List of Messier objects

Charles Messier

The Messier objects are a set of 110 astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier in his "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles" ("Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters"). A preliminary version first appeared in Memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences in 1771,[1][2] and the last item was added in 1966 by Kenneth Glyn Jones, based on Messier's observations.[2] The first version of Messier's catalogue contained 45 objects and was published in 1774 in the journal of the French Academy of Sciences in Paris. In addition to his own discoveries, this version included objects previously observed by other astronomers, with only 17 of the 45 objects being Messier’s.[3] By 1780 the catalog had increased to 80 objects and the final version of the catalogue was published in 1781; in the 1784 issue of Connaissance des Temps it contained 103 objects.[4] However, due to the incorrect addition of Messier 102, the total number remained 102. Other astronomers, using side notes in Messier's texts, eventually filled out the list up to 110 objects.[5]

The catalogue consists of a diverse range of astronomical objects, ranging from star clusters, nebula and galaxies. Messier 1 is the supernova remnant of Crab Nebula and the great spiral Andromeda galaxy as M 31. Many further inclusions followed in the next century when the first addition came from Nicolas Camille Flammarion in 1921, who added Messier 104 after finding Messier’s side note in his 1781 edition exemplar of the catalogue. M105 to M107 were added by Helen Sawyer Hogg in 1947, M108 and M109 by Owen Gingerich in 1960, and M110 by Kenneth Glyn Jones in 1967.[6]

Because Messier was interested in finding only comets, he created a list of non-comet objects that frustrated his hunt for them. The compilation of this list, in collaboration with his assistant Pierre Méchain, is known as the Messier catalogue. This catalogue of objects is one of the most famous lists of astronomical objects, and many Messier objects are still referenced by their Messier number.[7]

Messier objects

      Open cluster       Globular cluster       Nebula       Planetary nebula       Supernova remnant       Galaxy       Other

