Spring Galaxy Season: 7 Must-See Deep-Sky Targets

Live Science highlights a spring galaxy season with seven top deep-sky targets to observe: Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) with its companion NGC 5195; Bode’s Galaxy (M81) and the Cigar Galaxy (M82); Pinwheel Galaxy (M101); the Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628); the Whale and Hockey Stick (NGC 4631 and NGC 4656); Markarian’s Chain in the Virgo/Coma region; and the Sombrero Galaxy (M104). The piece notes this is a prime time for galaxy hunting, recommends using a GoTo or smart telescope to ease finding faint targets, and mentions the Messier Marathon as a spring observing challenge, with dark skies and a bit of patience yielding dramatic views even from modest gear.