M83 = NGC5236 ( 13h 37.0m -29°52´, 8.0 mag. )


This large barred spiral galaxy on Hydra / Centaurus border was found by Lacaille in 1752. Messier observed it on Feb. 17, 1781. Messier observed it on Feb. 17, 1781. It contains numerous star forming regions and supernovae explode there about once every 10 - 15 years - so far 6 were discovered (the recored shared with NGC6946 on Cepheus / Cygnus border). M83 is located about 15 million ly away. To find this galaxy star-hop about 3°40' NNW from 1 Centauri (see finder chart below).

The above image was taken on May 9, 1999 from Sooke, BC. Cookbook 245 LDC CCD camera was used on Celestron Ultima 8 f6.3 telescope autoguided with CB211LDC CCD camera attached to 500mm f8 telephoto lens. The image is composed of 8 white integrations (-IR filter only, 240 sec. each) processed with AIP4WIN.

Field of view corresponds to 18 x 13 arcminutes with North to the right.


Map created in Guide 7.0 - 7°45' x 7°45'. North is up.


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© Jan Wisniewski