Messier 102

Messier 102 (also known as NGC 5866 ) is a lenticular galaxy with dimensions 4.7 ' x 1.9 ' and the apparent magnitude of 9.90 mag in the constellation Draco. As they considered the prototype of a lenticular galaxy, ie a galaxy of Hubble type S0, is considered, it is also known under the name Spindle Galaxy. This name, however, is ambiguous because, for example, also made to also lenticular galaxy NGC 3115 with the same name reference.

Today M 102 is generally associated with the NGC object NGC 5866. However, there is a controversy whether Messier had actually meant this galaxy, or whether it is a double observation of M 101 to M 102. Others suspect that Messier instead NGC 5879 or NGC 5928 meant, but both are fainter than NGC 5866 the entry was originally observed number 102 in Messier's catalog of Pierre Méchain, but the carry- in Messier's final catalog was done in a hurry and without coordinate data. ; only with the incorrect description that the place of the nebula between the stars is ο Boo and ι Dra.