers. The challenge of finding and teasing out its form is part of its appeal—this is a galaxy that rewards persistence and careful viewing.
Through small telescopes in dark skies, M109 appears as a soft oval haze, elongated and faint against the background sky. With steady skies and averted vision, stargazers can detect its subtle bar-like central region, hinting at the structure that defines this galaxy type.
Larger telescopes reveal more of the galaxy’s personality. The bar structure becomes clearer, and suggestions of the spiral arms may come into view under dark skies. Knowing that this galaxy lies more than 80 million light-years away adds to the sense of awe—its faint light has been traveling across the universe since long before humans first walked the Earth.
Messier 109 may be dim, but therein lies the challenge. It invites stargazers to slow down and to refine their observing skills. As a barred spiral galaxy seen nearly face-on, it is a reminder that even faint objects hold beauty and detail. M109 offers both challenge and reward—a soft glow in the eyepiece that connects us to the grandeur of the deep universe.
When Charles Messier first observed this galaxy and added it as his 109th object in 1781, little did he know the confusion it would cause decades later. His original description was not very precise and there are actually two barred-spiral galaxies in that area, now known as NGC 3992 and NGC 3953. Astronomers weren't sure which was the one he recorded. Today, the consensus is clear: Messier 109 corresponds to NGC 3992. In any case, both make fine targets for amateur astronomers.
M109
Rating: 🟢 Solid Catch
Level: 🟡 Challenging
How:
When: Feb - Jun
🌟 A Convenient Location Near the Big Dipper Finding deep-sky objects can be tricky, but M109 is unusually easy to locate. It lies just under one degree from Phecda, one of the bright “corner stars” of the Dipper’s bowl. This makes it an accessible target for beginners learning to star-hop, and a quick add-on for anyone already observing galaxies in Ursa Major.
🌟 A Classic Barred Spiral Structure Messier 109 is one of the finest examples of a barred spiral galaxy in the Messier catalog. While its details are subtle, observers using medium to large telescopes under dark skies can detect the elongated bar and, with patience, hints of the spiral arms. This makes it a rewarding target for anyone wanting to see a galaxy type that resembles our own Milky Way.
🌟 A Challenge that Builds Skill Because its surface brightness is relatively low, M109 is not immediately obvious in small telescopes or in light-polluted skies. This challenge encourages the use of observing techniques such as averted vision and careful adaptation to darkness. Adding it to your list helps sharpen your skills and boosts confidence for tackling other faint galaxies.
🌟 A Journey Across Deep Time The light reaching your telescope from M109 has traveled roughly 83 million years to arrive here. Observing it is a direct encounter with the distant past, a chance to reflect on how vast the universe is and how small our own place in it may seem. Adding M109 to your list provides not just a visual reward, but a perspective-shifting experience.
Spiral galaxy: a galaxy with a flat, rotating disk of stars, gas, and dust, featuring winding spiral arms and a central bulge.
M109
Since M109 (NGC 3992) is so close to the star Phecda in the Big Dipper, it is easy to find the right location. But seeing M109 can be a challenge because it is so dim. Dark skies with no Moon and a medium or larger telescope will increase the chances of success.
First, locate the Big Dipper high in the northern sky, and focus on the “bottom left” corner of its bowl—that corner star is Phecda (+2.43).
Using a telescope finder, point to Phecda and center it in a low-powered eyepiece. Since M109 is only a little more than 0.5° to the east, slowly scan eastward. Because Phecda is so luminous, you may want to move it just outside your eyepiece field of view. This prevents glare from washing out the faint oval glow of the galaxy. When positioned correctly, M109 should appear as a dim, elongated smudge nearby. Using averted vision will help bring out its oval form and suggest its bar-shaped core. Once found, increase magnification and look for details.
Bonus target: NGC 3953. For decades, stargazers weren't sure if what Charles Messier identified as his 109th target in 1781 was NGC 3992 or NGC 3953. Both are close to Phecda, are barred spiral galaxies and are of similar brightness (+9.62). NGC 3992 is the larger of the two: 8.1' x 5.6' vs 6.1' x 3.1'. Consensus today is that NGC 3992 is M109 but here's your chance to check them both out and decide for yourself. To find NGC 3953, slowly scan southwards a little more than 1°. Good luck!
M109
✅ Use Phecda as Your Guide M109 is conveniently located less than one degree southeast of Phecda, one of the bright stars forming the bowl of the Big Dipper. Center Phecda in your finder or eyepiece, then gently nudge toward the southeast to bring the galaxy into view. This bright landmark makes M109 easier to locate than many other faint galaxies.
