Messier Project
The Messier objects are those catalogued by Charles Messier during the 18th century. Messier was
a comet hunter and listed objects so that he would not mistake them for comets.
As a source of motivation and to aid target selection when I need it I thought I would attempt
to collect images of all the 110 Messier objects. M102 may be a challenge as the identity of this object is not
known. I will have to figure something out for that one.
The table below has been adapted from the one that can be found of Wikipedia. It just made it
easier for me to set up my own table. Objects highlighted in blue are nebulae, orange clusters, green galaxies and
those not fitting into these categories are in dark blue. M numbers in red are those that I have imaged. These
objects also have a small image in the Image column. You can click the image or the Messier number to see a larger
version of the image. There is also details of the image capture procedure. I have yet to upload an image
of M51.
I have so far collected images for 43 of the 110 objects.
|
Messier number |
NGC Number |
Common name |
Image |
Object type |
Distance (kly) |
Constellation |
App. mag.
|
|
M1 |
NGC 1952 |
Crab Nebula |
|
Supernova remnant |
6.3 |
Taurus |
9.0 |
|
M2 |
NGC 7089 |
|
 |
Globular cluster |
36 |
Aquarius |
7.5 |
|
M3 |
NGC 5272 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
31 |
Canes Venatici |
7.0 |
|
M4 |
NGC 6121 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
7 |
Scorpius |
7.5 |
|
M5 |
NGC 5904 |
|
 |
Globular cluster |
23 |
Serpens |
7.0 |
|
M6 |
NGC 6405 |
Butterfly Cluster |
 |
Open cluster |
2 |
Scorpius |
4.5 |
|
M7 |
NGC 6475 |
Ptolemy Cluster |
 |
Open cluster |
1 |
Scorpius |
3.5 |
|
M8 |
NGC 6523 |
Lagoon Nebula |
 |
Cluster with nebula |
6.5 |
Sagittarius |
6.0 |
|
M9 |
NGC 6333 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
26 |
Ophiuchus |
9.0 |
|
M10 |
NGC 6254 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
13 |
Ophiuchus |
7.5 |
|
M11 |
NGC 6705 |
Wild Duck Cluster |
 |
Open cluster |
6 |
Scutum |
7.0 |
|
M12 |
NGC 6218 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
18 |
Ophiuchus |
8.0 |
|
M13 |
NGC 6205 |
Great Globular Cluster in Hercules |
|
Globular cluster |
22 |
Hercules |
5.8 |
|
M14 |
NGC 6402 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
27 |
Ophiuchus |
9.5 |
|
M15 |
NGC 7078 |
Cúmulo de Pegaso |
 |
Globular cluster |
33 |
Pegasus |
7.5 |
|
M16 |
NGC 6611 |
Eagle Nebula |
 |
Cluster with H II
region |
7 |
Serpens |
6.5 |
|
M17 |
NGC 6618 |
Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula |
|
Cluster with H II region |
5 |
Sagittarius |
6.0 |
|
M18 |
NGC 6613 |
|
|
Open cluster |
6 |
Sagittarius |
8.0 |
|
M19 |
NGC 6273 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
27 |
Ophiuchus |
8.5 |
|
M20 |
NGC 6514 |
Trifid Nebula |
 |
Cluster with H II region |
5.2 |
Sagittarius |
6.3 |
|
M21 |
NGC 6531 |
|
|
Open cluster |
3 |
Sagittarius |
7.0 |
|
M22 |
NGC 6656 |
Sagittarius Cluster |
 |
Globular cluster |
10 |
Sagittarius |
5.1 |
|
M23 |
NGC 6494 |
|
|
Open cluster |
4.5 |
Sagittarius |
6.0 |
|
M24 |
NGC 6603 |
Sagittarius Star Cloud |
 |
Milky Way star cloud |
10.0 |
Sagittarius |
4.6 |
|
M25 |
IC 4725 |
|
 |
Open cluster |
2 |
Sagittarius |
4.9 |
|
M26 |
NGC 6694 |
|
|
Open cluster |
5 |
Scutum |
9.5 |
|
M27 |
NGC 6853 |
Dumbbell Nebula |
|
Planetary nebula |
1.25 |
Vulpecula |
7.5 |
|
