- Charles Messier
Messier Catalog
Charles Messier was an astronomer who lived from 1730 to 1817. His dedication was discovering and observing comets, and he found indeed 13 and succeeded in 7 more independent co-discoveries. Because he did not at all care about other objects in the sky, he compiled a list that would help him not to run in these objects again. This list is known as the Messier catalog. It contains 110 objects, including nebulae, clusters and galaxies. The list is still very popular today with amateur astronomers, because the beautiful objects are relatively easy to find. This makes them great targets for both, observation and imaging.
|
Messier number |
Common Name |
Constellation |
R.A. |
DEC |
App |
Type |
|
M1 |
Crab Nebula |
Taurus |
5:34.5 |
22°01′ |
8.4 |
Planetary Nebula |
|
M2 |
Aquarius |
21:33.5 |
-00°49′ |
6.5 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M3 |
Canes Venatici |
13:42.2 |
28°23′ |
6.4 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M4 |
Scorpius |
16:23.6 |
-26°32′ |
5.9 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M5 |
Serpens |
15:18.5 |
2°05′ |
5.8 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M6 |
Butterfly Cluster |
Scorpius |
17:40.0 |
-32°13′ |
4.2 |
Open Cluster |
|
M7 |
Ptolemy Cluster |
Scorpius |
17:54.0 |
-34°49′ |
3.3 |
Open Cluster |
|
M8 |
Lagoon Nebula |
Sagittarius |
18:03.7 |
-24°23′ |
5.8 |
Emission Nebula |
|
M9 |
Ophiuchus |
17:19.2 |
-18°31′ |
7.9 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M10 |
Ophiuchus |
16:57.2 |
-4°06′ |
6.6 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M11 |
Wild Duck Cluster |
Scutum |
18:51.1 |
-6°16′ |
5.8 |
Open Cluster |
|
M12 |
Ophiuchus |
16:47.2 |
-1°57′ |
6.6 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M13 |
Hercules Cluster |
Hercules |
16:41.7 |
36°28′ |
5.9 |
Globular Cluster |
|
M14 |
Ophiuchus |
17:37.6 |
-3°15′ |
7.6 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M15 |
Pegasus |
21:30.0 |
12°10′ |
6.4 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M16 |
Eagle Nebula |
Serpens |
18:18.9 |
-13°47′ |
6 |
Emission Nebula |
|
M17 |
Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula |
Sagittarius |
18:20.8 |
-16°11′ |
7 |
Nebula |
|
M18 |
Sagittarius |
18:19.9 |
-17°08′ |
6.9 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M19 |
Ophiuchus |
17:02.6 |
-26°16′ |
7.2 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M20 |
Trifid Nebula |
Sagittarius |
18:02.4 |
-23°02′ |
8.5 |
D.Neb. |
|
M21 |
Sagittarius |
18:04.7 |
-22°30′ |
5.9 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M22 |
Sagittarius Cluster |
Sagittarius |
18:36.4 |
-23°54′ |
5.1 |
Globular Cluster |
|
M23 |
Sagittarius |
17:56.9 |
-19°01′ |
5.5 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M24 |
Sagittarius Star Cloud |
Sagittarius |
18:16.4 |
-18°29′ |
4.5 |
Open Cluster |
|
M25 |
Sagittarius |
18:31.7 |
-19°15′ |
4.6 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M26 |
Scutum |
18:45.2 |
-9°24′ |
8 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M27 |
Dumbbell Nebula |
Vulpecula |
19:59.6 |
22°43′ |
8.1 |
Planetary Nebula |
|
M28 |
Sagittarius |
18:24.6 |
-24°52′ |
6.9 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M29 |
Cygnus |
20:23.0 |
38°32′ |
6.6 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M30 |
Capricornus |
21:40.4 |
-23°11′ |
7.5 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M31 |
Andromeda Galaxy |
Andromeda |
0:42.7 |
41°16′ |
3.4 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M32 |
Andromeda |
0:42.7 |
40°52′ |
8.2 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M33 |
Pinwheel Galaxy |
Triangulum |
1:33.8 |
30°39′ |
5.7 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M34 |
Perseus |
2:42.0 |
42°47′ |
5.2 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M35 |
Gemini |
6:08.8 |
24°20′ |
5.1 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M36 |
Auriga |
5:36.3 |
34°08′ |
6 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M37 |
Auriga |
5:52.0 |
32°33′ |
5.6 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M38 |
Auriga |
5:28.7 |
35°50′ |
6.4 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M39 |
Cygnus |
21:32.3 |
48°26′ |
4.6 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M40 |
Winnecke 4 |
Ursa Major |
12:22.2 |
68°05′ |
8 |
dbl |
|
M41 |
Canis Major |
6:47.0 |
-20°44′ |
4.5 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M42 |
Great Orion Nebula |
Orion |
5:35.3 |
-5°27′ |
4 |
Nebula |
|
M43 |
De Mairan’s Nebula |
Orion |
5:35.5 |
-5°16′ |
9 |
Nebula |
|
M44 |
Beehive Cluster |
Cancer |
8:40.0 |
19°59′ |
3.1 |
Open Cluster |
|
M45 |
Pleiades |
Taurus |
3:47.5 |
24°07′ |
1.2 |
Open Cluster |
|
M46 |
Puppis |
7:41.8 |
-14°49′ |
6.1 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M47 |
Puppis |
7:36.6 |
-14°30′ |
4.4 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M48 |
Hydra |
8:13.8 |
-5°48′ |
5.8 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M49 |
Virgo |
12:29.8 |
8°00′ |
8.4 |
Elliptical galaxy |
|
|
M50 |
Monoceros |
7:03.0 |
-8°20′ |
5.9 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M51 |
Whirlpool Galaxy |
Canes Venatici |
13:29.9 |
47°12′ |
8.1 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M52 |
