The Messier Catalogue of Objects To ObserveThe Messier Catalogue is a set of astronomical objects to which resembled, but were not, comets and should be avoided by comet hunters.
This article is part of a series of articles. Please use the links below to navigate between the articles.
- Constellation Guide and Associated Mythology
- What are Asteroids, Meteors and Comets?
- What Are Binary Stars and Double Stars
- What are Variable Stars and How to Observe Them
- What are Supernova and Supernovae?
- What Nebula and Nebulae, What are the Types of Nebula?
- What Are Black Holes? Black Holes Explained - From Birth to Death
- What Are Quasars (QUAsi-Stellar Radio Source)?
- Pulsars - Natures Lighthouses Key to Astronomy
- What is a Neutron Star and What Are They Made Of?
- What Are Gamma Ray Bursts and Where Do They Come From?
- What is the Kuiper Belt and Kuiper Belt Objects?
- What is an Exoplanet? How Can We Detect Exoplanets?
- What is a galaxy? What Types of Galaxy Are There? Where Do They Come From?
- The Messier Catalogue of Objects To Observe
- The Caldwell Catalogue
- 25 Stunning Sights Every Astronomer Should See
The Messier Objects are a set of astronomical objects catalogued by Charles Messier in his catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters first published in 1774. The original motivation behind the catalogue was that Messier was a comet hunter, and was frustrated by objects which resembled but were not comets. He, therefore, compiled a list of these objects. In total there are 110 Messier objects to observe.
The first edition covered 45 Messier objects numbered M1 to M45. The total list consists of 110 Messier objects, ranging from M1 to M110. The final catalogue was published in 1781 and printed in the Connaissance des Temps in 1784. Many of these objects are still known by their Messier number.
Because the Messier list was compiled by astronomers in the Northern Hemisphere, it contains only objects from the north celestial pole to a celestial latitude of about -35°. Many impressive Southern objects, such as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are excluded from the list. Because all of the Messier objects are visible with binoculars or small telescopes (under favourable conditions), they are popular viewing objects for amateur astronomers. In early spring, astronomers sometimes gather for "Messier Marathons", when all of the objects can be viewed over a single night.
The New General Catalogue (NGC) is the most well-known catalogue of deep-sky objects in amateur astronomy. It contains nearly 8,000 objects, known as the NGC objects. The NGC is one of the largest comprehensive catalogues, as it includes all types of deep sky objects (not specialised to just galaxies for instance).
The catalogue was compiled in the 1880s by J. L. E. Dreyer using observations mostly from William Herschel, and then subsequently expanded with two Index Catalogues (IC I & IC II), adding nearly 5,000 objects.
Here is a list of the full 110 Messier Objects and some details about them. It was compiled using information mainly from the SEDS database and from Wikipedia.
You may also wish to look at Sir Patrick Moore's Caldwell Catalogue.
You can also view my gallery of Deep Space Objects.
The Messier Objects
In this table, the observation month represents the month in which the object reaches its highest point in the sky. It can also be viewed a few months before and after depending on your location. Direction is the compass direction in which the object is located, with Z meaning Zenith or overhead.