M28 |
NGC 6626 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
18 |
Sagittarius |
8.5 |
|
M29 |
NGC 6913 |
|
|
Open cluster |
7.2 |
Cygnus |
9.0 |
|
M30 |
NGC 7099 |
|
 |
Globular cluster |
25 |
Capricornus |
8.5 |
|
M31 |
NGC 224 |
Andromeda Galaxy |
 |
Spiral galaxy |
2,500 |
Andromeda |
3.4 |
|
M32 |
NGC 221 |
|
 |
Dwarf elliptical galaxy |
2,900 |
Andromeda |
10.0 |
|
M33 |
NGC 598 |
Triangulum Galaxy |
 |
Spiral galaxy |
2,810 |
Triangulum |
5.7 |
|
M34 |
NGC 1039 |
|
|
Open cluster |
1.4 |
Perseus |
6.0 |
|
M35 |
NGC 2168 |
|
 |
Open cluster |
2.8 |
Gemini |
5.5 |
|
M36 |
NGC 1960 |
|
|
Open cluster |
4.1 |
Auriga |
6.5 |
|
M37 |
NGC 2099 |
|
|
Open cluster |
4.6 |
Auriga |
6.0 |
|
M38 |
NGC 1912 |
|
|
Open cluster |
4.2 |
Auriga |
7.0 |
|
M39 |
NGC 7092 |
|
|
Open cluster |
0.8 |
Cygnus |
5.5 |
|
M40 |
|
Winnecke 4 |
|
Double star WNC4 |
0.5 |
Ursa Major |
9.0 |
|
M41 |
NGC 2287 |
|
|
Open cluster |
2.3 |
Canis Major |
4.5 |
|
M42 |
NGC 1976 |
Orion Nebula |
 |
H II region |
1.6 |
Orion |
4.0 |
|
M43 |
NGC 1982 |
De Mairan's Nebula |
 |
H II region
(part of the Orion Nebula) |
1.6 |
Orion |
7.0 |
|
M44 |
NGC 2632 |
Beehive Cluster |
 |
Open cluster |
0.6 |
Cancer |
3.7 |
|
M45 |
|
Pleiades |
 |
Open cluster |
0.4 |
Taurus |
1.6 |
|
M46 |
NGC 2437 |
|
 |
Open cluster |
5.4 |
Puppis |
6.5 |
|
M47 |
NGC 2422 |
|
 |
Open cluster |
1.6 |
Puppis |
4.5 |
|
M48 |
NGC 2548 |
|
|
Open cluster |
1.5 |
Hydra |
5.5 |
|
M49 |
NGC 4472 |
|
|
Elliptical galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
10.0 |
|
M50 |
NGC 2323 |
|
|
Open cluster |
3 |
Monoceros |
7.0 |
|
M51 |
NGC 5194, NGC 5195 |
Whirlpool Galaxy |
 |
Spiral galaxy |
37,000 |
Canes Venatici |
8.4 |
|
M52 |
NGC 7654 |
|
 |
Open cluster |
7 |
Cassiopeia |
8.0 |
|
M53 |
NGC 5024 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
56 |
Coma Berenices |
8.5 |
|
M54 |
NGC 6715 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
83 |
Sagittarius |
8.5 |
|
M55 |
NGC 6809 |
|
 |
Globular cluster |
17 |
Sagittarius |
7.0 |
|
M56 |
NGC 6779 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
32 |
Lyra |
9.5 |
|
M57 |
NGC 6720 |
Ring Nebula |
|
Planetary nebula |
2.3 |
Lyra |
8.8 |
|
M58 |
NGC 4579 |
|
|
Barred spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
11.0 |
|
M59 |
NGC 4621 |
|
|
Elliptical galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
11.5 |
|
M60 |
NGC 4649 |
|
|
Elliptical galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
10.5 |
|
M61 |
NGC 4303 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
10.5 |
|
M62 |
NGC 6266 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
22 |
Ophiuchus |
8.0 |
|
M63 |
NGC 5055 |
Sunflower Galaxy |
|
Spiral galaxy |
37,000 |
Canes Venatici |
8.5 |
|
M64 |
NGC 4826 |
Black Eye Galaxy |
|
Spiral galaxy |
12,000 |
Coma Berenices |
9.0 |
|
M65 |
NGC 3623 |
|
 |
Barred spiral galaxy |
35,000 |
Leo |
10.5 |
|
M66 |
NGC 3627 |
|
 |
Barred spiral galaxy |
35,000 |
Leo |
10.0 |
|
M67 |
NGC 2682 |
|
 |
Open cluster |
2.25 |
Cancer |
7.5 |
|
M68 |
NGC 4590 |
|
 |
Globular cluster |
32 |
Hydra |
9.0 |
|
M69 |
NGC 6637 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
25 |
Sagittarius |
9.0 |
|
M70 |
NGC 6681 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
28 |
Sagittarius |
9.0 |
|
M71 |
NGC 6838 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
12 |
Sagitta |
8.5 |
|
M72 |
NGC 6981 |
|
 |
Globular cluster |
53 |
