Messier Catalogue

The Messier catalogue lists the positions of around 100 of the brightest nebulae, galaxies and star clusters in the night sky, many of which are visible with a small telescope or even binoculars.

The catalogue was first published in 1771 by Charles Messier, in collaboration with his assistant Pierre Méchain. Messier created the list to help distinguish these objects from comets, for which he was hunting.

Known as Messier objects, there are now 110 objects in the catalogue assigned numbers from M1 – the Crab Nebula – to M110 – a dwarf elliptical galaxy, also known as ‘The Edward Young Star’.

The full list of Messier objects is given below:

  • M1 – The Crab Nebula – NGC 1952 – A supernova remnant in the constellation of Taurus
  • M2 – NGC 7089 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Aquarius
    • Right Ascension: 33m 27.02s, Declination: −00° 49′ 23.7″
  • M3 – NGC 5272 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Canes Venatici
    • Right Ascension: 13h 42m 11.62s, Declination: +28° 22′ 38.2″
  • M4 – NGC 6121 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Scorpius
    • Right Ascension: 23m 35.22s, Declination: −26° 31′ 32.7″
  • M5 – NGC 5904 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Serpens
    • Right Ascension: 18m 33.22s, Declination: +02° 04′ 51.7″
  • M6 – The Butterfly Cluster – NGC 6405 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Scorpius
    • Right Ascension: 17h 40.1m, Declination: −32° 13′
  • M7 – The Ptolemy Cluster – NGC 6475 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Scorpius
    • Right Ascension: 17h 53m 51.2s, Declination: −34° 47′ 34″
  • M8 – The Lagoon Nebula – NGC 6523 – A nebula with star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 03m 37s, Declination: −24° 23′ 12″
  • M9 – NGC 6333 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus
    • Right Ascension: 19m, Declination: 11.78s −18° 30′ 58.5″
  • M10 – NGC 6254 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus
    • Right Ascension: 57m, Declination: 8.92s −04° 05′ 58.07″
  • M11 – NGC 6705 – The Wild Duck Cluster – An open cluster in the constellation of Scutum
    • Right Ascension: 18h 51.1m, Declination: −06° 16′
  • M12 – The Gumball Globular Cluster – NGC 6218 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus
    • Right Ascension: 47m 14.18s, Declination: −01° 56′ 54.7″
  • M13 – The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules – NGC 6205 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Hercules
    • Right Ascension: 16h 41m 41.24s, Declination: +36° 27′ 35.5″
  • M14 – NGC 6402 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus
    • Right Ascension: 37m 36.15s, Declination: −03° 14′ 45.3″
  • M15 – The Great Pegasus Cluster – NGC 7078 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Pegasus
    • Right Ascension: 29m 58.33s, Declination: +12° 10′ 01.2″
  • M16 – The Eagle Nebula – NGC 6611 – An H II region nebula with cluster in the constellation of Serpens
    • Right Ascension: 18h 18m 48s, Declination: −13° 49′
  • M17 – Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula – NGC 6618 – An H II region nebula with cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 20m 26s, Declination: −16° 10′ 36″
  • M18 – NGC 6613 – An open cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 19.9m, Declination: −17° 08′
  • M19 – NGC 6273 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus
    • Right Ascension: 02m 37.69s, Declination: −26° 16′ 04.6″
  • M20 – The Trifid Nebula – NGC 6514 – An H II region nebula with cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 02m 23s, Declination: −23° 01′ 48″
  • M21 – NGC 6531 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 04.6m, Declination: −22° 30′
  • M22 – The Sagittarius Cluster – NGC 6656 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 36m 23.94s, Declination: −23° 54′ 17.1″
  • M23 – NGC 6494 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 17h 56.8m, Declination: −19° 01′
  • M24 – The Small Sagittarius Star Cloud – IC 4715 – A Milky Way star cloud in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 17m, Declination: −18° 33′