Messier number NGC/IC Number Common name Picture Object type Distance (kly) Constellation Apparent magnitude
M1[8] NGC 1952 Crab Nebula Supernova remnant 4.9–8.1 Taurus 8.4
M2[9] NGC 7089   Cluster, globular 33 Aquarius 6.3
M3[10] NGC 5272   Cluster, globular 33.9 Canes Venatici 6.2
M4[11] NGC 6121   Cluster, globular 7.2 Scorpius 5.9
M5[12] NGC 5904   Cluster, globular 24.5 Serpens 6.7
M6[13] NGC 6405 Butterfly Cluster Cluster, open 1.6 Scorpius 4.2
M7[14] NGC 6475 Ptolemy Cluster Cluster, open 0.65–1.31 Scorpius 3.3
M8[15] NGC 6523 Lagoon Nebula Nebula with cluster 4.1 Sagittarius 6.0
M9[16] NGC 6333   Cluster, globular 25.8 Ophiuchus 8.4
M10[17] NGC 6254   Cluster, globular 14.3 Ophiuchus 6.4
M11[18] NGC 6705 Wild Duck Cluster Cluster, open 6.2 Scutum 6.3
M12[19] NGC 6218   Cluster, globular 15.7 Ophiuchus 7.7
M13[20] NGC 6205 Great Globular Cluster in Hercules Cluster, globular 22.2 Hercules 5.8
M14[21] NGC 6402   Cluster, globular 30.3 Ophiuchus 8.3
M15[22] NGC 7078 Cluster, globular 33 Pegasus 6.2
M16[23] NGC 6611 Eagle Nebula Nebula, H II region with cluster 7 Serpens 6.0
M17[24] NGC 6618 Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula Nebula, H II region with cluster 5–6 Sagittarius 6.0
M18[25] NGC 6613   Cluster, open 4.9 Sagittarius 7.5
M19[26] NGC 6273   Cluster, globular 28.7 Ophiuchus 7.5
M20[27] NGC 6514 Trifid Nebula Nebula, H II region with cluster 5.2 Sagittarius 6.3
M21[28] NGC 6531   Cluster, open 4.25 Sagittarius 6.5
M22[29] NGC 6656 Sagittarius Cluster Cluster, globular 9.6–11.6 Sagittarius 5.1
M23[30] NGC 6494   Cluster, open 2.15 Sagittarius 6.9
M24[31] IC 4715 Sagittarius Star Cloud Milky Way star cloud ~10 Sagittarius 4.6
M25[32] IC 4725   Cluster, open 2.0 Sagittarius 4.6
M26[33] NGC 6694   Cluster, open 5.0 Scutum 8.0
M27[34] NGC 6853 Dumbbell Nebula Nebula, planetary 1.148–1.52 Vulpecula 7.5
M28[35] NGC 6626   Cluster, globular 17.9 Sagittarius 7.7
M29[36] NGC 6913   Cluster, open 7.2 Cygnus 7.1
M30[37] NGC 7099   Cluster, globular 27.8–31 Capricornus 7.7
M31[38] NGC 224 Andromeda Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 2,430–2,650 Andromeda 3.4
M32[39] NGC 221   Galaxy, dwarf elliptical 2,410–2,570 Andromeda 8.1
M33[40] NGC 598 Triangulum Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 2,380–3,070 Triangulum 5.7
M34[41] NGC 1039   Cluster, open 1.5 Perseus 5.5
M35[42] NGC 2168   Cluster, open 2.8 Gemini 5.3
M36[43] NGC 1960   Cluster, open 4.1 Auriga 6.3
M37[44] NGC 2099   Cluster, open 4.511 Auriga 6.2
M38[45] NGC 1912   Cluster, open 4.2 Auriga 7.4
M39[46] NGC 7092   Cluster, open 0.8244 Cygnus 5.5
M40[47]   Winnecke 4 Double star WNC4 0.51 Ursa Major 9.7
M41[48] NGC 2287   Cluster, open 2.3 Canis Major 4.5
M42[49] NGC 1976 Orion Nebula Nebula, H II region 1.324–1.364 Orion 4.0
M43[50] NGC 1982 De Mairan's Nebula Nebula, H II region
(part of the Orion Nebula)		 1.6 Orion 9.0
M44[51] NGC 2632 Beehive Cluster Cluster, open 0.577 Cancer 3.7
M45[52]   Pleiades Cluster, open 0.39–0.46 Taurus 1.6
M46[53] NGC 2437   Cluster, open 5.4 Puppis 6.1
M47[54] NGC 2422   Cluster, open 1.6 Puppis 4.2
M48[55] NGC 2548   Cluster, open 1.5 Hydra 5.5
M49[56] NGC 4472   Galaxy, elliptical 53,600–58,200 Virgo 9.4
M50[57] NGC 2323   Cluster, open 3.2 Monoceros 5.9
M51[58] NGC 5194, NGC 5195 Whirlpool Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 19,000–27,000 Canes Venatici 8.4
M52[59] NGC 7654   Cluster, open 5.0 Cassiopeia 5.0
M53[60] NGC 5024   Cluster, globular 58 Coma Berenices 8.3
M54[61] NGC 6715   Cluster, globular 87.4 Sagittarius 8.4
M55[62] NGC 6809   Cluster, globular 17.6 Sagittarius 7.4
M56[63] NGC 6779   Cluster, globular 32.9 Lyra 8.3
