Messier Catalog

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The Messier Catalog below is a list of astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles_Messier in his "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles" ("Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters"), originally published in 1771. Messier created this list because of his interest in finding comets. He developed the list to help differentiate between comets and other "fuzzy objects" that didn't move. These objects primarily comprised galaxies, open clusters, globular clusters, planetary nebula and supernova remnants.

My goal is to photograph each object, with my list and current photographs below. As of 9/3, I have 11 left to shoot. Most are not currently visible until we get into fall!

Messier Number Telescope Date Taken Ted's Messier Photo NGC/IC Number Common name Object type Distance (kly) Constellation Apparent magnitude
M1 T3 20140117 Messier1.jpg NGC 1952 Crab Nebula Supernova remnant 4.9-8.1 Taurus 8.4
M2 T31 20140413 Messier2.jpg NGC 7089 Cluster, globular 33 Aquarius 6.3
M3 T16 20140407 Messier3.jpg NGC 5272 Cluster, globular 33.9 Canes Venatici 6.2
M4 T12 20140413 Messier4.jpg NGC 6121 Cluster, globular 7.2 Scorpius 5.9
M5 T16 20140411 Messier5.jpg NGC 5904 Cluster, globular 24.5 Serpens 6.7
M6 T12 20140413 Messier6.jpg NGC 6405 Butterfly Cluster Cluster, open 1.6 Scorpius 4.2
M7 T12 20140413 Messier7.jpg NGC 6475 Ptolemy Cluster Cluster, open 0.65-1.31 Scorpius 3.3
M8 T12 20140312 Messier8.jpg NGC 6523 Lagoon Nebula Nebula with cluster 4.1 Sagittarius 6
M9 T9 20140413 Messier9.jpg NGC 6333 Cluster, globular 25.8 Ophiuchus 8.4
M10 T16 20140411 Messier10.jpg NGC 6254 Cluster, globular 14.3 Ophiuchus 6.4
M11 T8 20140413 Messier11.jpg NGC 6705 Wild Duck Cluster Cluster, open 6.2 Scutum 6.3
M12 T8 20140413 Messier12.jpg NGC 6218 Cluster, globular 15.7 Ophiuchus 7.7
M13 T16 20140407 Messier13.jpg NGC 6205 Great Globular Cluster in Hercules Cluster, globular 22.2 Hercules 5.8
M14 T16 20140411 Messier14.jpg NGC 6402 Cluster, globular 30.3 Ophiuchus 8.3
M15 T11 20140511 Messier15.jpg NGC 7078 Cluster, globular 33 Pegasus 6.2
M16 T21 20140327 Messier16.jpg NGC 6611 Eagle Nebula Nebula, H II region with cluster 7 Serpens 6
M17 T17 20140413 Messier17.jpg NGC 6618 Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula Nebula, H II region with cluster 6-May Sagittarius 6
M18 T13 20140413 Messier18.jpg NGC 6613 Cluster, open 4.9 Sagittarius 7.5
M19 T9 20140430 Messier19.jpg NGC 6273 Cluster, globular 28.7 Ophiuchus 7.5
M20 T12 20140413 Messier20.jpg NGC 6514 Trifid Nebula Nebula, H II region with cluster 5.2 Sagittarius 6.3
M21 T12 20140413 Messier21.jpg NGC 6531 Cluster, open 4.25 Sagittarius 6.5
M22 T13 20140413 Messier22.jpg NGC 6656 Sagittarius Cluster Cluster, globular 9.6-11.6 Sagittarius 5.1
M23 T12 20140413 Messier23.jpg NGC 6494 Cluster, open 2.15 Sagittarius 6.9
M24 T68 20190428 Messier24.jpg IC 4715 Sagittarius Star Cloud Milky Way star cloud ~10 Sagittarius 4.6
M25 T31 20140507 Messier25.jpg IC 4725 Cluster, open 2 Sagittarius 4.6
M26 T9 20140507 Messier26.jpg NGC 6694 Cluster, open 5 Scutum 8
M27 T24 20140525 Messier27.jpg NGC 6853 Dumbbell Nebula Nebula, planetary 1.148-1.52 Vulpecula 7.5
M28 T17 20140413 Messier28.jpg NGC 6626 Cluster, globular 17.9 Sagittarius 7.7
M29 T11 20140511 Messier29.jpg NGC 6913 Cluster, open 7.2 Cygnus 7.1
