Indy's Object Catalog
Messier Catalog Objects
Charles Messier (1730 – 1817) was the French astronomer and comet hunter most known for publishing an astronomical catalog consisting of deep sky objects visible only in the Northern hemisphere that originally included 45 objects, and today are known as the 110 "Messier objects". The Messier catalog contains notable examples of every known type of deep sky object, including galaxies, planetary nebulae, open clusters, and globular clusters. The objects' famous designations, from M1 to M110, are still in use by professional and amateur astronomers.

The purpose of the catalog was to help astronomical observers to distinguish between permanent objects in the sky and transient objects such as comets. While the full NGC catalog (New General Catalog) lists thousands of similar objects, the Messier catalog only represents some of the brighter deep sky objects detectable at the time that hindered Messier's comet search. Since Messier lived and worked in the Northern hemisphere, over 100 similar notable objects visable only in the Southern hemisphere such as the Cat's Eye Nebula, and the Greater and Lesser Magellanic Clouds are not included in his catalog.
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Name NGC Image Remarks Constellation Class Right
Ascension
Declination Apparent
Magnitude
Distance
M1 1952 Crab
Nebula
Taurus Supernova
Remnant
(1054 AD)
5h 34.5m 22° 1' +8.4 6,500 ly
M2 7089 150K
Stars
Aquarius Globular
Cluster
21h 33.5m 0° 49' +6.3 37,500 ly
M3 5272 500K
Stars
Canes
Venatici
Globular
Cluster
13h 42.2m 28° 23' +6.2 33,900 ly
M4 6121 Some of
Oldest Stars
in Milky Way
Scorpius Globular
Cluster
16h 23.6m -26° 32' +7.12 7,200 ly
M5 5904 Serpens Globular
Cluster
15h 18.6m 2° 5' +6.65 24,500 ly
M6 6405 Butterfly
Cluster
Scorpius Open
Cluster
17h 40.1m -32° 13' +4.2 1,600 ly
M7 6475 Ptolemy
Cluster

(Naked Eye)
Scorpius Open
Cluster
17h 53.9m -34° 49' +3.3 800 ly
M8 6523 Lagoon
Nebula
Sagittarius Cluster
With
Diffuse
Nebula
18h 3.8m -24° 23' +6.0 4,100 ly
M9 6333 Ophiuchus Globular
Cluster
17h 19.2m -18° 31' +8.42 25,800 ly
M10 6254 Ophiuchus Globular
Cluster
16h 57.1m -4° 6' +6.4 14,300 ly
M11 6705 Wild Duck
Cluster
Scutum Open
Cluster
18h 51.1m -6° 16' +6.3 6,200 ly
M12 6218 Ophiuchus Globular
Cluster
16h 47.2m -1° 57' +7.68 16,000 ly
M13 6205 Hercules
Cluster
Hercules Globular
Cluster
16h 41.7m 36° 28' +5.8 25,100 ly
M14 6402 Ophiuchus Globular
Cluster
17h 37.6m -3° 15' M9.5 27,000 ly
M15 7078 Pegasus Globular
Cluster
21h 30m 12° 10' 6.4 33,000 ly
M16 6611 Eagle
Nebula
Serpens H II Cluster
Diffuse
Nebula
18h 18.8m -13° 47' 6.4 7,000 ly
M17 6618 Swan or
Omega
Nebula
Sagittarius H II Cluster
Diffuse
Nebula
18h 20.8m -16° 11' 7.5 5,000 ly
M18 6613 Sagittarius Open
Cluster
18h 19.9m -17° 8' 6.9 6,000 ly
M19 6273 Ophiuchus Globular
Cluster
17h 2.6m -26° 16' 7.2 27,000 ly
M20 6514 Trifid
Nebula
Sagittarius H II Cluster
Diffuse
Nebula
18h 2.6m -23° 2' 9 2,200 ly
M21 6531 M20 in field Sagittarius Open
Cluster
18h 4.6m -22° 30' 5.9 3,000 ly
M22 6656 Sagittarius
Cluster
One of
Brightest GCs
Sagittarius Globular
Cluster
18h 36.4m -23° 54' 5.1 10,000 ly
M23 6494 Sagittarius Open
Cluster
17h 56.8m -19° 1' 5.5 4,500 ly
M24 6603 Sagittarius
Star Cloud

or Delle
Caustiche
Sagittarius Milky Way
Open
Cluster
18h 16.9m -18° 29' 4.6 10,000 ly
M25 IC4725 Open Cloud Sagittarius Open
Cluster
18h 31.6m -19° 15' 4.6 2,000 ly
M26 6694 Scutum Open
Cluster
18h 45.2m -9° 24' 8 5,000 ly
M27 6853 Dumbbell
Nebula
Vulpecula Planetary
Nebula
19h 59.6m 22° 43' 7.6 1,250 ly
M28 6626 Sagittarius Globular
Cluster
18h 24.5m -24° 52' 6.9 18,000 ly
M29 6913 Cygnus Open
Cluster
20h 23.9m 38° 32' 6.6 7,200 ly
M30 7099 Capricornus Globular
Cluster
21h 40.4m -23° 11' 7.5 25,000 ly
M31 224 Andromeda
Galaxy