  • M25 – IC 4725 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 31.6m, Declination: −19° 15′
  • M26 – NGC 6694 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Scutum
    • Right Ascension: 18h 45.2m, Declination: −09° 24′
  • M27 – The Dumbbell Nebula – NGC 6853 – A planetary nebula in the constellation of Vulpecula
    • Right Ascension: 19h 59m 36.340s, Declination: +22° 43′ 16.09″
  • M28 – NGC 6626 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 24m 32.89s, Declination: −24° 52′ 11.4″
  • M29 – The Cooling Tower Cluster – NGC 6913 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Cygnus
    • Right Ascension: 20h 23m 56s, Declination: +38° 31′ 24″
  • M30 – NGC 7099 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Capricornus
    • Right Ascension: 21h 40m 22.12, Declination: −23° 10′ 47.5″
  • M31 – The Andromeda Galaxy – NGC 224 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Andromeda
    • Right Ascension: 21h 40m 22.12, Declination: −23° 10′ 47.5″
  • M32 – Le Gentil or the Small Andromeda Galaxy – NGC 221 – A dwarf elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Andromeda
    • Right Ascension: 00h 42m 44.3s, Declination: +41° 16′ 9″
  • M33 – The Triangulum or Pinwheel Galaxy – NGC 598 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Triangulum
    • Right Ascension: 01h 33m 50.02s, Declination: +30° 39′ 36.7″
  • M34 – NGC 1039 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Perseus
    • Right Ascension: 02h 42.1m, Declination: +42° 46′
  • M35 – NGC 2168 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Gemini
    • Right Ascension: 06h 09.1m, Declination: +24° 21′
  • M36 – The Pinwheel Cluster – NGC 1960 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Auriga
    • Right Ascension: 05h 36m 12s, Declination: +34° 08′ 4″
  • M37 – NGC 2099 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Auriga
    • Right Ascension: 05h 52m 18s, Declination: +32° 33′ 02″
  • M38 – Starfish Cluster – NGC 1912 – an open star cluster in the constellation Auriga
    • Right Ascension: 05h 28m 42s, Declination: +35° 51′ 18″
  • M39 – NGC 7092 – an open star cluster in the constellation of Cygnus
    • Right Ascension: 21h 31m 42s, Declination: +48° 26′ 00″
  • M40 – Winnecke-4 – a star system in the constellation of Ursa Major
    • Right Ascension: 12h 22m 12.5s, Declination: +58° 4′ 59″
  • M41 – NGC 2287 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Canis Major
    • Right Ascension: 06h 46.0m, Declination: −20° 46′
  • M42 – The Orion Nebula – NGC 1976 – An H II region nebula in the constellation of Orion
    • Right Ascension: 05h 35m 17.3, Declination: −05° 23′ 28″
  • M43 – De Mairan’s Nebula – NGC 1982 – An H II region nebula in the Orion Nebula
    • Right Ascension: 05h 35.6m, Declination: −05° 16′
  • M44 – The Beehive Cluster or Praesepe – NGC 2632 – An open cluster in the constellation of Cancer
    • Right Ascension: 05h 35.6m, Declination: −05° 16′
  • M45 – The Pleiades – An open cluster in the constellation of Taurus
    • Right Ascension: 03h 47m 24s, Declination: +24° 07′ 00″
  • M46 – NGC 2437 – An open cluster in the constellation of Puppis
    • Right Ascension: 07h 41.8m, Declination: −14° 49′
  • M47 – NGC 2422 – An open cluster in the constellation of Puppis
    • Right Ascension: 07h 36.6m, Declination: −14° 30′
  • M48 – NGC 2548 – An open cluster in the constellation of Hydra
    • Right Ascension: 08h 13.7m, Declination: −05° 45′
  • M49 – NGC 4472 – An Elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 29m, Declination: 46.7s +08° 00′ 02″
  • M50 – The Heart-Shaped Cluster – NGC 2323 – An open cluster in the constellation of Monoceros
    • Right Ascension: 07h 03.2m, Declination: −08° 20′
  • M51 – The Whirlpool Galaxy – NGC 5194, NGC 5195 – A spiral galaxy with a smaller companion galaxy in the constellation of Canes Venatici
    • Right Ascension: 13h 29m, Declination: 52.7s +47° 11′ 43″
  • M52 – NGC 7654 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Cassiopeia
    • Right Ascension: 23h 24.2m, Declination: +61° 35′