# | Common Name | Constellation | Month | Coords | Direction | Mag | Size (arcmin) | Type | Star Chart | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
M1 NGC 1952 | The Crab Nebula | Taurus | Feb | 05h 34.5m RA 22° 01m Dec | S/SW | 8.40 | 4 | Supernova Remnant | 🔍︎ | |
M2 NGC 7089 | Aquarius | Oct | 21h 33.5m RA -00° 49m Dec | S | 6.30 | 16 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M3 NGC 5272 | Canes Venatici | Jul | 13h 42.2m RA 28° 23m Dec | W | 6.20 | 18 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M4 NGC 6121 | Crab Globular Cluster | Scorpius | Jul | 16h 23.6m RA -26° 32m Dec | S | 5.90 | 26 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M5 NGC 5904 | Rose Cluster | Serpens | Jul | 15h 18.6m RA 02° 05m Dec | SW | 6.65 | 23 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M6 NGC 6405 | The Butterfly Cluster | Scorpius | Jul | 17h 40.1m RA -32° 13m Dec | S | 4.20 | 25 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M7 NGC 6475 | The Ptolemy Cluster | Scorpius | Jul | 17h 53.9m RA -34° 49m Dec | S | 3.30 | 80 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M8 NGC 6523 | The Lagoon Nebula | Sagittarius | Jul | 18h 03.8m RA -24° 23m Dec | S | 6.00 | 90x40 | Emission Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M9 NGC 6333 | Ophiuchus | Aug | 17h 19.2m RA -18° 31m Dec | S | 8.42 | 12 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M10 NGC 6254 | Ophiuchus | Aug | 16h 57.1m RA -04° 06m Dec | S/SW | 6.40 | 20 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M11 NGC 6705 | The Wild Duck Cluster | Scutum | Aug | 18h 51.1m RA -06° 16m Dec | S/SW | 6.30 | 14 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M12 NGC 6218 | Gumball Globular | Ophiuchus | Jul | 16h 47.2m RA -01° 57m Dec | S | 7.68 | 16 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M13 NGC 6205 | The Hercules Cluster | Hercules | Aug | 16h 41.7m RA 36° 28m Dec | W | 5.80 | 20 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M14 NGC 6402 | Ophiuchus | Aug | 17h 37.6m RA -03° 15m Dec | SW | 7.60 | 11 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M15 NGC 7078 | Great Pegasus Cluster | Pegasus | Aug | 21h 30.0m RA 12° 10m Dec | SE | 6.20 | 18 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M16 NGC 6611 | Eagle Nebula | Serpens | Aug | 18h 18.8m RA -13° 47m Dec | S | 6.00 | 30 | Emission nebula with open cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M17 NGC 6618 | Omega Nebula | Sagittarius | Jul | 18h 20.8m RA -16° 11m Dec | S | 6.00 | 11 | Emission nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M18 NGC 6613 | Black Swan Cluster | Sagittarius | Jul | 18h 19.9m RA -17° 08m Dec | S | 7.50 | 9 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M19 NGC 6273 | Ophiuchus | Jul | 17h 02.6m RA -26° 16m Dec | S | 7.47 | 16 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M20 NGC 6514 | The Trifid Nebula | Sagittarius | Aug | 18h 02.6m RA -23° 02m Dec | S/SW | 6.30 | 28 | Open Cluster with Nebulosity | 🔍︎ | |
M21 NGC 6531 | Webb's Cross | Sagittarius | Aug | 18h 04.6m RA -22° 30m Dec | S/SW | 6.50 | 13 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M22 NGC 6656 | Great Sagittarius Cluster | Sagittarius | Aug | 18h 36.4m RA -29° 54m Dec | S | 5.10 | 32 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M23 NGC 6494 | Sagittarius | Aug | 17h 56.8m RA -19° 01m Dec | S | 6.90 | 27 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M24 IC 4715 | The Sagittarius Star Cloud | Sagittarius | Aug | 18h 16.9m RA -18° 29m Dec | S | 4.60 | 90 | Milky Way star cloud | 🔍︎ | |