M32 & M110
in Field
Andromeda Large
Spiral
Galaxy
0h 42.7m 41° 16' 4.8 2,500,000 ly
M32 221 Le Gentil
Companion
of M31
Andromeda Dwarf
Elliptical
Galaxy
0h 42.7m 40° 52' 8.7 2,900,000 ly
M33 598 Triangulum
Galaxy
Triangulum Spiral
Galaxy
1h 33.9m 30° 39' 6.3 2,590,000 ly
M34 1039 Perseus Open
Cluster
2h 42m 42° 47' 5.5 1,400 ly
M35 2168 Gemini Open
Cluster
6h 8.9m 24° 20' 5.3 2,800 ly
M36 1960 Auriga Open
Cluster
5h 36.1m 34° 8' 6 4,100 ly
M37 2099 Auriga Open
Cluster
5h 52.4m 32° 33' 5.6 4,600 ly
M38 1912 Auriga Open
Cluster
5h 28.7m 35° 50' 6.4 4,200 ly
M39 7092 Cygnus Open
Cluster
21h 32.2m 48° 26' 4.6 800 ly
M40 WNC 4 Winnnecke
4
Optical
Double
Ursa
Major
Double
Star
WNC4
12h 22.4m 58° 5' 9.1 510 ly
M41 2287 Canis
Major
Open
Cluster
6h 47m -20° 44' 4.6 2,400 ly
M42 1976 Great Orion
Nebula
Orion H II
Diffuse
Nebula
5h 35.4m -5° 27' 2.9 1,600 ly
M43 1982 De Mairan's
Nebula

Detached
Portion of M42
Orion H II
Diffuse
Nebula
5h 35.6m -5° 16' 6.9 1,600 ly
M44 2632 Praesepe
or
Beehive
Cluster
Cancer Open
Cluster
8h 40.1m 19° 59' 3.1 500 ly
M45 The
Pleiades

Naked Eye
Cluster
Taurus Open
Cluster
3h 47m 24° 7' 1.2 400 ly
M46 2437 NGC 2438
Nebula
In Field
(Not Related)
Puppis NGC 2437
Open
Cluster
7h 41.8m -14° 49' 6.1 5,400 ly
M47 2422 Puppis Open
Cluster
7h 36.6m -14° 30' 4.5 1,600 ly
M48 2548 Hydra Open
Cluster
8h 13.8m -5° 48' 5.8 1,500 ly
M49 4472 In Virgo
Cluster
Virgo Elliptical
Galaxy
12h 29.8m 8° 0' 8.4 60,000,000 ly
M50 2323 Monoceros Open
Cluster
7h 3.2m -8° 20' 5.9
M51 5194
5195
Whirlpool
Galaxy

M51 A & B
Interacting
Canes
Venatici
Spiral
Galaxy
13h 29.9m 47° 12' 8.4
M52 7654 Cassiopeia Open
Cluster
23h 24.2m 61° 35' 6.9
M53 5024 Coma
Berenices
Globular
Cluster
13h 12.9m 18° 10' 7.7
M54 6715 Sagittarius Globular
Cluster
18h 55.1m -30° 29' 7.7
M55 6809 Sagittarius Globular
Cluster
19h 40m -30° 58' 7
M56 6779 Lyra Globular
Cluster
19h 16.6m 30° 11' 8.3
M57 6720 Ring
Nebula
Lyra Planetary
Nebula
18h 53.6m 33° 2' 9.3
M58 4579 Fine Compact
Spiral
Virgo Barred
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 37.7m 11° 49' 9.8
M59 4621 Virgo Elliptical
Galaxy
12h 42m 11° 39' 9.8
M60 4649 NGC 4647
in Field
(Not Related)
Virgo Elliptical
Galaxy
12h 43.7m 11° 33' 8.8
M61 4303 Large
Face-on Spiral
Many
Supernovae
Virgo Spiral
Galaxy
12h 21.9m 4° 28' 9.7
M62 6266 Ophiuchus Globular
Cluster
17h 1.2m -30° 7' 6.6
M63 5055 Sunflower
Galaxy
Canes
Venatici
Spiral
Galaxy
13h 15.8m 42° 2' 8.6
M64 4826 Black-Eye
Galaxy
Coma
Berenices
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 56.7m 21° 41' 8.5
M65 3623 Part of
Leo
Triplet
Leo Barred
Spiral
Galaxy
11h 18.9m 13° 5' 9.3
M66 3627 Part of
Leo
Triplet
Leo Barred
Spiral
Galaxy
11h 20.2m 12° 59' 9
M67 2682 Interesting
Open
Cluster
Cancer Open
Cluster
8h 50.4m 11° 49' 6.9
M68 4590 Hydra Globular
Cluster
12h 39.5m -26° 45' 8.2
M69 6637 Sagittarius Globular
Cluster
18h 31.4m -32° 21' 7.7
M70 6681 Sagittarius Globular
Cluster
18h 43.2m -32° 18' 8.1
M71 6838 Sagitta Globular
Cluster
19h 53.8m 18° 47' 8.3
M72 6981 Aquarius Globular
Cluster
20h 53.5m -12° 32' 9.4
M73 6994 Asterism
of 4 stars
Aquarius Open
Cluster
20h 58.9m -12° 38' 9
M74 628 Fine
Face-on Spiral
Pisces Spiral
Galaxy
1h 36.7m 15° 47' 9.2
M75 6864 Sagittarius Globular
Cluster
20h 6.1m -21° 55' 8.6
M76 650 Little
Dumbell
Nebula
Perseus Planetary
Nebula
1h 42.4m 51° 34' 12.2
M77 1068 Cetus A Cetus Seyfert
Type
Spiral
Galaxy
2h 42.7m 0° 1' 8.9
M78 2068 Comet
Shaped
Orion Diffuse
Nebula
5h 46.7m 0° 3' 10.5
M79 1904 Lepus Globular
Cluster
5h 24.5m -24° 33' 8.4
M80 6093 Nova
T Scorpii
(1860 AD)
Scorpius Globular
Cluster
16h 17m -22° 59' 7.2
M81 3031 Bode's
Galaxy