✅ Choose a Dark, Transparent Night Because M109 has low surface brightness, it benefits greatly from dark skies and steady transparency. Wait for a moonless night, avoid observing when the galaxy is low on the horizon, and let your eyes adjust fully to the dark for the best chance of seeing its bar and oval shape.
✅ Start Low, Then Increase Magnification Begin with a low-power, wide-field eyepiece to sweep up Phecda and locate the faint oval haze of M109 nearby. Once you have it in the field, step up the magnification. Medium powers can help separate the galaxy from the background glow and bring out its bar-like core.
✅ Use Averted Vision M109’s details are subtle, and staring straight at it may cause it to fade from view. Instead, try averted vision—look slightly to the side of the galaxy and let your more sensitive peripheral vision draw out the faint oval form. This trick often reveals the bar and hints of spiral structure.
M109
❌ Naked Eye
With the naked eye, Messier 109 is beyond reach. Even under the darkest skies, this faint barred spiral galaxy never condenses into a visible patch, and all you will see is the bright bowl star Phecda that marks its location in Ursa Major. The galaxy itself requires optical aid to detect.
❌ Binoculars
Through binoculars, M109 remains elusive. At best, very large binoculars under pristine skies may show the faintest hint of a misty glow near Phecda, but for most stargazers the star’s brilliance overwhelms the galaxy. Binoculars are better used for orienting yourself to Phecda’s location, preparing you to swing a telescope into the right area.
⚠️ Small Telescope
A small telescope reveals M109 as a dim oval patch of light just southeast of Phecda. In 3–4 inch instruments under dark skies, it appears as a hazy, elongated glow without much internal detail. The thrill comes from simply detecting this distant galaxy and recognizing its shape, even though its features remain indistinct.
✅ Medium Telescope
With a medium telescope of 6–10 inches, M109 begins to show more character. The elongated core becomes more noticeable, suggesting the barred structure, and with patience and averted vision, subtle hints of its spiral arms may flicker into view. The galaxy separates more clearly from the surrounding star field, giving a sense of its true form.
✅ Large Telescope
In a large telescope, M109 transforms into a more defined barred spiral. The central bar is unmistakable, stretching across its core, and careful observing may reveal the delicate arcs of its spiral arms extending outward.
M109
Messier 109 is at its best in Bortle 1–2 skies, where its bar and subtle spiral arms can be appreciated. It remains visible but increasingly diminished through Bortle 3–6 skies, and it becomes a very difficult or invisible target under the glare of Bortle 7+ skies.
🟣 In Bortle 1–2 skies, Messier 109 emerges as a delicate but rewarding barred spiral galaxy. Its oval glow is distinct against the dark background, and with patient observation the bar-shaped core and hints of spiral structure can be seen. The surrounding star field adds to its sense of depth and setting.
Under Bortle 🔵3–🟢4 skies, M109 remains accessible, but its fainter outer structure is subdued. The oval haze is still visible, and the bar is suggested with careful observing, though the spiral arms are harder to distinguish. It is still a pleasing galaxy, but with less contrast than in pristine skies.
At Bortle 🟡5–🟠6, M109 becomes more of a challenge. The galaxy appears as a dim, oval patch with little definition, and the bar feature is difficult to make out. It is detectable for those who know where to look, but it loses much of its elegance and requires patience and averted vision.
🔴 In Bortle 7+ skies, M109 is nearly washed away by light pollution. At best it may show as a vague, featureless smudge near Phecda, and in the worst conditions it disappears altogether. The beauty of its structure is lost, and only the brightest inner haze might be glimpsed with effort.
M109
DSOs within 48° or 2 outstretched hands at arm's length
M109 - the barred spiral that swirls at the heart of the Big Bear
First, locate the Big Dipper high in the northern sky, and focus on the “bottom left” corner of its bowl—that corner star is Phecda (+2.43).
Using a telescope finder, point to Phecda and center it in a low-powered eyepiece. Since M109 is only a little more than 0.5° to the east, slowly scan eastward. Because Phecda is so luminous, you may want to move it just outside your eyepiece field of view. This prevents glare from washing out the faint oval glow of the galaxy. When positioned correctly, M109 should appear as a dim, elongated smudge nearby. Using averted vision will help bring out its oval form and suggest its bar-shaped core. Once found, increase magnification and look for details.
Bonus target: NGC 3953. For decades, stargazers weren't sure if what Charles Messier identified as his 109th target in 1781 was NGC 3992 or NGC 3953. Both are close to Phecda, are barred spiral galaxies and are of similar brightness (+9.62). NGC 3992 is the larger of the two: 8.1' x 5.6' vs 6.1' x 3.1'. Consensus today is that NGC 3992 is M109 but here's your chance to check them both out and decide for yourself. To find NGC 3953, slowly scan southwards a little more than 1°. Good luck!