M25 IC 4725 | Sagittarius | Aug | 18h 31.6m RA -19° 15m Dec | S | 4.60 | 32 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M26 NGC 6694 | Scutum | Aug | 18h 45.2m RA -09° 24m Dec | S | 8.00 | 14 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M27 NGC 6853 | The Dumbbell Nebula | Vulpecula | Sep | 19h 59.6m RA 22° 43m Dec | SW | 7.50 | 8x5.6 | Planetary Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M28 NGC 6626 | Sagittarius | Aug | 18h 24.5m RA -24° 52m Dec | S | 7.66 | 11 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M29 NGC 6913 | Cooling Tower Cluster | Cygnus | Sep | 20h 23.9m RA 38° 32m Dec | SE | 7.10 | 7 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M30 NGC 7099 | Jellyfish Cluster | Capricornus | Sep | 21h 40.4m RA -23° 11m Dec | S | 7.70 | 12 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M31 NGC 224 | The Andromeda Galaxy | Andromeda | Nov | 00h 42.7m RA 41° 16m Dec | SW | 3.34 | 190x60 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M32 NGC 221 | Le Gentil | Andromeda | Nov | 00h 42.7m RA 40° 52m Dec | W | 8.08 | 8x6 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M33 NGC 598 | Triangulum Galaxy | Triangulum | Nov | 01h 33.9m RA 30° 39m Dec | SW | 5.72 | 70x41 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M34 NGC 1039 | Spiral Cluster | Perseus | Nov | 02h 42.0m RA 42° 47m Dec | S | 5.50 | 35 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M35 NGC 2168 | Shoe-Buckle Cluster | Gemini | Dec | 06h 08.9m RA 24° 20m Dec | SE | 5.30 | 28 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M36 NGC 1960 | Pinwheel Cluster | Auriga | Dec | 05h 36.1m RA 34° 08m Dec | SW | 6.30 | 12 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M37 NGC 2099 | Salt and Pepper Cluster | Auriga | Dec | 05h 52.4m RA 32° 33m Dec | SW | 6.20 | 24 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M38 NGC 1912 | Starfish Cluster | Auriga | Dec | 05h 28.7m RA 35° 50m Dec | SW | 7.40 | 20 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M39 NGC 7092 | Cygnus | Sep | 21h 32.2m RA 48° 26m Dec | SW | 5.50 | 32 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M40 | Winnecke 4 | Ursa Major | Feb | 12h 22.4m RA 58° 05m Dec | N | 9.60 | 0.86 | Double Star | 🔍︎ | |
M41 NGC 2287 | Little Beehive Cluster | Canis Major | Jan | 06h 47.0m RA -20° 44m Dec | S | 4.50 | 38 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M42 NGC 1976 | The Orion Nebula | Orion | Dec | 05h 35.4m RA -05° 27m Dec | S | 4.00 | 65x60 | Diffuse Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M43 NGC 1982 | de Mairan's Nebula | Orion | Dec | 05h 35.6m RA -05° 16m Dec | S | 9.00 | 20x15 | Diffuse Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M44 NGC 2632 | Praesepe | Cancer | Feb | 08h 40.1m RA 19° 59m Dec | S | 3.70 | 95 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M45 | The Pleiades | Taurus | Dec | 03h 47.0m RA 24° 07m Dec | SE | 1.60 | 110 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M46 NGC 2437 | Puppis | Jan | 07h 41.8m RA -14° 49m Dec | S | 6.10 | 27 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M47 NGC 2422 | Puppis | Jan | 07h 36.6m RA -14° 30m Dec | S | 4.20 | 30 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M48 NGC 2548 | Starfish Cluster | Hydra | Jan | 08h 13.8m RA -05° 48m Dec | S | 7.40 | 20 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M49 NGC 4472 | Virgo | May | 12h 29.8m RA 08° 00m Dec | S | 9.40 | 10.2x8.3 | Elliptical Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M50 NGC 2323 | Heart-Shaped Cluster | Monoceros | Jan | 07h 03.2m RA -08° 20m Dec | S | 5.90 | 16 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M51 NGC 5194 | The Whirlpool Galaxy | Canes Venatici | Feb | 13h 29.9m RA 47° 12m Dec | NE | 8.40 | 11x7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M52 NGC 7654 | Summer Salt and Pepper Cluster | Cassiopeia | Sep | 23h 24.2m RA 61° 35m Dec | NE | 6.90 | 13 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M53 NGC 5024 | Coma Berenices | Apr | 13h 12.9m RA 18° 10m Dec | SE | 8.30 | 13 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M54 NGC 6715 | Sagittarius | Aug | 18h 55.1m RA -30° 29m Dec | S | 8.37 | 12 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M55 NGC 6809 | Summer Rose Star | Sagittarius | Aug | 19h 40.0m RA -30° 58m Dec | S | 7.42 | 19 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M56 