| T h e M e s s i e r C a t a l o g u e |
|---|
| One of the earliest catalogues of nebulous-appearing objects was prepared in 1781 by the French astronomer Charles Messier (1730-1817). Messier was a comet hunter, and as an aid to himself and others in his field he placed on record 103 objects that might be mistaken for comets. Because Messier's list contains some of the most conspicuous star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies in the sky, these objects are often referred to by their numbers in his catalog - for example M31, the great galaxy in Andromeda. |
| The table can be sorted by clicking on the title of the column you want sorted - click once for ascending or click again for descending |
| CATALOGUE # | COMMON NAME | CONSTELLATION | OBJECT TYPE | RA | DEC | MAG | SIZE | DISTANCE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (in Arc Min) | (in kly) | ||||||||
| M001 | Crab Nebula | Taurus | Supernova Remnant | 05h 34.5m | +22° 01' | 8.4 | 6 x 4 | 6.3 | |
| M002 | --- | Aquarius | Globular Cluster | 21h 33.5m | -00° 49' | 6.5 | 12.9 | 36.2 | |
| M003 | --- | Canes Venaciti | Globular Cluster | 13h 42.2m | +28° 23' | 6.2 | 16.2 | 30.6 | |
| M004 | --- | Scorpius | Globular Cluster | 16h 23.6m | -26° 32' | 5.6 | 26.3 | 6.8 | |
| M005 | --- | Serpens | Globular Cluster | 15h 18.6m | +02° 05' | 5.6 | 17.4 | 22.8 | |
| M006 | Butterfly Cluster | Scorpius | Open Cluster | 17h 40.1m | -32° 13' | 5.3 | 25.0 | 2 | |
| M007 | Scorpion's Tail | Scorpius | Open Cluster | 17h 53.9m | -34° 49' | 4.1 | 80.0 | 0.8 | |
| M008 | Lagoon Nebula | Sagittarius | Diffuse Nebula | 18h 03.8m | -24° 23' | 6.0 | 90 x 40 | 5.2 | |
| M009 | --- | Ophiuchus | Globular Cluster | 17h 19.2m | -18° 31' | 7.7 | 9.3 | 26.4 | |
| M010 | --- | Ophiuchus | Globular Cluster | 16h 57.1m | -04° 06' | 6.6 | 15.1 | 13.4 | |
| M011 | Wild Duck Cluster | Scutum | Open Cluster | 18h 51.1m | -06° 16' | 6.3 | 14.0 | 6 | |
| M012 | --- | Ophiuchus | Globular Cluster | 16h 47.2m | -01° 57' | 6.7 | 14.5 | 17.6 | |
| M013 | Hercules Globular Cluster | Hercules | Globular Cluster | 16h 41.7m | +36° 28' | 5.8 | 16.6 | 22.8 | |
| M014 | --- | Ophiuchus | Globular Cluster | 17h 37.6m | -03° 15' | 7.6 | 11.7 | 27.4 | |
| M015 | --- | Pegasus | Globular Cluster | 21h 30.0m | +12° 10' | 6.2 | 12.3 | 32.6 | |
| M016 | --- | Serpens | Open Cluster | 18h 18.8m | -13° 47' | 6.4 | 7.0 | 7 | |
| M017 | Horseshoe Nebula | Sagittarius | Diffuse Nebula | 18h 20.8m | -16° 11' | 7.0 | 11.0 | 5 | |
| M018 | --- | Sagittarius | Open Cluster | 18h 19.9m | -17° 08' | 7.5 | 9.0 | 4.9 | |
| M019 | --- | Ophiuchus | Globular Cluster | 17h 02.6m | -26° 16' | 6.8 | 13.5 | 27.1 | |
| M020 | Trifid Nebula | Sagittarius | Diffuse Nebula | 18h 02.6m | -23° 02' | 9.0 | 28.0 | 5.2 | |
| M021 | --- | Sagittarius | Open Cluster | 18h 04.6m | -22° 30' | 6.5 | 13.0 | 4.25 | |
| M022 | --- | Sagittarius | Globular Cluster | 18h 36.4m | -23° 54' | 5.1 | 24.0 | 10.1 | |
