Messier Catalogue
Charles Messier, a French astronomer, during the mid-18th century began observing with his telescope a number of objects that were visible from France. Although Messier was a “comet hunter”, in scanning space he was attracted by some particular “objects” that did not look like stars. Some objects had already been “recorded” by other astronomers, but Messier decided to start noting them by indicating their position and describing what he was able to see. Many notes made by Messier, in our day, are very superficial, sometimes quite inaccurate or completely wrong. Some globular clusters were noted as “nebula” but it is more than forgivable, considering the instruments of the time.
What must be said is that Charles Messier created what was the first Catalog of non-stellar objects for that time. In 1774 he published the first edition of the Catalog des Nébuleuses et des Amas d ’Étoiles (Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters) which contained only 45 objects. The final version was published in 1781 and contained the 110 objects of the current catalog. The objects in the catalog are now known and indicated with the initials M followed by the number (Ex. M1)
A brief note on the M102 object in its catalog. Object M102 has been cataloged as a “Galaxy” but there are many disputes about this object. It is thought that it may be an “oversight” of Messier and that it may be a duplicate of the Pinwheel Galaxy, already cataloged as M101, but other hypotheses indicate that it was the “Spindle Galaxy” or some nearby galaxies.
However, the most accredited theory is that it is the “Spindle Galaxy” – NGC 5866 as it is only about 5 degrees from the galaxy M101 and Messier’s maps had a 5o grid. It is very likely that Messier noted the wrong position.
Messier Catalog Objects
| Messier Object | Common Name | NGC Caltalog | App. Mag. | Distance LY | Object Type | Constellation | Photo(*) |
| M1 | Crab Nebula | NGC 1952 | 9,0 | 6300 | Supernova Remnant | Taurus | YES |
| M2 | NGC 7089 | 7,5 | 36000 | Globular Cluster | Aquarius | no | |
| M3 | NGC 5272 | 7,0 | 31000 | Globular Cluster | Canes Venatici | no | |
| M4 | NGC 6121 | 7,5 | 7000 | Globular Cluster | Scorpius | no | |
| M5 | NGC 5904 | 7,0 | 23000 | Globular Cluster | Serpens | no | |
| M6 | Butterfly Cluster | NGC 6405 | 4,5 | 2000 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | no |
| M7 | Ptolemy Cluster | NGC 6475 | 3,5 | 1000 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | no |
| M8 | Lagoon Nebula | NGC 6523 | 5,0 | 6500 | Nebula with Cluster | Sagittarius | YES |
| M9 | NGC 6333 | 9,0 | 26000 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | no | |
| M10 | NGC 6254 | 7,5 | 13000 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | no | |
| M11 | Wild Duck Cluster | NGC 6705 | 7,0 | 6000 | Open Cluster | Scutum | no |
| M12 | NGC 6218 | 8,0 | 18000 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | no | |
| M13 | Great Globular Cluster in Hercules | NGC 6205 | 5,8 | 22000 | Globular Cluster | Hercules | YES |
| M14 | NGC 6402 | 9,5 | 27000 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | no | |
| M15 | NGC 7078 | 7,5 | 33000 | Globular Cluster | Pegasus | no | |
| M16 | Eagle Nebula | NGC 6611 | 6,5 | 7000 | Nebula with Cluster | Serpens | YES |
| M17 | Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula | NGC 6618 | 7,0 | 5000 | Nebula with Cluster | Sagittarius | no |
| M18 | NGC 6613 | 8,0 | 6000 | Open Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M19 | NGC 6273 | 8,5 | 27000 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | no | |
| M20 | Trifid Nebula | NGC 6514 | 5,0 | 5200 | Nebula with Cluster | Sagittarius | YES |
| M21 | NGC 6531 | 7,0 | 3000 | Open Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M22 | Sagittarius Cluster | NGC 6656 | 6,5 | 10000 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | no |
