M102 | NGC 5866 | Crab Nebula | Taurus | 44,000,000 Light Years Away
Messier 102 is a controversial object in the Messier catalog, as there is considerable uncertainty and debate regarding its identity. Charles Messier did not observe this object himself, and its inclusion in the catalog is attributed to a misidentification. The most widely accepted hypothesis suggests that Messier 102 is a duplicate entry for Messier 101, the Pinwheel Galaxy, and that the mistake originated from a transcription error or confusion during the cataloging process.
Due to the ambiguity surrounding Messier 102, there is no concrete information available about its properties, location, or characteristics. Modern astronomical databases and catalogs typically do not recognize Messier 102 as a distinct object, reinforcing the notion that it may be an erroneous inclusion in the Messier catalog. The uncertainty surrounding Messier 102 highlights the challenges and complexities involved in historical astronomical observations, cataloging, and the potential for errors in identifying and documenting celestial objects.