This particular star-hopping keeps us in the area of the Big Dipper, which is itself a part of the larger constellation of the Great Bear, Ursa Major. At this time of year the Big Dipper appears to be upside down. Maybe that’s why we always seem to have a wet spring. However, when the Big Dipper is upside down it also raises several Messier objects in that area of the sky to their highest points and easiest visibility for the year. In the course of this month’s star-hop, we’ll view the galaxies M81, M82, M101, M108, M109; the double star M40; and the planetary nebula, M97. Be sure to try to get out to dark skies possible to find these objects. Light pollution severely reduces your chances of finding all of them except M40.

Star-hop #1. M109 (NGC 3992)
Star-hop #2. M97 (NGC 3587) and M108 (NGC 3556)
Star-hop #3. M40 (Winnecke 4)
Star-hop #4. M101 (NGC 5457)
Star-hop #5. M81 (NGC 3031) and M82 (NGC 3034)

Star-hop #1. M109, NGC 3992. We begin our star-hop by centering our telescope on one of the stars that make up the bowl proper of the Big Dipper, Gamma (g ) Ursa Majoris. In binoculars and most smaller telescopes you should be able to find M109 in the same field of view as Gamma Ursa Majoris. Although M109 is a 9th magnitude galaxy, you can easily see it with larger binoculars and small telescopes under dark skies as a very faint galaxy and that is somewhat obscured by the light from Gamma Ursa Majoris. M109 appears very soft with little detail visible, small and elliptically shaped. With larger telescopes, M109 is easily visible where it can be seen with a cigar shape which may be possibly thicker at one end.

Star-hop #2. M97, NGC 3587, and M108, NGC 3556. These two objects are visible in the same low power field of view for binoculars and telescopes. You can locate both M97 and M108 by extending a line about 2/3’s of the way from Gama Ursa Majoris to Beta(b )Ursa Majoris. About 1/2 degree south of this point is the area where you should be able to find both objects together. M97 is located south of M108 in your field of view. M97, is a planetary nebula that is also known as the Owl Nebula. It got this name because in photographs, two "eyes" seem to be looking out of the center of the nebula, much like the eyes of an owl. In smaller telescopes and binoculars, M97 appears as very softly defined disk and almost not visible at all with indistinct and soft edges. It presents a uniform disk and forms a near square with 3 other nearby 6th, 7th, and 8th magnitude field stars. More detail is implied in averted vision, but a larger telescope is really necessary to see this object well. In larger telescopes, M97 is very visible with an essentially uniform appearance. It has a blue gray color and the view did not appear improved by using an OIII filter. A little more than 1/2 a degree to the north of M97 is the 10th magnitude galaxy, M108. In smaller telescopes M108 is a small galaxy and appears elliptical in shape with the profile of a cigar oriented at almost a right angle from M97. In larger telescopes, M108 is immediately visible and distinctly elongated in shape.

Star-hop #3. M40, Winnecke 4. M40 is an unremarkable double star located near Delta (d ) Ursa Majoris. I’m only including it in these series of star-hops in order to completely cover all of the Messier Objects. Locate M40 by centering Delta Ursa Majoris in your field of view. Look about 1 degree to the north-east of Delta Ursa Majoris to the 5.6 magnitude star 70 Ursa Majoris. From there, M40 is another 1/3 degree to the north east and easily seen as two 9th magnitude stars located very close together in the field of view. All of the other stars in their immediate vicinity are significantly fainter.

Star-hop #4. M101, NGC 5457. M101 is a low surface brightness galaxy that may be a challenge to find because its light is spread over a relatively large area. M101 is relatively easy to find because it forms a near equilateral triangle with the two end stars in the handle of the Big Dipper, Eta (h ) Ursa Majoris and Zeta (z ) Ursa Majoris. M101 is located about 5 3/4 degrees due east of Zeta Ursa Majoris and about 5 3/4 degrees north-north-east of Eta Ursa Majoris. In smaller telescopes and binoculars, M101 appears about 20’ in diameter, has a very low level of surface brightness, and is best seen in averted vision. There is a hint of stellaring on northern portion of the galaxy and some mottling is apparent. In larger telescopes, M101 appeared very large, but with a relatively low surface brightness. Nucleus is not bright, nor is its halo. Apparent mottling visible. Very faint, considering it is a Messier object.

Star-hop #5. M81, NGC 3031 and M82, NGC 3034. Our final star-hop takes us well away from the Big Dipper itself and further north in the direction of the North Star, Polaris. To locate these galaxies, extend a line from Delta Ursa Majoris through Alpha (a ) Ursa Majoris for a distance about equal to that between from Delta Ursa Majoris and Alpha Ursa Majoris. There you will find the 3.7 magnitude star 23 Ursa Majoris. M81 and M82 form a right triangle between Alpha Ursa Majoris and star 23 Ursa Majoris with a shorter distance between Ursa Majoris and M81/M82, and the longer leg between Alpha Ursa Majoris and M81/M82. Of the two galaxies, M82 is the more impressive under high magnification and reveals a spectacular dust lane. In smaller telescopes and binoculars, M81 and M82 are both visible in the field of view. M82 appears spindle shaped and oriented at a right angle to M81. M81 presents a bright sharp nucleus with a dimmer halo oriented perpendicular to M82. M81 appears elliptical in shape, not perfectly round. M82. In larger telescopes, M81 is very visible with a very distinct, bright core. M81’s halo seemed extended. M82 is very visible and presents a distinctly edge on view. The bisecting dust lane is apparent and distinct. M82 also has a distinctly mottled structure. There seem to be multiple bars across the longitudinal axis.