Messier 109 (also called M109, NGC 3992, or the Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major. It is located at about 60 to 70 million light-years away from Earth. It is one of the brightest galaxies in the Ursa Major Cluster.
The size of this galaxy is estimated to be 176,170 light-years across. It can be found near the bright star Gamma Ursae Majoris (also called Phecda). It is too faint to see with the naked eye, but it can be seen through a telescope.
The galaxy was found by a French astronomer Pierre Méchain in 1781. Charles Messier later added it in his catalogue. It has a bright bar across its center with spiral arms that contains many young stars, as well as gas and dust clouds. Astronomers think its shape may have been affected by three nearby satellite galaxies.
A supernova called SN 1956A was discovered in this galaxy since March 1956.