M57[64] NGC 6720 Ring Nebula Nebula, planetary 1.6–3.8 Lyra 8.8
M58[65] NGC 4579   Galaxy, barred spiral ~63,000 Virgo 10.5
M59[66] NGC 4621   Galaxy, elliptical 55,000–65,000 Virgo 10.6
M60[67] NGC 4649   Galaxy, elliptical 51,000–59,000 Virgo 9.8
M61[68] NGC 4303   Galaxy, spiral 50,200–54,800 Virgo 10.2
M62[69] NGC 6266   Cluster, globular 22.2 Ophiuchus 7.4
M63[70] NGC 5055 Sunflower Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 37,000 Canes Venatici 9.3
M64[71] NGC 4826 Black Eye Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 22,000–26,000 Coma Berenices 9.4
M65[72] NGC 3623 Leo Triplet Galaxy, barred spiral 41,000–42,000 Leo 10.3
M66[73] NGC 3627 Leo Triplet Galaxy, barred spiral 31,000–41,000 Leo 8.9
M67[74] NGC 2682   Cluster, open 2.61–2.93 Cancer 6.1
M68[75] NGC 4590   Cluster, globular 33.6 Hydra 9.7
M69[76] NGC 6637   Cluster, globular 29.7 Sagittarius 8.3
M70[77] NGC 6681   Cluster, globular 29.4 Sagittarius 9.1
M71[78] NGC 6838   Cluster, globular 13.0 Sagitta 6.1
M72[79] NGC 6981   Cluster, globular 53.40–55.74 Aquarius 9.4
M73[80] NGC 6994   Asterism ~2.5 Aquarius 9.0
M74[81] NGC 628   Galaxy, spiral 24,000–36,000 Pisces 10.0
M75[82] NGC 6864   Cluster, globular 67.5 Sagittarius 9.2
M76[83] NGC 650, NGC 651 Little Dumbbell Nebula Nebula, planetary 2.5 Perseus 10.1
M77[84] NGC 1068 Cetus A Galaxy, spiral 47,000 Cetus 9.6
M78[85] NGC 2068   Nebula, diffuse 1.6 Orion 8.3
M79[86] NGC 1904   Cluster, globular 41 Lepus 8.6
M80[87] NGC 6093   Cluster, globular 32.6 Scorpius 7.9
M81[88] NGC 3031 Bode's Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 11,400–12,200 Ursa Major 6.9
M82[89] NGC 3034 Cigar Galaxy Galaxy, starburst 10,700–12,300 Ursa Major 8.4
M83[90] NGC 5236 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy Galaxy, barred spiral 14,700 Hydra 7.5
M84[91] NGC 4374   Galaxy, lenticular 57,000–63,000 Virgo 10.1
M85[92] NGC 4382   Galaxy, lenticular 56,000–64,000 Coma Berenices 10.0
M86[93] NGC 4406   Galaxy, lenticular 49,000–55,000 Virgo 9.8
M87[94] NGC 4486 Virgo A Galaxy, elliptical 51,870–55,130 Virgo 9.6
M88[95] NGC 4501   Galaxy, spiral 39,000–56,000 Coma Berenices 10.4
M89[96] NGC 4552   Galaxy, elliptical 47,000–53,000 Virgo 10.7
M90[97] NGC 4569   Galaxy, spiral 55,900–61,500 Virgo 10.3
M91[98] NGC 4548   Galaxy, barred spiral 47,000–79,000 Coma Berenices 11.0
M92[99] NGC 6341   Cluster, globular 26.7 Hercules 6.3
M93[100] NGC 2447   Cluster, open 3.6 Puppis 6.0
M94[101] NGC 4736   Galaxy, spiral 14,700–17,300 Canes Venatici 9.0
M95[102] NGC 3351   Galaxy, barred spiral 31,200–34,000 Leo 11.4
M96[103] NGC 3368   Galaxy, spiral 28,000–34,000 Leo 10.1
M97[104] NGC 3587 Owl Nebula Nebula, planetary 2.03 Ursa Major 9.9
M98[105] NGC 4192   Galaxy, spiral 44,400 Coma Berenices 11.0
M99[106] NGC 4254   Galaxy, spiral 44,700–55,700 Coma Berenices 10.4
M100[107] NGC 4321   Galaxy, spiral 55,000 Coma Berenices 10.1
M101[108] NGC 5457 Pinwheel Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 19,100–22,400 Ursa Major 7.9
M102[109] (Not conclusively identified)[110]          
M103[111] NGC 581   Cluster, open 10 Cassiopeia 7.4
M104[112] NGC 4594 Sombrero Galaxy Galaxy, spiral 28,700–30,900 Virgo 9.0
M105[113] NGC 3379   Galaxy, elliptical 30,400–33,600 Leo 10.2
M106[114] NGC 4258   Galaxy, spiral 22,200–25,200 Canes Venatici 9.1
M107[115] NGC 6171   Cluster, globular 20.9 Ophiuchus 8.9
M108[116] NGC 3556   Galaxy, barred spiral 46,000 Ursa Major 10.7
M109[117] NGC 3992   Galaxy, barred spiral 59,500–107,500 Ursa Major 10.6
M110[118] NGC 205   Galaxy, dwarf elliptical 2,600–2,780 Andromeda 9.0
Messier number NGC Number Common name Picture Object type Distance (kly) Constellation Apparent magnitude

