Messier Objects

Messier 101

A Wrinkle in Time STEM EXTENSION

Is Uriel real? 

NO, and neither is MALAK, the star it rotates around in A WRINKLE IN TIME.

But...

But, the location of Uriel in space, MESSIER 101, is a real place in the universe.

Here's a picture of it taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Mrs Whatsit calls Messier 101 a spiral nebula, but since this book was written, astronomers have reclassified (renamed) it the PINWHEEL GALAXY.

The Messier Catalogue (aka Messier Objects) is a list of giant objects in space.

An astronomer named Charles Messier discovered the objects over 200 years ago. 

Messier objects are WAY bigger than planets or stars. They are things like GALAXIES.

The image here shows a bunch of pictures of some of the Messier Objects.

GALAXIES are giant groups of starts and planets. Earth is in the MILKY WAY Galaxy. The Milky Way is a SPIRAL galaxy.

Here's a closer look at our home galaxy.

The PINWHEEL Galaxy is a different galaxy, far from the Milky Way. This galaxy is also a spiral galaxy.

The Pinwheel Galaxy is 21 million light years from Earth. 

This means if you could travel at the speed of light (way, way faster than a rocket), it would take 21 million years to get there! Watch this video to learn more about light years.

Multiple Choice

Is Uriel a real planet?

• yes

• no

• maybe

Multiple Choice

What galaxy is Uriel located in?

• the Milky Way

• the Pinwheel Galaxy

• Malak

Multiple Choice

What is Messier 101?

• a glaxy

• a star

• the place where Meg's mom works

Multiple Choice

What is our home galaxy?

• the Pinwheel Galaxy

• the Milky Way

• Uriel

Multiple Choice

What do Messier 101 and the Milky Way have in common?

• they are both the same size

• they are both comets

• they are both spiral galaxies

Multiple Choice

How long would it take light from earth to get the Pinwheel Galaxy?

• 1000 years

• 21 million years

• 200 days

Multiple Choice

It would take a rocket 20,000 years to travel ONE light year. How long would a rocket take to get to the Pinwheel Galaxy from earth?

• 20,000 x 2

• 20,000 x 21 million

• 80 years

Multiple Choice

It would take a rocket 420 BILLION years to get to the Pinwheel Galaxy. Why haven't astronauts traveled there?

• They would die way before they got there

• They would get bored on such a long trip

• Astronauts DID go there in 2013.