  • M53 – NGC 5024 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 13h 12m 55.25s, Declination: +18° 10′ 05.4″
  • M54 – NGC 6715 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 55m 03.33s, Declination: −30° 28′ 47.5″
  • M55 – ‘The Summer Rose Star‘ – NGC 6809 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 19h 39m 59.71s, Declination: −30° 57′ 53.1″
  • M56 – NGC 6779 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Lyra
    • Right Ascension: 19h 16m 35.57s, Declination: +30° 11′ 00.5″
  • M57 – The Ring Nebula – NGC 6720 – A planetary nebula in the constellation of Lyra
    • Right Ascension: 18h 53m 35.079s, Declination: +33° 01′ 45.03″
  • M58 – NGC 4579 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 37m 43.5s, Declination: +11° 49′ 05″
  • M59 – NGC 4621 – An elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 42m 02.3s, Declination: +11° 38′ 49″
  • M60 – NGC 4649 – An elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 43m 39.6s, Declination: +11° 33′ 09″
  • M61 – NGC 4303 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 21m 54.9s, Declination: +04° 28′ 25″
  • M62 – NGC 6266 – A globular cluster in the constellation of Ophiuchus
    • Right Ascension: 17h 01m 12.60s, Declination: −30° 06′ 44.5″
  • M63 – The Sunflower Galaxy – NGC 5055 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Canes Venatici
    • Right Ascension: 13h 15m 49.3s, Declination: +42° 01′ 45″
  • M64 – The Black Eye Galaxy – NGC 4826 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 12h 56m 43.7s, Declination: +21° 40′ 58″
  • M65 – The Leo Triplet – NGC 3623 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Leo
    • Right Ascension: 11h 18m 55.9s, Declination: +13° 05′ 32″
  • M66 – The Leo Triplet – NGC 3627 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Leo
    • Right Ascension: 11h 20m 15.0s, Declination: +12° 59′ 30″
  • M67 – The King Cobra Cluster – NGC 2682 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Cancer
    • Right Ascension: 08h 51.3m, Declination: +11° 49′
  • M68 – NGC 4590 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Hydra
    • Right Ascension: 12h 39m 27.98s, Declination: −26° 44′ 38.6″
  • M69 – NGC 6637 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 31m 23.10s, Declination: −32° 20′ 53.1″
  • M70 – NGC 6681 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 18h 43m 12.76s, Declination: −32° 17′ 31.6″
  • M71 – NGC 6838 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Sagitta
    • Right Ascension: 19h 53m 46.49s, Declination: +18° 46′ 45.1″
  • M72 – NGC 6981 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Aquarius
    • Right Ascension: 20h 53m 27.70s, Declination: −12° 32′ 14.3″
  • M73 – NGC 6994 – An asterism in the constellation of Aquarius
    • Right Ascension: 20h 58m 54s, Declination: −12° 38′
  • M74 – The Phantom Galaxy – NGC 628 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Pisces
    • Right Ascension: 01h 36m 41.8s, Declination: +15° 47′ 01″
  • M75 – NGC 6864 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Sagittarius
    • Right Ascension: 20h 06m 04.75s, Declination: −21° 55′ 16.2″
  • M76 – The Little Dumbbell Nebula – NGC 650, NGC 651 – A planetary nebula in the constellation of Perseus
    • Right Ascension: 01h 42.4m, Declination: +51° 34′ 31″
  • M77 – Cetus A – NGC 1068 – A Spiral galaxy in the constellation of Cetus
    • Right Ascension: 9.6 02h 42m, Declination 40.7s −00° 00′ 48″
  • M78 – NGC 2068 – A Diffuse nebula in the constellation of Orion
    • Right Ascension: 05h 46m 46.7s, Declination +00° 00′ 50″
  • M79 – NGC 1904 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Lepus
    • Right Ascension: 8.6 05h 24m 10.59s, Declination −24° 31′ 27.3″
  • M80 – NGC 6093 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Scorpius
    • Right Ascension: 16h 17m 02.41s, Declination:−22° 58′ 33.9″
  • M81 – Bode’s Galaxy – NGC 3031 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major
    • Right Ascension: 09h 55m 33.2s, Declination: +69° 3′ 55″
  • M82 – The Cigar Galaxy – NGC 3034 – A starburst galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major
