| Name | Surfboard Galaxy |
| Designation(s) | M108, NGC 3556 |
| Object Type(s) | Galaxy |
| Relevant Catalog(s) | All (Chron), Messier, NGC |
| Obs. Lat/Long | 42° 17', 073° 57' |
| Date and Time Observed | 2024-04-26 23:32:00 |
| Instrument | EdgeHD 8" f10-2,032mm FL |
| Camera | ASI294mc-Pro |
| Image Details | Up is 91.0 degrees E of N. Exposures 30s@305g, UV/IR Cut Filter. Darks subtracted, no flats. Dithered and recentered in SharpCap. No guiding. |
| Description | The Catalog's description of M97 mentions a "Nebula near [M97 and Beta UMa], [position] yet to be determined." Méchain claimed discovery in his famous May 6, 1783 letter to Bernoulli. Messier added a position by hand on his personal Catalog which was identified by Owen Gingerich in 1953 as NGC 3556. Hence, M108 was added to the catalog. <--> This is an attractive spiral viewed nearly side-on. The spiral is somewhat elongated, so the combination of the pointed ends and the foreshortening from our angle of view makes it appear like a surfboard. |
| Related Observations | M108 (2) |
| Catalog Links | |
