M102

lenticular galaxy seen edge-on · in Draco

48.8 million light-years from Earth

Seen almost exactly edge-on, with a sharp, thin lane of dust along its disc. Whether it is really M102 is debated: Méchain later wrote that M102 was M101 counted twice, but his description fits this galaxy, and most modern lists accept it.

• 48.8 million light-years · about 90,000 light-years across
• wisps of dust rise about 1,300 light-years out of its disc

kind

galaxy

catalogue

M102 · NGC 5866

size

89,600 light-years across