Aquarius |
10.0 |
|
M73 |
NGC 6994 |
|
|
Asterism |
|
Aquarius |
9.0 |
|
M74 |
NGC 628 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
35,000 |
Pisces |
10.5 |
|
M75 |
NGC 6864 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
58 |
Sagittarius |
9.5 |
|
M76 |
NGC 650, NGC 651 |
Little Dumbbell Nebula |
|
Planetary nebula |
3.4 |
Perseus |
10.1 |
|
M77 |
NGC 1068 |
|
 |
Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Cetus |
10.5 |
|
M78 |
NGC 2068 |
|
 |
Diffuse nebula |
1.6 |
Orion |
8.0 |
|
M79 |
NGC 1904 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
40 |
Lepus |
8.5 |
|
M80 |
NGC 6093 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
27 |
Scorpius |
8.5 |
|
M81 |
NGC 3031 |
Bode's Galaxy |
|
Spiral galaxy |
12,000 |
Ursa Major |
6.9 |
|
M82 |
NGC 3034 |
Cigar Galaxy |
|
Barred spiral galaxy (?) |
11,000 |
Ursa Major |
9.5 |
|
M83 |
NGC 5236 |
Southern Pinwheel Galaxy |
 |
Barred spiral galaxy |
10,000 |
Hydra |
8.5 |
|
M84 |
NGC 4374 |
|
 |
Lenticular galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
11.0 |
|
M85 |
NGC 4382 |
|
|
Lenticular galaxy |
60,000 |
Coma Berenices |
10.5 |
|
M86 |
NGC 4406 |
|
 |
Lenticular galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
11.0 |
|
M87 |
NGC 4486 |
|
|
Elliptical galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
11.0 |
|
M88 |
NGC 4501 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Coma Berenices |
11.0 |
|
M89 |
NGC 4552 |
|
|
Elliptical galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
11.5 |
|
M90 |
NGC 4569 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Virgo |
11.0 |
|
M91 |
NGC 4548 |
|
|
Barred Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Coma Berenices |
11.0 |
|
M92 |
NGC 6341 |
|
|
Globular cluster |
26 |
Hercules |
7.5 |
|
M93 |
NGC 2447 |
|
 |
Open cluster |
4.5 |
Puppis |
6.5 |
|
M94 |
NGC 4736 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
14,500 |
Canes Venatici |
9.5 |
|
M95 |
NGC 3351 |
|
 |
Barred Spiral galaxy |
38,000 |
Leo |
11.0 |
|
M96 |
NGC 3368 |
|
 |
Spiral galaxy |
38,000 |
Leo |
10.5 |
|
M97 |
NGC 3587 |
Owl Nebula |
|
Planetary nebula |
2.6 |
Ursa Major |
9.9 |
|
M98 |
NGC 4192 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Coma Berenices |
11.0 |
|
M99 |
NGC 4254 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Coma Berenices |
10.5 |
|
M100 |
NGC 4321 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
60,000 |
Coma Berenices |
10.5 |
|
M101 |
NGC 5457 |
Pinwheel Galaxy |
 |
Spiral galaxy |
27,000 |
Ursa Major |
7.9 |
|
M102 |
(Not conclusively identified) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M103 |
NGC 581 |
|
|
Open cluster |
8 |
Cassiopeia |
7.0 |
|
M104 |
NGC 4594 |
Sombrero Galaxy |
 |
Spiral galaxy |
50,000 |
Virgo |
9.5 |
|
M105 |
NGC 3379 |
|
|
Elliptical galaxy |
38,000 |
Leo |
11.0 |
|
M106 |
NGC 4258 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
25,000 |
Canes Venatici |
9.5 |
|
M107 |
NGC 6171 |
|
 |
Globular cluster |
20 |
Ophiuchus |
10.0 |
|
M108 |
NGC 3556 |
|
|
Spiral galaxy |
45,000 |
Ursa Major |
11.0 |
|
M109 |
NGC 3992 |
|
|
Barred Spiral galaxy |
55,000 |
Ursa Major |
11.0 |
|
M110 |
NGC 205 |
|
 |
Dwarf elliptical galaxy |
2,200 |
Andromeda |
10.0 |
|
Messier number |
NGC Number |
Common name |
Image |
Object type |
Distance (kly) |
Constellation |
App. mag. |
Last object imaged: M11, 5th August 2013.
Last Updated: 22nd September 2013.
|