M30 T17 20140413 Messier30.jpg NGC 7099 Cluster, globular 27.8-31 Capricornus 7.7
M31 T20 20140121 Messier31.jpg NGC 224 Andromeda Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 2,430-2,650 Andromeda 3.4
M32 T20 20140121 Messier32.jpg NGC 221 Galaxy, dwarf elliptical 2,410-2,570 Andromeda 8.1
M33 T3 20140121 Messier33.jpg NGC 598 Triangulum Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 2,380-3,070 Triangulum 5.7
M34 T16 20140902 Messier34.jpg NGC 1039 Cluster, open 1.5 Perseus 5.5
M35 T20 20140410 Messier35.jpg NGC 2168 Cluster, open 2.8 Gemini 5.3
M36 T14 20140410 Messier36.jpg NGC 1960 Cluster, open 4.1 Auriga 6.3
M37 T24 20140306 Messier37.jpg NGC 2099 Cluster, open 4.511 Auriga 6.2
M38 T24 20140306 Messier38.jpg NGC 1912 Cluster, open 4.2 Auriga 7.4
M39 [T16] 20140803 Messier39.jpg NGC 7092 Cluster, open 0.8244 Cygnus 5.5
M40 T16 20140411 Messier40.jpg Winnecke 4 Double star WNC4 0.51 Ursa Major 9.7
M41 T31 20140903 Messier41.jpg NGC 2287 Cluster, open 2.3 Canis Major 4.5
M42 T20 20140218 Messier42.jpg NGC 1976 Orion Nebula Nebula, H II region 1.324-1.364 Orion 4
M43 T9 20140903 Messier43.jpg NGC 1982 De Mairan's Nebula Nebula, H II region
M44 100px NGC 2632 Beehive Cluster Cluster, open 0.577 Cancer 3.7
M45 T14 20140126 Messier45.jpg Pleiades Cluster, open 0.39-0.46 Taurus 1.6
M46 T9 20140903 Messier46.jpg NGC 2437 Cluster, open 5.4 Puppis 6.1
M47 T20 20140217 Messier47.jpg NGC 2422 Cluster, open 1.6 Puppis 4.2
M48 T12 20141128 Messier48.jpg NGC 2548 Cluster, open 1.5 Hydra 5.5
M49 T12 20140423 Messier49.jpg NGC 4472 Galaxy, elliptical 53,600-58,200 Virgo 9.4
M50 T12 20141128 Messier50.jpg NGC 2323 Cluster, open 3.2 Monoceros 5.9
M51 T16 20140222 Messier51.jpg NGC 5194, NGC 5195 Whirlpool Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 19,000-27,000 Canes Venatici 8.4
M52 T7 20140729 Messier52.jpg NGC 7654 Cluster, open 5 Cassiopeia 5
M53 T16 20140411 Messier53.jpg NGC 5024 Cluster, globular 58 Coma Berenices 8.3
M54 T12 20140413 Messier54.jpg NGC 6715 Cluster, globular 87.4 Sagittarius 8.4
M55 T31 20140430 Messier55.jpg NGC 6809 Cluster, globular 17.6 Sagittarius 7.4
M56 T20 20140409 Messier56.jpg NGC 6779 Cluster, globular 32.9 Lyra 8.3
M57 T11 20140408 Messier57.jpg NGC 6720 Ring Nebula Nebula, planetary 1.6-3.8 Lyra 8.8
M58 T14 20140405 Messier58.jpg NGC 4579 Galaxy, barred spiral ~63,000 Virgo 10.5
M59 T16 20140407 Messier59.jpg NGC 4621 Galaxy, elliptical 55,000-65,000 Virgo 10.6
M60 T16 20140407 Messier60.jpg NGC 4649 Galaxy, elliptical 51,000-59,000 Virgo 9.8
M61 T12 20140423 Messier61.jpg NGC 4303 Galaxy, spiral 50.2-54.6 Virgo 10.2
M62 T12 20140423 Messier62.jpg NGC 6266 Cluster, globular 22.2 Ophiuchus 7.4
M63 T16 20140202 Messier63.jpg NGC 5055 Sunflower Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 37,000 Canes Venatici 9.3
M64 T3 20140112 Messier64.jpg NGC 4826 Black Eye Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 22,000-26,000 Coma Berenices 9.4
M65 T17 20140505 Messier65.jpg NGC 3623 Leo Triplet Galaxy, barred spiral 41,000-42,000 Leo 10.3
M66 T12 20140505 Messier66.jpg NGC 3627 Leo Triplet Galaxy, barred spiral 31,000-41,000 Leo 8.9
M67 T21 20140219 Messier67.jpg NGC 2682 Cluster, open 2.61-2.93 Cancer 6.1
M68 T30 20140125 Messier68.jpg NGC 4590 Cluster, globular 33.6 Hydra 9.7
M69 T9 20140413 Messier69.jpg NGC 6637 Cluster, globular 29.7 Sagittarius 8.3
M70 [[T9] 20140731 Messier70.jpg NGC 6681 Cluster, globular 29.4 Sagittarius 9.1
M71 [T9] 20140731 Messier71.jpg NGC 6838 Cluster, globular 13 Sagitta 6.1
