Anybody Have a List of Galaxies with Easiest Arms to See?

[Scott Harrington]

So, for a long time, I assumed that very few galaxies showed one or two (spiral) arms in apertures under 12-inches. And I have to say that I'm still of that opinion. But I'd like to embark on a multi-year project where I try to observe galaxies that have the easiest/brightest/most distinct spiral arms visible. Does anyone know of a list? I really am not sure where to start except with M51!

I will admit that the impetus for this project was seeing NGC 4536 (Gottlieb's pick) in Jimi Lowrey's 48-inch on a poor night just last week. I was floored at how easy it was to see the arms and bothered that I didn't recognize the galaxy.

M51 is a great one. Then M99. I've never chased arms specifically since even with M101, I have more H II regions logged than most, but no sightings of the arms. I just have never looked for them specifically and basically just need to create a long list and on good nights, take a look with the hope of seeing some arm(s) in my 10-inch or less.

Thanks,

Scott H.

[Wouter van Reeven]

Hey Scott,

I have seen the spiral arms of the following galaxies in my home made 6" Newt:

M 31

M 33

M 51

M 81

M 101

M 96 (only S-shape)

NGC 2903 (only S-Shape)

Clear skies, Wouter

— 
Lime and limpid green a second scene,
A fight between the blue you once knew.
Floating down the sound resounds
Around the icy waters underground
[Pink Floyd - Astronomy Domine]

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[Steve Gottlieb]

There are so many more opportunities to see spiral structure in your 16”, why not use that scope?  Then if you make a positive sighting, at least you know where to look and an idea of what to expect in the 10”. 

-- Steve

On May 2, 2025, at 12:10 PM, Wouter van Reeven <wou...@van.reeven.nl> wrote:

Hey Scott,

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/adventuresindeepspace/85213525-8762-4DC7-BF34-E755A0F27183%40van.reeven.nl.

[Zane Landers]

I can see arms in M81, M51 (not super distinct, they look more like rings but whatever), NGC 2903, M66, M33, M31, and M101 with my 6" f/4. This is with access to skies 21.6 SQM and better.

- Zane

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/adventuresindeepspace/06416C3C-BEA3-4FEF-B465-BE8C09F0DF3D%40gmail.com.

[Scott Harrington]

I think you've got the right idea, Steve. Best to go for as many as possible with my 16-inch and narrow down the list myself.

Thanks for your lists Wouter and Zane. I've seen an arm or two of NGG 6946 clearly in my 16-inch, but will have to see about my 10-inch.

Scott H.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/adventuresindeepspace/CAGXG2WOprZm0yTWOQEmq0iz4enyw7A9imwi%2B5fzniG9Yqo-aVw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Mel Bartels]

16" and larger...

M51
M101
M66
M61
NGC5248
M81
M100
NGC5247
NGC3893
NGC4725
NGC2903
M31
M32
M110
M33

Mel

[Akarsh Simha]

Mel, this is an excellent list, thank you for sharing.

Regards

Akarsh

 

Mel

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[Akarsh Simha]

I'd add NGC 1300 and NGC 1365 for the more southern latitudes. For the even more southern latitudes the galaxy in Dorado NGC 1566 comes to mind (I've never seen it).

Also suspect NGC 4088 is a good one.

M 74 is dim, but I imagine it will show well under good sky conditions.

I was amazed when I looked at NGC 5248 a few years ago in my 18". That galaxy ought to be better known. I never knew about NGC 5247, so I will give it a try next time.

Clear Skies

Akarsh

[Akarsh Simha]

Not exactly spiral arms, but the pseudoring galaxy NGC 3646 shows up pretty well in my 18". We recently looked at it in Jimi's 48", so it's fresh on my mind.

[Wouter van Reeven]

I've seen the spiral arms of 1566 in my 12" dob from Chile fairly easily. 

Another easy one: M 83

Wouter

— 
Lime and limpid green a second scene,
A fight between the blue you once knew.
Floating down the sound resounds
Around the icy waters underground
[Pink Floyd - Astronomy Domine]

On 4 May 2025, at 01:40, Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Steve Gottlieb]

From Costa Rica with a 13” dob (as Wouter mentioned, M83 is an easy one):

NGC 1566: Bright, large, elongated 3:2 ~N-S.  With careful viewing the halo extends to ~3'x2'.  A spiral arm is attached on the west side and curves towards the north beyond the main body of the galaxy.  On the eastern side a low surface brightness arm is attached (on an E-W line with a mag 12 star close following the galaxy) and extends a little to the south on the eastern side of the main body.  I was surprised to see the spiral arms so clearly!

NGC 1433: Fairly bright, large, oval 3:2 WNW-ESE, broad concentration with a large halo.  The overall dimensions are ~3.5'x2.2'.  I had a strong impression of extensions or the beginnings of two spiral arms (sketch made and verified); one arm begins at the west end and starts to curve towards the east on the south side while the other is symmetrically placed on the following end and hooks west on the north side.  On images these arms connect to form a perfect barred ring.

M83: beautiful view with easy spiral structure in excellent seeing conditions.  The main central portion of the galaxy appears to be in motion, due to the embedded spiral structure and darker ribbons add to this impression.  The three principal arms extending from the galaxy were well seen although they are fairly tightly wound to the main body.

Steve

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/adventuresindeepspace/A033B7AE-A8DF-48B0-A722-2E43FA5C955C%40van.reeven.nl.

[Scott Harrington]

Thanks for sharing your list, Mel! I'm grateful for it and hopefully projects like this will help to keep my aperture fever down for a few more years!

On Sat, May 3, 2025 at 6:39 PM Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com> wrote:

I'd add NGC 1300 and NGC 1365 for the more southern latitudes. For the even more southern latitudes the galaxy in Dorado NGC 1566 comes to mind (I've never seen it).

Yeah, I've seen the arms of the former two with my 16-inch. 

Also suspect NGC 4088 is a good one.

Yup, seen its arm(s) with my 16-inch. Not easy to separate from the body due to inclination angle. 

M 74 is dim, but I imagine it will show well under good sky conditions.

Could just detect one arm last autumn in my 10-inch. 

I was amazed when I looked at NGC 5248 a few years ago in my 18". That galaxy ought to be better known. I never knew about NGC 5247, so I will give it a try next time.

I've been aware of NGC 5248 due to the faint H II regions, but have never looked at it. As for NGC 5247, Keith Rivich and I looked at this one since it was on my list for the multiple H II regions in it. We had a great view! 

Clear Skies

Akarsh

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[Mel Bartels]

>>> aperture fever

I can see a big scope in your future all the way from Oregon... <smile>

Mel

[Akarsh Simha]

There seems to be a similar discussion on CN:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/964648-spring-galaxy-hunt-with-a-16-f45-truss-dob-%E2%80%93-my-observing-report/#entry14130396
https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/907611-spiral-galaxies-and-the-16-aperture/

I think it might be a cool observing project to collect and feature on the Adventures website.

Regards

Akarsh

[Akarsh Simha]

BTW, I just noticed M 61 is not on this list yet. One of the best spirals for smaller scopes.

I am starting to put together a list here, please feel free to comment / ask for edit access:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14dBq6bF47kG24bzYngzuBs0Brauflkj9qqd6GI4mi0o/edit?usp=sharing

Regards

Akarsh

[Paul Alsing]

Ngc 1232

\Paul Alsing

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From: adventures...@googlegroups.com <adventures...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Akarsh Simha <akars...@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 9:24 PM
To: Adventures In Deep Space <adventures...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: [ADS] Anybody Have a List of Galaxies with Easiest Arms to See?

 

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