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Sky-Tonight.com / Nebulae / M109
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map fragment is intended to illustrate celestial motion across the sky, emphasizing both bearing and elevational perspectives. The map's center point corresponds to the transit, showcasing celestial objects at their highest point, while elevation gradually decreases towards the map edges. This dynamic representation offers insights into the changing positions of celestial bodies with a focus on their bearing and elevational trajectories.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

M109 Position and Visibility Tonight

M109

Where is M109 right now?

M109 is located in the constellation Ursa Major. At the current time, it is above the horizon at an altitude of 32 degrees toward the northeast from your location, with an apparent magnitude of 9.88.
Twilight begins at 03:27 local time, and at that moment, M109 will appear at an altitude of 32 degrees toward the northeast.

M109 Visibility on April 10

M109 is visible during the evening hours

M109 Rise and Set Timetable

TimeElevation
M109 is always above the horizon
Sunset17:3644°
Civil sunset18:0448°
Twighlight start18:3653°
Astrosession begin19:0858°
M109 is always above the horizon
M109 transit21:5174°
Moon Rise, 52.1% illuminated 00:5854°
Astrosession end03:0835°
Twighlight end03:4130°
Civil sunrise04:1326°
Sunrise04:4122°
Moon Set10:341°

Track M109 Position Throughout the Night

← Fri, 10 April 2026 →

Elevation (degrees)
Time
Altitude
Azimuth
Shift the map to change the time and observe M109 changing position in the night sky.

M109 - Barred Spiral Galaxy

M109 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Ursa Major. It was discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781 and later cataloged by Charles Messier. M109 is known for its bright central bar and well-defined spiral arms.

M109 spans about 120,000 light-years across and contains a massive population of stars, gas, and dust. The galaxy is approximately 83 million light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 9.8, making it visible with a small telescope.

M109 Image Gallery

DSS Blue

M109 photo taken with blue filter
These images are valuable for highlighting the presence of younger, hotter stars, which emit more light in the blue wavelengths.

DSS Red

M109 photo taken with red filter
These images are excellent for detecting older, cooler stars, as well as emission nebulae, which glow primarily in the red due to hydrogen alpha emissions.

DSS Near-Infrared

M109 photo taken with Near-Infrared filter
These images can penetrate dust clouds that obscure visible light, revealing structures and objects hidden within.

DSS Composite image

M109 color image
DSS Color images are composite images created by combining the blue, red, and often near-infrared images to produce a full-color representation.

The photos are taken from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS2), which was produced at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) under NASA contract, using data from the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), the European Southern Observatory (ESO), and the National Geographic Society-Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS II).

Special thanks to the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh, and the California Institute of Technology for their significant contributions.

Finder Chart for M109

Double-click to unlock the map.
Object nameM109
Field of view
Limiting magnitude
M109 coordinates11.95999, 53.37453
Center coordinates11.95999, 53.37453

M109 Passage Through Night

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Current position of M109

Time03:27
Latitude37.3541
Longitude-121.955
M109 elevation32°
M109 Azimuth45°
Here you can see the current position of the M109 on the map, as well as its positions for rise and set. This tool allows you to track the M109's movement throughout the night, providing you with accurate and up-to-date information.

Annual motion of M109


M109 will be visible until August, 25, when it will move too close to the Sun. During this time, its proximity to the Sun will cause it to disappear from the night sky, making it unobservable for a while.
Time
DateSat, 11 April 2026
Twighlight start19:05
Twighlight end03:02
Twighlight duration8h 57m
RiseM109 is always up
SetM109 is always up
Elevation at transit74°
Transit time21:47
Equatorial coordinatesRA: 11h 57m 35s", Dec: 53° 22' 28s
Magnitude10
ConstellationUrsa Major
The graph illustrates the annual visibility pattern of a M109, providing a comprehensive overview of its daily appearances and transit times throughout the year.
The graph is structured with the vertical axis showing the hours of the day, ranging from 12 AM to 12 AM the next day, while the horizontal axis spans each day of the year.
The reddish shaded area indicates the periods when the M109 is above the horizon, visible to observers. The white line marks the times when the celestial object reaches its highest point in the sky each day, known as the transit.
You can also view detailed visibility information in a dedicated table, including exact rise, transit, and set times for each date.

Astrometric & Physical Parameters of M109

Coordinates & Visibility

Right Ascension11.95999°
Declination53.37453°
Magnitude9.88
ConstellationUrsa Major
Elevation32.2°
Azimuth44.6°

Data Credits

The nebulae information on this page is sourced from the OpenNGC project, developed by Matteo Verga. OpenNGC provides detailed data on the NGC catalog, which is a valuable resource for exploring deep-sky objects such as nebulae.

For more details or to contribute to OpenNGC, visit the official GitHub repository: OpenNGC on GitHub.