| M023 | --- | Sagittarius | Open Cluster | 17h 56.8m | -19° 01' | 6.9 | 27.0 | 2.15 | |
| M024 | Sagittarius Star Cloud | Sagittarius | Milky Way Patch | 18h 16.9m | -18° 29' | 4.6 | 90 | 10 | |
| M025 | --- | Sagittarius | Open Cluster | 18h 31.6m | -19° 15' | 6.5 | 40.0 | 2 | |
| M026 | --- | Scutum | Open Cluster | 18h 45.2m | -09° 24' | 8.0 | 15.0 | 5 | |
| M027 | Dumbbell Nebula | Vulpecula | Planetary Nebula | 19h 59.6m | +22° 43' | 7.4 | 8.0 x 5.7 | 1.25 | |
| M028 | --- | Sagittarius | Globular Cluster | 18h 24.5m | -24° 52' | 6.8 | 11.2 | 17.9 | |
| M029 | --- | Cygnus | Open Cluster | 20h 23.9m | +38° 32' | 7.1 | 7.0 | 4.0 | |
| M030 | --- | Capricornus | Globular Cluster | 21h 40.4m | -23° 11' | 7.2 | 11.0 | 24.8 | |
| M031 | Andromeda Galaxy | Andromeda | Spiral Galaxy | 00h 42.7m | +41° 16' | 3.4 | 178 x 63 | 2900 | |
| M032 | --- | Andromeda | Elliptical Galaxy | 00h 42.7m | +40° 52' | 8.1 | 8 x 6 | 2900 | |
| M033 | Triangulum Galaxy | Triangulum | Spiral Galaxy | 01h 33.9m | +30° 39' | 5.7 | 73 x 45 | 3000 | |
| M034 | --- | Perseus | Open Cluster | 02h 42.0m | +42° 47' | 5.5 | 35.0 | 1.4 | |
| M035 | --- | Gemini | Open Cluster | 06h 08.9m | +24° 20' | 5.3 | 28.0 | 2.8 | |
| M036 | --- | Auriga | Open Cluster | 05h 36.1m | +34° 08' | 6.3 | 12.0 | 4.1 | |
| M037 | --- | Auriga | Open Cluster | 05h 52.4m | +32° 33' | 6.2 | 24.0 | 4.4 | |
| M038 | --- | Auriga | Open Cluster | 05h 28.4m | +35° 50' | 7.4 | 21.0 | 4.2 | |
| M039 | --- | Cygnus | Open Cluster | 21h 32.2m | +48° 26' | 5.2 | 32.0 | 0.825 | |
| M040 | Winnecke 4 | Ursa Major | Double Star | 12h 22.4m | +58° 05' | 8.4 | 0.8 | 0.51 | |
| M041 | --- | Canis Major | Open Cluster | 06h 47.0m | -20° 44' | 4.6 | 38.0 | 2.3 | |
| M042 | Orion Nebula | Orion | Diffuse Nebula | 05h 35.4m | -05° 27' | 4.0 | 85 x 60 | 1.6 | |
| M043 | De Mairan's Nebula | Orion | Diffuse Nebula | 05h 35.6m | -05° 16' | 9.0 | 20 x 15 | 1.6 | |
| M044 | Beehive Cluster / Praesepe | Cancer | Open Cluster | 08h 40.1m | +19° 59' | 3.7 | 95.0 | 0.577 | |
| M045 | Pleiades | Taurus | Open Cluster | 03h 47.0m | +24° 07' | 1.6 | 110.0 | 0.38 | |
| M046 | --- | Puppis | Open Cluster | 07h 41.8m | -14° 49' | 6.0 | 27.0 | 5.4 | |
| M047 | --- | Puppis | Open Cluster | 07h 36.6m | -14° 30' | 5.2 | 30.0 | 1.6 | |
| M048 | --- | Hydra | Open Cluster | 08h 13.8m | -05° 48' | 5.5 | 54.0 | 1.5 | |
| M049 | --- | Virgo | Elliptical Galaxy | 12h 29.8m | +08° 00' | 8.4 | 9 x 7.5 | 60000 | |
| M050 | --- | Monoceros | Open Cluster | 07h 03.2m | -08° 20' | 6.3 | 16.0 | 3 | |
| M051 | Whirlpool Galaxy | Canes Venaciti | Spiral Galaxy | 13h 29.9m | +47° 12' | 8.4 | 11 X 7 | 37000 | |
| M052 | --- | Cassiopeia | Open Cluster | 23h 24.2m | +61° 35' | 7.3 | 13.0 | 5.0 | |
| M053 | --- | Coma Berenices | Globular Cluster | 13h 12.9m | +18° 10' | 7.6 | 12.6 | 56.4 | |
| M054 | --- | Sagittarius | Globular Cluster | 18h 55.1m | -30° 29' | 7.6 | 9.1 | 82.8 | |