M72 T9 20140413 Messier72.jpg NGC 6981 Cluster, globular 53.40-55.74 Aquarius 9.4
M73 T30 20140430 Messier73.jpg NGC 6994 Asterism ~2.5 Aquarius 9
M74 T16 20140902 Messier74.jpg NGC 628 Galaxy, spiral 24,000-36,000 Pisces 10
M75 T9 20140413 Messier75.jpg NGC 6864 Cluster, globular 67.5 Sagittarius 9.2
M76 T18 20140902 Messier76.jpg NGC 650, NGC 651 Little Dumbbell Nebula Nebula, planetary 2.5 Perseus 10.1
M77 T7 20140902 Messier77.jpg NGC 1068 Cetus A Galaxy, spiral 47,000 Cetus 9.6
M78 T27 20141128 Messier78.jpg NGC 2068 Nebula, diffuse 1.6 Orion 8.3
M79 T9 20141005 Messier79.jpg NGC 1904 Cluster, globular 41 Lepus 8.6
M80 T12 20140413 Messier80.jpg NGC 6093 Cluster, globular 32.6 Scorpius 7.9
M81 T14 20140219 Messier81.jpg NGC 3031 Bode's Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 11,400-12,200 Ursa Major 6.9
M82 T11 20140128 Messier82.jpg NGC 3034 Cigar Galaxy Galaxy, starburst 10,700-12,300 Ursa Major 8.4
M83 T13 20140330 Messier83.jpg NGC 5236 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy Galaxy, barred spiral 14,700 Hydra 7.5
M84 T12 20140407 Messier84.jpg NGC 4374 Galaxy, lenticular 57,000-63,000 Virgo 10.1
M85 T16 20140407 Messier85.jpg NGC 4382 Galaxy, lenticular 56,000-64,000 Coma Berenices 10
M86 T12 20140407 Messier86.jpg NGC 4406 Galaxy, lenticular 49,000-55,000 Virgo 9.8
M87 T21 20140503 Messier87.jpg NGC 4486 Virgo A Galaxy, elliptical 51,870-55,130 Virgo 9.6
M88 T20 20140405 Messier88.jpg NGC 4501 Galaxy, spiral 39,000-56,000 Coma Berenices 10.4
M89 T16 20140520 Messier89.jpg NGC 4552 Galaxy, elliptical 47,000-53,000 Virgo 10.7
M90 T21 20140405 Messier90.jpg NGC 4569 Galaxy, spiral 55,900-61,500 Virgo 10.3
M91 T17 20140505 Messier91.jpg NGC 4548 Galaxy, barred spiral 47,000-79,000 Coma Berenices 11
M92 T16 201402019 Messier92.jpg NGC 6341 Cluster, globular 26.7 Hercules 6.3
M93 T3 20141005 Messier93.jpg NGC 2447 Cluster, open 3.6 Puppis 6
M94 T18 20140202 Messier94.jpg NGC 4736 Galaxy, spiral 14,700-17,300 Canes Venatici 9
M95 T17 20140505 Messier95.jpg NGC 3351 Galaxy, barred spiral 31,200-34,000 Leo 11.4
M96 T40 20190426 Messier96.jpg NGC 3368 Galaxy, spiral 28,000-34,000 Leo 10.1
M97 T21 20140319 Messier97.jpg NGC 3587 Owl Nebula Nebula, planetary 2.03 Ursa Major 9.9
M98 t16 20140520 Messier98.jpg NGC 4192 Galaxy, spiral 44,400 Coma Berenices 11
M99 T20 20140405 Messier99.jpg NGC 4254 Galaxy, spiral 44,700-55,700 Coma Berenices 10.4
M100 T16 20140223 Messier100.jpg NGC 4321 Galaxy, spiral 55,000 Coma Berenices 10.1
M101 T18 20140219 Messier101.jpg NGC 5457 Pinwheel Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 19,100-22,400 Ursa Major 7.9
M102 T21 20140316 Messier102.jpg (Not conclusively identified)
M103 T7 20140729 Messier103.jpg NGC 581 Cluster, open 10 Cassiopeia 7.4
M104 T17 20140408 Messier104.jpg NGC 4594 Sombrero Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 28,700-30,900 Virgo 9
M105 T17 20140505 Messier105.jpg NGC 3379 Galaxy, elliptical 30,400-33,600 Leo 10.2
M106 T16 20140223 Messier106.jpg NGC 4258 Galaxy, spiral 22,200-25,200 Canes Venatici 9.1
M107 T31 20140413 Messier107.jpg NGC 6171 Cluster, globular 20.9 Ophiuchus 8.9
M108 T16 20140411 Messier108.jpg NGC 3556 Galaxy, barred spiral 46,000 Ursa Major 10.7
M109 T16 20140307 Messier109.jpg NGC 3992 Galaxy, barred spiral 59,500-107,500 Ursa Major 10.6
M110 T20 20140121 Messier110.jpg NGC 205 Galaxy, dwarf elliptical 2,600-2,780 Andromeda 9