    • Right Ascension: 09h 55m 52.2s, Declination: +69° 40′ 47″
  • M83 – The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy – NGC 5236 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Hydra
    • Right Ascension: 13h 37m 00.9s, Declination:−29° 51′ 57″
  • M84 – NGC 4374 – A lenticular galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 25m 03.7s, Delcination: +12° 53′ 13″
  • M85 – NGC 4382 – A lenticular galaxy in the constellation of Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 12h 25m, Declination: 24.0s +18° 11′ 28″
  • M86 – NGC 4406 – A lenticular galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 26m 11.7s, Declination +12° 56′ 46″
  • M87 – Virgo A – NGC 4486 – An Elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 30m 49.42338s, Declination: +12° 23′ 28.0439″
  • M88 – NGC 4501 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 12h 31m 59.2s, Declination: +14° 25′ 14″
  • M89 – NGC 4552 – An elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 35m 39.8s, Declination: +12° 33′ 23″
  • M90 – NGC 4569 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 10.3 12h 36m 49.8s, Declination: +13° 09′ 46″
  • M91 – NGC 4548 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 12h 35m 26.4s, Declination: +14° 29′ 47″
  • M92 – NGC 6341 – A globular star cluster in the constellation of Hercules
    • Right Ascension: 17h 17m 07.39s, Declination: +43° 08′ 09.4″
  • M93 – NGC 2447 – An open star cluster in the constellation of Puppis
    • Right Ascension: 07h 44.6m, Declination:−23° 52′
  • M94 – The Croc’s Eye or Cat’s Eye galaxy – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Canes Venatici
    • Right Ascension: 12h 50m 53.1s +41° 07′ 14″
  • M95 – NGC 3351 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Leo
    • Right Ascension: 10h 43m 57.7s +11° 42′ 14″
  • M96 – NGC 3368 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Leo
    • Right Ascension: 10h 46m 45.7s +11° 49′ 12″
  • M97 – The Owl Nebula – NGC 3587 – A planetary nebula in the constellation of Ursa Major
    • Right Ascension: 11h 14m 47.734s, Declination: +55° 01′ 08.50″
  • M98 – NGC 4192 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 12h 13m 48.292s, Declination: +14° 54′ 01.69″
  • M99 – The Coma Pinwheel or Virgo Cluster Pinwheel – NGC 4254 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 12h 18m 49.6s, Declination: +14° 24′ 59″
  • M100 – NGC 4321 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices
    • Right Ascension: 12h 22m 54.9s, Declination: +15° 49′ 21″
  • M101 – The Pinwheel Galaxy – NGC 5457 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major
    • Right Ascension: 14h 03m 12.6s, Declination: +54° 20′ 57″
  • M102 – The Spindle Galaxy – NGC 5866 – A lenticular galaxy in the constellation of Draco
    • Right Ascension: 15h 06m 29.5s, Declination: +55° 45′ 48″
  • M103 – NGC 581 – An open cluster in the constellation of Cassiopeia
    • Right Ascension: 01h 33.2m, Declination: +60° 42′
  • M104 – The Sombrero Galaxy – NGC 4594 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Virgo
    • Right Ascension: 12h 39m 59.4s, Declination: −11° 37′ 23″
  • M105 – NGC 3379 – An elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Leo
    • Right Ascension: 10h 47m 49.6s, Declination: +12° 34′ 54″
  • M106 – NGC 4258 – A spiral galaxy in the constellation of Canes Venatici
    • Right Ascension: 12h 18m 57.5s, Declination: +47° 18′ 14″
  • M107 – NGC 6171 – A globular cluster in the constellation in Ophiuchus
    • Right Ascension: 16h 32m 31.86s, Declination: −13° 03′ 13.6″
  • M108 – The Surfboard Galaxy – NGC 3556 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major
    • Right Ascension: 11h 11m 31.0s, Declination: +55° 40′ 27″
  • M109 – NGC 3992 – A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation of Ursa Major
    • Right Ascension: 11h 57m 36.0s, Declination: +53° 22′ 28″
  • M110 – ‘The Edward Young Star’ – NGC 205 – A dwarf elliptical galaxy in the constellation of Andromeda
    • Right Ascension: 00h 40m 22.1s, Declination: +41° 41′ 07″

Leave a Reply

Astronomy, Cosmology, Space and Astrophysics