| M055 | --- | Sagittarius | Globular Cluster | 19h 40.0m | -30° 58' | 6.3 | 19.0 | 16.6 | |
| M056 | --- | Lyra | Globular Cluster | 19h 16.6m | +30° 11' | 8.3 | 7.1 | 31.6 | |
| M057 | Ring Nebula | Lyra | Planetary Nebula | 18h 53.6m | +33° 02' | 8.8 | 1.4 x 1.0 | 4.1 | |
| M058 | --- | Virgo | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 37.7m | +11° 49' | 9.7 | 5.5 x 4.5 | 60000 | |
| M059 | --- | Virgo | Elliptical Galaxy | 12h 42.0m | +11° 39' | 9.6 | 5 x 3.5 | 60000 | |
| M060 | --- | Virgo | Elliptical Galaxy | 12h 43.7m | +11° 33' | 8.8 | 7 x 6 | 60000 | |
| M061 | --- | Virgo | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 21.9m | +04° 28' | 9.7 | 6 X 5.5 | 60000 | |
| M062 | --- | Ophiuchus | Globular Cluster | 17h 01.2m | -30° 07' | 6.5 | 14.1 | 21.5 | |
| M063 | Sunflower Galaxy | Canes Venaciti | Spiral Galaxy | 13h 15.8m | +42° 02' | 8.6 | 10 x 6 | 37000 | |
| M064 | Blackeye Galaxy | Coma Berenices | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 56.7m | +21° 41' | 8.5 | 9.3 x 5.4 | 19000 | |
| M065 | --- | Leo | Spiral Galaxy | 11h 18.9m | +13° 05' | 9.3 | 8 x 1.5 | 35000 | |
| M066 | --- | Leo | Spiral Galaxy | 11h 20.2m | +12° 59' | 8.9 | 8 x 2.5 | 35000 | |
| M067 | --- | Cancer | Open Cluster | 08h 50.4m | +11° 49' | 6.1 | 30.0 | 2.7 | |
| M068 | --- | Hydra | Globular Cluster | 12h 39.5m | -26° 45' | 7.8 | 12.0 | 32.3 | |
| M069 | --- | Sagittarius | Globular Cluster | 18h 31.4m | -32° 21' | 7.6 | 7.1 | 26.7 | |
| M070 | --- | Sagittarius | Globular Cluster | 18h 43.2m | -32° 18' | 7.9 | 7.8 | 28.0 | |
| M071 | --- | Sagitta | Globular Cluster | 19h 53.8m | +18° 47' | 8.2 | 7.2 | 11.7 | |
| M072 | --- | Aquarius | Globular Cluster | 20h 53.5m | -12° 32' | 9.3 | 5.9 | 52.8 | |
| M073 | --- | Aquarius | Group of 4 Stars | 20h 58.9m | -12° 38' | 9.0 | 2.8 | --- | |
| M074 | --- | Pisces | Spiral Galaxy | 01h 36.7m | +15° 47' | 9.4 | 10.2 x 9.5 | 35000 | |
| M075 | --- | Sagittarius | Globular Cluster | 20h 06.1m | -21° 55' | 8.5 | 6.0 | 57.7 | |
| M076 | Little Dumbbell Nebula | Perseus | Planetary Nebula | 01h 42.4m | +51° 34' | 10.1 | 2.7 x 1.8 | 3.4 | |
| M077 | Cetus A | Cetus | Spiral Galaxy | 02h 42.7m | -00° 01' | 8.9 | 7 x 6 | 60000 | |
| M078 | --- | Orion | Diffuse Nebula | 05h 46.7m | +00° 03' | 8.3 | 8 x 6 | 1.6 | |
| M079 | --- | Lepus | Globular Cluster | 05h 24.5m | -24° 33' | 7.7 | 8.7 | 41.1 | |
| M080 | --- | Scorpius | Globular Cluster | 16h 17.0m | -22° 59' | 7.3 | 8.9 | 27.4 | |
| M081 | Bode's Galaxy | Ursa Major | Spiral Galaxy | 09h 55.6m | +69° 04' | 6.9 | 21 X 10 | 12000 | |
| M082 | Cigar Galaxy | Ursa Major | Irregular Galaxy | 09h 55.8m | +69° 41' | 8.4 | 9 x 4 | 12000 | |
| M083 | Southern Pinwheel | Hydra | Spiral Galaxy | 13h 37.0m | -29° 52' | 7.6 | 11 x 10 | 15000 | |
| M084 | --- | Virgo | Lenticular (S0) Galaxy | 12h 25.1m | +12° 53' | 9.1 | 5.0 | 60000 | |