Cassiopeia |
23:24.2 |
61°35′ |
6.9 |
Op. Gx. |
|
|
M53 |
Coma Berenices |
13:12.9 |
18°10′ |
7.7 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M54 |
Sagittarius |
18:55.1 |
-30°29′ |
7.7 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M55 |
Sagittarius |
19:40 .0 |
-30°68′ |
7 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M56 |
Lyra |
19:16.6 |
30°11′ |
8.2 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M57 |
Ring Nebula |
Lyra |
18:53.6 |
33°02′ |
9 |
Planetary Nebula |
|
M68 |
Virgo |
12:37.7 |
11°49′ |
9.8 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M59 |
Virgo |
12:42.0 |
11°39′ |
9.8 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M70 |
Virgo |
12:43.7 |
11°33′ |
8.8 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M61 |
Virgo |
12:21.9 |
4°28′ |
9.7 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M62 |
Ophiuchus |
17:01.2 |
-30°07′ |
6.6 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M68 |
Sunflower Galaxy |
Canes Venatici |
13:15.8 |
42°02′ |
8.6 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M64 |
Black Eye Galaxy |
Coma Berenices |
12:56.7 |
21°41′ |
8.5 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M50 |
Leo’s Triplet |
Leo |
11:18.9 |
13°05′ |
9.3 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M66 |
Leo’s Triplet |
Leo |
11:20.3 |
12°59′ |
9 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M67 |
Cancer |
8:50.3 |
11°49′ |
6.9 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M68 |
Hydra |
12:39.5 |
-26°45′ |
8.2 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M69 |
Sagittarius |
18:31.4 |
-32°21′ |
7.7 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M70 |
Sagittarius |
18:43.2 |
-32°18′ |
8.1 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M70 |
Sagitta |
19:53.7 |
18°47′ |
8.3 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M72 |
Aquarius |
20:53.5 |
-12°32′ |
9.4 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M73 |
Aquarius |
20:68.0 |
-12°38′ |
ast |
||
|
M74 |
Pisces |
1:36.7 |
15°47′ |
9.2 |
S |
|
|
M75 |
Sagittarius |
20:06.1 |
-21°55′ |
8.6 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M76 |
Cork Nebula, Little Dunbbell |
Perseus |
1:42.2 |
51°34′ |
11.5 |
Planetary Nebula |
|
M77 |
Cetus |
2:42.7 |
0°01′ |
8.8 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M78 |
Orion |
5:46.7 |
0°03′ |
8 |
Nebula |
|
|
M79 |
Lepus |
5:24.2 |
-24°33′ |
8 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M80 |
Scorpius |
16:17.0 |
-22°59′ |
7.2 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M81 |
Bodes Nebula |
Ursa Major |
9:55.8 |
69°04′ |
6.8 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M82 |
Cigar Galaxy |
Ursa Major |
9:56.2 |
69°41′ |
8.4 |
Ir. Gx. |
|
M83 |
Southern Pinwheel Galaxy |
Hydra |
13:37.7 |
-29°52′ |
7.6 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M84 |
Virgo |
12:25.1 |
12°53′ |
9.3 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M85 |
Coma Berenices |
12:25.4 |
18°11′ |
9.2 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M86 |
Virgo |
12:26.2 |
12°57′ |
9.2 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M87 |
Virgo A |
Virgo |
12:30.8 |
12°24′ |
8.6 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
M88 |
Coma Berenices |
12:32.0 |
14°25′ |
9.5 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M89 |
Virgo |
12:35.7 |
12°33′ |
9.8 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M87 |
Virgo |
12:36.8 |
13°10′ |
9.5 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M91 |
Coma Berenices |
12:35.4 |
14°30′ |
10.2 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M92 |
Hercules |
17:17.1 |
43°08′ |
6.5 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M93 |
Puppis |
7:44.6 |
-23°52′ |
6.2 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M94 |
Canes Venatici |
12:50.9 |
41°07′ |
8.1 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M95 |
Leo |
10:44.0 |
11°42′ |
9.7 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M96 |
Leo |
10:46.8 |
11°49′ |
9.2 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M97 |
Owl Nebula |
Ursa Major |
11:14.9 |
55°01′ |
11 |
Planetary Nebula |
|
M98 |
Coma Berenices |
12:13.8 |
14°54′ |
10.1 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M87 |
Pin Wheel Nebula |
Coma Berenices |
12:18.8 |
14°25′ |
9.8 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M100 |
Coma Berenices |
12:22.9 |
15°49′ |
9.4 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M101 |
Ursa Major |
14:03.2 |
54°21′ |
7.7 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M80 |
Probably M101 duplicate |
14:03.2 |
54°21′ |
7.7 |
dup |
|
|
M103 |
Cassiopeia |
1:33.1 |
70°42′ |
7.4 |
Open Cluster |
|
|
M104 |
Sombrero Galaxy |
Virgo |
12:40.0 |
-11°37′ |
8.3 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
M105 |
Leo |
10:47.9 |
12°35′ |
9.3 |
Elliptical Galaxy |
|
|
M106 |
Canes Venatici |
12:19.0 |
47°18′ |
8.3 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M107 |
Ophiuchus |
16:32.5 |
-13°03′ |
8.1 |
Globular Cluster |
|
|
M108 |
Ursa Major |
11:11.6 |
55°40′ |
10 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M109 |
Ursa Major |
11:57.7 |
53°23′ |
9.8 |
Spiral Galaxy |
|
|
M110 |
Andromeda |
0:40.3 |
41°41′ |
8 |
Elliptical Galaxy |