My Notes: I forgot my 1.4x teleconverter so I’m having to make do with only my 400mm lens. The rest of the kit is the same. Fuji X-T4 and iOptron Skyguider Pro. Once again I am using my new carbon fiber tripod as described in M60.

I photographed this on August 15, 2021. I was very happy with the focus I achieved. The only problem is I had my lens set to 148mm after trying to locate the object and forgot to zoom back in. It wasn’t until I’d been capturing for over an hour that I realized my mistake and then zoomed in to 400mm.

Charlies Messier originally only saw the larger of the two galaxies on October 13, 1773. He noted credit of the second galaxy to Pierre Méchain on March 21, 1781. In Messier’s 3rd catalog, he notes M41 as being both galaxies.

The pair of galaxies are interacting. The smaller galaxy, NGC 5195 orbits the larger. Currently it is about 500,000 ly behind the larger. The last close encounter between the two was 400 million years ago.

Messier Notes: (January 11, 1774) ‘Very Faint nebula without stars . . . M. Messier discovered this nebula on the 13th of October. 1773, while observing the comet which appeared in that year. . . .It is double, each having a brilliant centre… The two atmospheres touching; one fainter than the other. Reviewed several times.’

Bode Notes: (January 15th 1774) ‘A small, faint, luminous nebula, possibly of an oblong shape.’

Rosse Notes: (Spring 1845) ‘Spiral convolutions; . . . with successive increase of optical power, the structure has become more complicated . . .’ ‘ The connection of the companion with the greater nebula is not to be doubted . . . the most conspicuous of the spiral class.’