| M085 | --- | Coma Berenices | Lenticular (S0) Galaxy | 12h 25.4m | +18° 11' | 9.1 | 7.1 x 5.2 | 60000 | |
| M086 | --- | Virgo | Lenticular (S0) Galaxy | 12h 26.2m | +12° 57' | 8.9 | 7.5 x 5.5 | 60000 | |
| M087 | Virgo A | Virgo | Elliptical Galaxy | 12h 30.8m | +12° 24' | 8.6 | 7.0 | 60000 | |
| M088 | --- | Coma Berenices | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 32.0m | +14° 25' | 9.6 | 7 x 4 | 60000 | |
| M089 | --- | Virgo | Elliptical Galaxy | 12h 35.7m | +12° 33' | 9.8 | 4.0 | 60000 | |
| M090 | --- | Virgo | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 36.8m | +13° 10' | 9.5 | 9.5 x 4.5 | 60000 | |
| M091 | --- | Coma Berenices | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 35.4m | +14° 30' | 10.2 | 5.4 x 4.4 | 60000 | |
| M092 | --- | Hercules | Globular Cluster | 17h 17.1m | +43° 08' | 6.4 | 11.2 | 26.4 | |
| M093 | --- | Puppis | Open Cluster | 07h 44.6m | -23° 52' | 6.0 | 22.0 | 3.6 | |
| M094 | --- | Canes Venatici | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 50.9m | +41° 07' | 8.2 | 7 x 3 | 14500 | |
| M095 | --- | Leo | Spiral Galaxy | 10h 44.0m | +11° 42' | 9.7 | 4.4 x 3.3 | 38000 | |
| M096 | --- | Leo | Spiral Galaxy | 10h 46.8m | +11° 49' | 9.2 | 6 x 4 | 38000 | |
| M097 | Owl Nebula | Ursa Major | Planetary Nebula | 11h 14.8m | +55° 01' | 9.9 | 3.4 x 3.3 | 2.6 | |
| M098 | --- | Coma Berenices | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 13.8m | +14° 54' | 10.1 | 9.5 x 3.2 | 60000 | |
| M099 | --- | Coma Berenices | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 18.8m | +14° 25' | 9.9 | 5.4 x 4.8 | 60000 | |
| M100 | --- | Coma Berenices | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 22.9m | +15° 49' | 9.3 | 7 x 6 | 60000 | |
| M101 | Pinwheel Galaxy | Ursa Major | Spiral Galaxy | 14h 03.2m | +54° 21' | 7.9 | 22.0 | 27000 | |
| M102 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | |
| M103 | --- | Cassiopeia | Open Cluster | 01h 33.2m | +60° 42' | 7.4 | 6.0 | 8 | |
| M104 * | Sombrero Galaxy | Virgo | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 40.0m | -11° 37' | 8.0 | 9 x 4 | 50000 | |
| M105 * | --- | Leo | Elliptical Galaxy | 10h 47.8m | +12° 35' | 9.3 | 2.0 | 38000 | |
| M106 * | --- | Canes Venatici | Spiral Galaxy | 12h 19.0m | +47° 18' | 8.4 | 19 x 8 | 25000 | |
| M107 * | --- | Ophiuchus | Globular Cluster | 16h 32.5m | -13° 03' | 7.9 | 10 | 19.6 | |
| M108 * | --- | Ursa Major | Spiral Galaxy | 11h 11.5m | +55° 40' | 10.0 | 8 x 1 | 45000 | |
| M109 * | --- | Ursa Major | Spiral Galaxy | 11h 57.6m | +53° 23' | 9.8 | 7 x 4 | 55000 | |
| M110 * | --- | Andromeda | Elliptical Galaxy | 00h 40.4m | +41° 41' | 8.5 | 17 x 10 | 2900 | |
| * denotes that that these objects were not in Messier's original 1781 list, they were added later by others. | |||||||||
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Database Last Updated: July 22 2023 21:36:55.
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