Bright
Fine Spiral
Ursa
Major
Spiral
Galaxy
9h 55.6m 69° 4' 6.9
M82 3034 Cigar
Galaxy

Fine Pair
with M81
Ursa
Major
Spiral
Galaxy
Starburst
Region
9h 55.8m 69° 41' 8.4
M83 5236 Southern
Pinwheel
Galaxy
Hydra Barred
Spiral
Galaxy
13h 37m -29° 52' 8.2
M84 4374 Center
Virgo Cluster
Virgo Lenticular
Galaxy
12h 25.1m 12° 53' 9.3
M85 4382 Coma
Berenices
Lenticular
Galaxy
12h 25.4m 18° 11' 9.3
M86 4406 Center
Virgo Cluster
High Blue
Shift
Virgo Lenticular
Galaxy
12h 26.2m 12° 57' 9.2
M87 4486 Virgo A
X-ray &
Radio Source
(Matter Jet)
Virgo Elliptical
Galaxy
12h 30.8m 12° 24' 8.6
M88 4501 Multiple-Arm
Spiral
Coma
Berenices
Seyfert
Type
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 32m 14° 25' 9.5
M89 4552 Bright
Round
Appears
Spherical
Virgo Elliptical
Galaxy
12h 35.7m 12° 33' 9.8
M90 4569 Well Formed
Oval
Virgo Spiral
Galaxy
12h 36.8m 13° 10' 9.5
M91 4548 Classic
Barred
Spiral Galaxy
Coma
Berenices
Barred
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 35.4m 14° 30' 10.2
M92 6341 Hercules Globular
Cluster
17h 17.1m 43° 8' 6.5
M93 2447 Puppis Open
Cluster
7h 44.6m -23° 52' 6.2
M94 4736 Unusual
Construction
No Dark
Matter
Canes
Venatici
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 50.9m 41° 7' 8.2
M95 3351 Ringed
Theta
Structure
Leo Barred
Spiral
Galaxy
10h 44m 11° 42' 9.7
M96 3368 Pair
with M95
Leo Spiral
Galaxy
10h 46.8m 11° 49' 9.1
M97 3587 Owl
Nebula
Ursa
Major
Planetary
Nebula
11h 14.8m 55° 1' 12
M98 4192 Knotty
Bright Spindle
Coma
Berenices
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 13.8m 14° 54' 10.1
M99 4254 Unbarred
Face On
Coma
Berenices
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 18.8m 14° 25' 9.8
M100 4321 Fine
Spiral
Coma
Berenices
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 22.9m 15° 49' 9.4
M101 5457 Pinwheel
Galaxy

Splendid
Large Face-On
Ursa
Major
Spiral
Galaxy
14h 3.2m 54° 21' 7.7
M102 5866 Most Likely
Draco
Spindle
Galaxy
?
Draco Lenticular
Galaxy
15h 6.5m 55° 45' M10.7 50 Mly
M103 581 Arrowhead
Shape
Cassiopeia Open
Cluster
1h 33.2m 60° 42' 7.4
M104 4594 Sombrero
Galaxy

Edgewise
Dust Lane
Virgo Spiral
Galaxy
12h 40m -11° 37' 8.3
M105 3379 Leo Elliptical
Galaxy
10h 47.8m 12° 35' 9.2
M106 4258 Canes
Venatici
Seyfert Type II
Spiral
Galaxy
12h 19m 47° 18' 8.3
M107 6171 Ophiuchus Globular
Cluster
16h 32.5m -13° 3' 8.1
M108 3556 Edge-On
M97 in field
Ursa
Major
Spiral
Galaxy
11h 11.5m 55° 40' 10.1
M109 3992 Barred
Spiral Galaxy
Ursa
Major
Barred
Spiral
Galaxy
11h 57.6m 53° 23' 9.8
M110 205 Another
Companion
of M31
Andromeda Dwarf
Elliptical
Galaxy
0h 40.4m 41° 41' 9.4
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