| M23 | NGC 6494 | 6,0 | 4500 | Open Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M24 | Small Sagittarius Star Cloud | includes NGC 6603 | 3 | 10000 | Asterism | Sagittarius | no |
| M25 | Nessuno | 4,9 | 2000 | Open Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M26 | NGC 6694 | 9,5 | 5000 | Open Cluster | Scutum | no | |
| M27 | Dumbbell Nebula | NGC 6853 | 7,5 | 1250 | Planetary Nebula | Volpecula | YES |
| M28 | NGC 6626 | 8,5 | 18000 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M29 | Cooling Tower | NGC 6913 | 9,0 | 7200 | Open Cluster | Cygnus | no |
| M30 | NGC 7099 | 8,5 | 25000 | Globular Cluster | Capricornus | no | |
| M31 | Andromeda Galaxy | NGC 224 | 4,5 | 2500000 | Spiral Galaxy | Andromeda | YES |
| M32 | Small Andromeda Galaxy | NGC 221 | 10,0 | 2900000 | Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy | Andromeda | no |
| M33 | Triangulum Galaxy | NGC 598 | 7,0 | 2810000 | Spiral Galaxy | Triangulum | YES |
| M34 | NGC 1039 | 6,0 | 1400 | Open Cluster | Perseus | no | |
| M35 | NGC 2168 | 5,5 | 2800 | Open Cluster | Gemini | no | |
| M36 | NGC 1960 | 6,5 | 4100 | Open Cluster | Auriga | no | |
| M37 | NGC 2099 | 6,0 | 4600 | Open Cluster | Auriga | YES | |
| M38 | Starfish Cluster | NGC 1912 | 7,0 | 4200 | Open Cluster | Auriga | no |
| M39 | NGC 7092 | 5,5 | 800 | Open Cluster | Cygnus | no | |
| M40 | Winnecke-4 | Nessuno | 9,0 | 500 | Asterism | Ursa Major | no |
| M41 | Little Beehive Cluster | NGC 2287 | 5,0 | 2300 | Open Cluster | Canis MAjor | no |
| M42 | Orion Nebula | NGC 1976 | 5,0 | 1600 | Diffuse Nebula | Orion | YES |
| M43 | De Mairan Nebula | NGC 1982 | 7,0 | 1600 | Diffuse Nebula | Orion | no |
| M44 | Beehive Cluster or Praesepe | NGC 2632 | 3,1 | 600 | Open Cluster | Cancer | YES |
| M45 | Pleiades | NGC 1432 | 1,4 | 400 | Open Cluster | Taurus | YES |
| M46 | NGC 2437 | 6,5 | 5400 | Open Cluster | Puppis | no | |
| M47 | NGC 2422 | 4,5 | 1600 | Open Cluster | Puppis | no | |
| M48 | NGC 2548 | 5,5 | 1500 | Open Cluster | Hydra | YES | |
| M49 | NGC 4472 | 10,0 | 55000000 | Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M50 | NGC 2323 | 7,0 | 3200 | Open Cluster | Monoceros | no | |
| M51 | Whirlpool Galaxy | NGC 5194 NGC 5195 | 8,0 | 37000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | YES |
| M52 | NGC 7654 | 8,0 | 7000 | Open Cluster | Cassiopeia | YES | |
| M53 | NGC 5024 | 8,5 | 56000 | Globular Cluster | Coma Berenice | no | |
| M54 | NGC 6715 | 8,5 | 83000 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M55 | NGC 6809 | 7,0 | 17000 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M56 | NGC 6779 | 9,5 | 32000 | Globular Cluster | Lyra | no | |
| M57 | Ring Nebula | NGC 6720 | 9,5 | 2300 | Planetary Nebula | Lyra | YES |
| M58 | NGC 4579 | 11,0 | 68000000 | Barred Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M59 | NGC 4621 | 11,5 | 60000000 | Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M60 | NGC 4649 | 10,5 | 55000000 | Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M61 | NGC 4303 | 10,5 | 60000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M62 | NGC 6266 | 8,0 | 22000 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | no | |
| M63 | Sunflower Galaxy | NGC 5055 | 8,5 | 37000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | no |
| M64 | Black Eye Galaxy | NGC 4826 | 9,0 | 12000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenice | no |
| M65 | Leo Triplet | NGC 3623 | 10,5 | 35000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Leo | no |
| M66 | Leo Triplet | NGC 3627 | 10,0 | 35000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Leo | no |
| M67 | NGC 2682 | 7,5 | 2250 | Open Cluster | Cancer | YES | |
| M68 | NGC 4590 | 9,0 | 32000 | Globular Cluster | Hydra | no | |
| M69 | NGC 6637 | 9,0 | 25000 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M70 | NGC 6681 | 9,0 | 28000 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M71 | NGC 6838 | 8,5 | 12000 | Globular Cluster | Sagitta | no | |
| M72 | NGC 6981 | 10,0 | 53000 | Globular Cluster | Aquarius | no | |
| M73 | NGC 6994 | 9,0 | 2500 | Asterism | Aquarius | no | |
| M74 | Phantom Galaxy | NGC 628 | 10,5 | 35000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Pisces | no |
| M75 | NGC 6864 | 9,5 | 58000 | Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | no | |
| M76 | Little Dumbbell Nebula | NGC 650 NGC 651 | 12,0 | 3400 | Planetary Nebula | Perseus | no |
| M77 | NGC 1068 | 10,5 | 47000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Cetus | no | |
| M78 | NGC 2068 | 8,0 | 1600 | Diffuse Nebula | Orion | no | |
| M79 | NGC 1904 | 8,5 | 40000 | Globular Cluster | Lepus | no | |
| M80 | NGC 6093 | 8,5 | 27000 | Globular Cluster | Scorpius | no | |
| M81 | Bode’s Galaxy | NGC 3031 | 8,5 | 12000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | YES |
| M82 | Sigar Galaxy | NGC 3034 | 9,5 | 11000000 | Starbust Galaxy | Ursa Major | YES |
| M83 | Southern Pinwheel Galaxy | NGC 5236 | 8,5 | 10000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Hydra | no |
| M84 | NGC 4374 | 11,0 | 60000000 | Lenticular Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M85 | NGC 4382 | 10,5 | 60000000 | Lenticular Galaxy | Coma Berenice | no | |
| M86 | NGC 4406 | 11,0 | 52000000 | Lenticular Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M87 | Virgo A Galaxy | NGC 4486 | 11,0 | 52000000 | Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | no |
| M88 | NGC 4501 | 11,0 | 47000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenice | no | |
| M89 | NGC 4552 | 11,5 | 50000000 | Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M90 | NGC 4569 | 11,0 | 60000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | no | |
| M91 | NGC 4548 | 11,5 | 63000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenice | no | |
| M92 | NGC 6341 | 7,5 | 26000 | Globular Cluster | Hercules | YES | |
| M93 | NGC 2447 | 6,5 | 4500 | Open Cluster | Puppis | no | |
| M94 | Croc’s Eye or Cat’s Eye | NGC 4736 | 9,5 | 14500000 | Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | no |
| M95 | NGC 3351 | 11,0 | 38000000 | Barred Spiral Galaxy | Leo | no | |
| M96 | NGC 3368 | 10,5 | 38000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Leo | no | |
| M97 | Owl Nebula | NGC 3587 | 12,0 | 2600 | Planetary Nebula | Ursa Major | no |
| M98 | NGC 4192 | 11,0 | 60000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenice | no | |
| M99 | NGC 4254 | 10,5 | 60000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenice | no | |
| M100 | NGC 4321 | 10,5 | 52000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenice | no | |
| M101 | Pinwheel Galaxy | NGC 5457 | 8,5 | 24000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | YES |
| M102 | Spindle Galaxy | NGC 5866 | 10,5 | 40000000 | Lenticular Galaxy | Draco | no |
| M103 | NGC 581 | 7,0 | 8000 | Open Cluster | Cassiopeia | no | |
| M104 | Sombrero Galaxy | NGC 4594 | 9,5 | 50000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | no |
| M105 | NGC 3379 | 11,0 | 38000000 | Elliptical Galaxy | Leo | no | |
| M106 | NGC 4258 | 9,5 | 25000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | no | |
| M107 | NGC 6171 | 10,0 | 20000 | Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | no | |
| M108 | NGC 3556 | 11,0 | 45000000 | Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | no | |
| M109 | NGC 3992 | 11,0 | 55000000 | Barred Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | no | |
| M110 | NGC 205 | 10,0 | 2200000 | Elliptical Galaxy | Andromeda | no |