Messier 102

Messier 102 (also known as M102) is a galaxy listed in the Messier Catalogue that cannot be unambiguously identified. Its original discoverer Pierre Méchain retracted his discovery two years after publication and said that it was a duplicate observation of Messier 101.^[1] Later historical evidence favors that M102 is actually the galaxy NGC 5866,^[2] although other galaxies have been suggested as possible identities. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) considers it to be the same as NGC 5866.^[3]

^ O'Meara, Stephen James. "M102: Mystery Solved", Sky and Telescope, volume 109, number 3, page 78, March 2005
^ Cite error: The named reference m102dseds was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Garner, Rob (22 October 2019). "Messier 102 (The Spindle Galaxy)". NASA. Retrieved 21 December 2019.

[OMeara-1] O'Meara, Stephen James. "M102: Mystery Solved", Sky and Telescope, volume 109, number 3, page 78, March 2005

[m102dseds-2] Cite error: The named reference m102dseds was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[3] Garner, Rob (22 October 2019). "Messier 102 (The Spindle Galaxy)". NASA. Retrieved 21 December 2019.

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