Star chart of Messier objects

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Charles Messier's Original Catalog of 1771". Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. June 15, 2007. Retrieved November 5, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "brittanica". Retrieved May 27, 2015.
  3. ↑ Knight, J.D. "Meet the Astronomers: Charles Messier". Sea and Sky. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  4. ↑ Charles Messier, 1781. Catalogue des Nébuleuses & des amas d'Étoiles. Connoissance des Temps Pour l'Année 1784 (published 1781), pp. 227–267 [Bibcode: 1781CdT..1784..227M].
    "Original Messier Catalog of 1781". Original Messier Catalog of 1781. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  5. ↑ "SEDS Messier Database". The Messier Catalog. 2015-05-27.
  6. ↑ Patrick Moore (1979). The Guinness Book of Astronomy. Guinness Superlatives. ISBN 0-900424-76-1.
  7. ↑ "Original Messier Catalog of 1781". Original Messier Catalog of 1781. 2007-11-10.
  8. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 1". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  9. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 2". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  10. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 3". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  11. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 4". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  12. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 5". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  13. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 6". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  14. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 7". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  15. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 8". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  16. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 9". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  17. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 10". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  18. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 11". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  19. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 12". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  20. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 13". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  21. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 14". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  22. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 15". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  23. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 16". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  24. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 17". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  25. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 18". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  26. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 19". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  27. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 20". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  28. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 21". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  29. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 22". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  30. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 23". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  31. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 24". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  32. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 25". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  33. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 26". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  34. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 27". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  35. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 28". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  36. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 29". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  37. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 30". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  38. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 31". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  39. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 32". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  40. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 33". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  41. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 34". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  42. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 35". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  43. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 36". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  44. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 37". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  45. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 38". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  46. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 39". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  47. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 40". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  48. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 41". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  49. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 42". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  50. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 43". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  51. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 44". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  52. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 45". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  53. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 46". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  54. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 47". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  55. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 48". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  56. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 49". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  57. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 50". Retrieved 2014-03-17.
  58. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 51". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  59. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 52". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  60. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 53". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  61. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 54". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  62. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 55". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  63. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 56". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  64. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 57". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  65. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 58". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  66. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 59". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  67. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 60". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  68. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 61". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  69. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 62". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  70. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 63". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  71. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 64". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  72. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 65". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  73. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 66". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  74. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 67". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  75. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 68". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  76. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 69". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  77. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 70". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  78. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 71". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  79. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 72". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  80. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 73". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  81. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 74". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  82. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 75". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  83. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 76". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  84. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 77". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  85. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 78". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  86. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 79". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  87. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 80". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  88. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 81". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  89. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 82". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  90. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 83". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  91. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 84". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  92. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 85". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  93. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 86". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  94. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 87". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  95. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 88". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  96. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 89". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  97. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 90". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  98. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 91". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  99. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 92". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  100. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 93". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  101. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 94". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  102. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 95". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  103. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 96". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  104. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 97". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  105. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 98". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  106. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 99". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  107. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 100". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  108. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 101". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  109. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 102". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  110. ↑ Frommert, Hartmut; Kronberg, Christine (2005) [1995]. "Messier 102". Usenet. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  111. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 103". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  112. ↑ Messier, Charles (1771). "Messier 104". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  113. ↑ Messier, Charles (1783). "Messier 105". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  114. ↑ Messier, Charles (1783). "Messier 106". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  115. ↑ Messier, Charles (1783). "Messier 107". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  116. ↑ Messier, Charles (1783). "Messier 108". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  117. ↑ Messier, Charles (1783). "Messier 109". Retrieved 2014-03-18.
  118. ↑ Messier, Charles (1783). "Messier 110". Retrieved 2014-03-18.

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