NGC 6779 | Lyra | Aug | 19h 16.6m RA 30° 11m Dec | SW | 8.30 | 8 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M57 NGC 6720 | The Ring Nebula | Lyra | Aug | 18h 53.6m RA 33° 02m Dec | SW | 8.80 | 3.83 | Planetary Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M58 NGC 4579 | Virgo | Apr | 12h 37.7m RA 11° 49m Dec | S | 10.50 | 5.9x4.7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M59 NGC 4621 | Virgo | Apr | 12h 42.0m RA 11° 39m Dec | S | 10.60 | 5.4x3.7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M60 NGC 4649 | Virgo | Apr | 12h 43.7m RA 11° 33m Dec | S | 9.80 | 7.4x6 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M61 NGC 4303 | Swelling Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | Apr | 12h 21.9m RA 04° 28m Dec | S | 10.18 | 6.5x5.8 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M62 NGC 6266 | Flickering Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | Jun | 17h 01.2m RA -30° 07m Dec | S | 7.39 | 15 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M63 NGC 5055 | The Sunflower Galaxy | Canes Venatici | Apr | 13h 15.8m RA 42° 02m Dec | Z | 9.30 | 12.6x7.2 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M64 NGC 4826 | The Blackeye Galaxy | Coma Berenices | Apr | 12h 56.7m RA 21° 41m Dec | Z | 9.36 | 10.7x5.1 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M65 NGC 3623 | Leo Triplet | Leo | Apr | 11h 18.9m RA 13° 05m Dec | S | 10.25 | 8.7x2.4 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M66 NGC 3627 | Leo Triplet | Leo | Apr | 11h 20.2m RA 12° 59m Dec | S | 8.90 | 9.1x4.2 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M67 NGC 2682 | Golden-Eye Cluster (Pac-Man Cluster) | Cancer | Feb | 08h 50.4m RA 11° 49m Dec | S | 6.10 | 30 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M68 NGC 4590 | Hydra | Apr | 12h 39.5m RA -26° 45m Dec | S | 9.67 | 11 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M69 NGC 6637 | Sagittarius | Jul | 18h 34.4m RA -32° 21m Dec | S | 8.31 | 9.8 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M70 NGC 6681 | Sagittarius | Jul | 18h 43.2m RA -32° 18m Dec | S | 9.06 | 8 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M71 NGC 6838 | Angelfish Cluster (Arrowhead Cluster) | Sagitta | Aug | 19h 53.8m RA 18° 47m Dec | Z | 6.10 | 7.2 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M72 NGC 6981 | Aquarius | Aug | 20h 53.5m RA -12° 32m Dec | S | 9.35 | 6.6 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M73 NGC 6994 | Aquarius | Aug | 20h 58.9m RA -12° 38m Dec | S | 9.00 | 2.8 | Asterism | 🔍︎ | ||
M74 NGC 628 | Phantom Galaxy (Perfect Spiral Galaxy) | Pisces | Oct | 01h 36.7m RA 15° 47m Dec | SE | 10.00 | 10.5x9.5 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M75 NGC 6864 | Sagittarius | Jul | 20h 06.1m RA -21° 55m Dec | S | 9.18 | 6.8 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M76 NGC 650 | The Little Dumbbell | Perseus | Oct | 01h 42.4m RA 51° 34m Dec | Z | 10.10 | 2.7x1.8 | Planetary Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M77 NGC 1068 | Cetus A | Cetus | Nov | 02h 42.7m RA -00° 01m Dec | S | 9.60 | 7.1x6 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M78 NGC 2068 | Casper the Friendly Ghost Nebula | Orion | Dec | 05h 46.7m RA 00° 03m Dec | S | 8.30 | 8x6 | Diffuse Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M79 NGC 1904 | Lepus | Dec | 05h 24.5m RA -24° 33m Dec | S | 8.56 | 8.7 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M80 NGC 6093 | Scorpius | Jun | 16h 17.0m RA -22° 59m Dec | S | 7.87 | 10 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M81 NGC 3031 | Bodems Galaxy | Ursa Major | May | 09h 55.6m RA 69° 04m Dec | Z | 6.94 | 26.9x14.1 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M82 NGC 3034 | Cigar Galaxy | Ursa Major | May | 09h 55.8m RA 69° 41m Dec | Z | 8.41 | 11.4x4.3 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M83 NGC 5236 | Southern Pinwheel Galaxy | Hydra | May | 13h 37.0m RA -29° 52m Dec | S | 7.54 | 12.9x11.5 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M84 NGC 4374 | Markarian's Chain | Virgo | Apr | 12h 25.1m RA 12° 53m Dec | S | 10.10 | 6.5x5.6 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M85 NGC 4382 | Coma Berenices | Apr | 12h 25.4m RA 18° 11m Dec | S | 10.00 | 7.1x5.5 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M86 NGC 4406 | Markarian's Chain | Virgo | Apr | 12h 26.2m RA 12° 57m Dec | S | 9.80 | 8.9x5.8 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M87 NGC 4486 | Virgo A | Virgo | Apr | 12h 30.8m RA 12° 24m Dec | S | 9.59 | 7.2x6.8 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M88 NGC 4501 | Coma Berenices | Apr | 12h 32.0m RA 14° 25m Dec | S | 10.40 | 6.9x3.7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M89 NGC 4552 | Virgo | Apr | 12h 35.7m RA 12° 33m Dec | S | 10.73 | 5.1x4.7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M90 NGC 4569 | Virgo | Apr | 12h 36.8m RA 13° 10m Dec | S | 10.26 | 9.5x4.4 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M91 NGC 4548 | Coma Berenices | Apr | 12h 35.4m RA 14° 30m Dec | S | 11.00 | 5.4x4.3 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M92 NGC 6341 | Hercules | Aug | 17h 17.1m RA 43° 08m Dec | Z | 6.30 | 14 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M93 C71 NGC 2447 | Butterfly Cluster | Puppis | Jan | 07h 44.6m RA -23° 52m Dec | S | 5.80 | 22 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M94 NGC 4736 | Cat's Eye Galaxy | Canes Venatici | May | 12h 50.9m RA 41° 07m Dec | SW | 8.99 | 11.2x9.1 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M95 NGC 3351 | Leo | Apr | 10h 44.0m RA 11° 42m Dec | SW | 11.40 | 3.1x2.9 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M96 NGC 3368 | Leo | Apr | 10h 46.8m RA 11° 49m Dec | SW | 10.10 | 7.6x5.2 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M97 NGC 3587 | The Owl Nebula | Ursa Major | Mar | 11h 14.8m RA 55° 01m Dec | Z | 9.90 | 3.3x3.4 | Planetary Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
M98 NGC 4192 | Coma Berenices | Feb | 12h 13.8m RA 14° 54m Dec | SE | 11.00 | 9.8*2.8 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M99 NGC 4254 | Coma Pinwheel Galaxy | Coma Berenices | Feb | 12h 18.8m RA 14° 25m Dec | SE | 10.40 | 5.4x4.7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M100 NGC 4321 | Blowdryer Galaxy (Mirror Galaxy) | Coma Berenices | Feb | 12h 22.9m RA 15° 49m Dec | SE | 10.10 | 7.4x6.3 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M101 NGC 5457 | Pinwheel Galaxy | Ursa Major | May | 14h 03.3m RA 54° 21m Dec | Z | 7.86 | 28.8x26.9 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M102 NGC 5866 | Spindle Galaxy | Draco | Apr | 15h 06.5m RA 55° 45m Dec | NE | 10.70 | 4.7x1.9 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M103 NGC 581 | Cassiopeia | Oct | 01h 33.2m RA 60° 42m Dec | Z | 7.40 | 6 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
M104 NGC 4594 | Sombrero Galaxy | Virgo | May | 12h 40.0m RA -11° 37m Dec | S/SW | 8.98 | 8.7x3.5 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M105 NGC 3379 | Leo | Apr | 10h 47.8m RA 12° 35m Dec | SW | 10.20 | 5.4x4.8 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M106 NGC 4258 | Canes Venatici | May | 12h 19.0m RA 47° 18m Dec | SW | 9.10 | 18.6x7.2 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
M107 NGC 6171 | The Crucifix Cluster | Ophiuchus | Jun | 16h 32.5m RA -13° 03m Dec | S | 8.85 | 13 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
M108 NGC 3556 | The Surfboard Galaxy | Ursa Major | May | 11h 11.5m RA 55° 40m Dec | Z | 10.70 | 8.7x2.2 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M109 NGC 3992 | Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy | Ursa Major | May | 11h 57.6m RA 53° 23m Dec | Z | 10.60 | 7.6x4.7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
M110 NGC 205 | Andromeda | Nov | 00h 40.4m RA 41° 41m Dec | W | 8.92 | 21.9*11.0 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ |