| Description | Recorded October 21, 1780: "Nebula at the right foot of Andromeda, seen by M. Méchain on September 5, 1780, & he reports: 'This nebula contains no star; it is small and faint' On the following October 21, M. Messier looked for it with his achromatic telescope, & it seemed to him that it was composed of nothing but small stars, containing nebulosity, & that the least light employed to illuminate the micrometer wires causes it disappear" <--> Interesting to compare this object to M57 (Ring Nebula). Assuming their underlying forms are similar, is the difference the angle of view? Instead of sideways, if the dumbbell were pointed directly at us, would they be similar? I suspect so. |
