Messier Catalog

Messier Catalog of 110 Deep-Sky Objects

Messier Deep-Sky Objects (M1 - M110)

The Messier catalog contains 110 "famous" deep-sky objects (galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters) that are relatively bright and close to Earth. As such, they are not that difficult to see in northern skies using small beginner (4-inch) telescopes. Astronomy clubs and star parties may host a Messier Marathon where the goal is to find all 110 objects (M1 thru M110) in a single night!

Also see the related Caldwell Catalog and the more difficult Herschel Catalog.

1. M#, Name
2. Mag
3. Constellation

1. M1, Crab Nebula
2. 8.4
3. Taurus

1. M2, globular cluster
2. 6.5
3. Aquarius

1. M3, globular cluster
2. 6.4
3. Canes Venatici

1. M4, globular cluster
2. 5.9
3. Scorpius

1. M5, globular cluster
2. 5.8
3. Serpens Caput

1. M6, Butterfly Cluster
2. 4.2
3. Scorpius

1. M7, Ptolemy Cluster
2. 3.3
3. Scorpius

1. M8, Lagoon Nebula
2. 5
3. Sagittarius

1. M9, globular cluster
2. 7.9
3. Ophiuchus

1. M10, globular cluster
2. 6.6
3. Ophiuchus

1. M11, Wild Duck Cluster
2. 5.8
3. Scutum

1. M12, Gumball Cluster
2. 6.6
3. Ophiuchus

1. M13, Hercules Cluster
2. 5.9
3. Hercules

1. M14, globular cluster
2. 7.6
3. Ophiuchus

1. M15, Pegasus Cluster
2. 6.4
3. Pegasus

1. M16, Eagle Nebula
2. 6.5
3. Serpens

1. M17, Omega Nebula
2. 7
3. Sagittarius

1. M18, open cluster
2. 8
3. Sagittarius

1. M19, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Ophiuchus

1. M20, Trifid Nebula
2. 5
3. Sagittarius

1. M21, open cluster
2. 7
3. Sagittarius

1. M22, Sagittarius Cluster
2. 6.5
3. Sagittarius

1. M23, open cluster
2. 6
3. Sagittarius

1. M24, Sagittarius Cloud
2. 11.5
3. Sagittarius

1. M25, open cluster
2. 4.9
3. Sagittarius

1. M26, open cluster
2. 9.5
3. Scutum

1. M27, Dumbbell Nebula
2. 7.5
3. Vulpecula

1. M28, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Sagittarius

1. M29, Cooling Tower
2. 9
3. Cygnus

1. M30, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Capricornus

1. M31, Andromeda Galaxy
2. 4.5
3. Andromeda

1. M32, Le Gentil
2. 10
3. Andromeda

1. M33, Triangulum Galaxy
2. 7
3. Triangulum

1. M34, open cluster
2. 6
3. Perseus

1. M35, open cluster
2. 5.5
3. Gemini

1. M36, Pinwheel Cluster
2. 6.5
3. Auriga

1. M37, open cluster
2. 6
3. Auriga

1. M38, Starfish Cluster
2. 7
3. Auriga

1. M39, open cluster
2. 5.5
3. Cygnus

1. M40, Winnecke 4
2. 9
3. Ursa Major

1. M41, open cluster
2. 5
3. Canis Major

1. M42, Orion Nebula
2. 5
3. Orion

1. M43, De Mairan's Nebula
2. 7
3. Orion

1. M44, Beehive Cluster
2. 4
3. Cancer

1. M45, Pleiades
2. 1.4
3. Taurus

1. M46, open cluster
2. 6.5
3. Puppis

1. M47, open cluster
2. 4.5
3. Puppis

1. M48, open cluster
2. 5.5
3. Hydra

1. M49, elliptical galaxy
2. 10
3. Virgo

1. M50, Heart Cluster
2. 7
3. Monoceros

1. M51, Whirlpool Galaxy
2. 8
3. Ursa Major

1. M52, open cluster
2. 8
3. Cassiopeia

1. M53, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Coma Berenices

1. M54, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Sagittarius

1. M55, Summer Rose
2. 7
3. Sagittarius

1. M56, globular cluster
2. 9.5
3. Lyra

1. M57, Ring Nebula
2. 9.5
3. Lyra

1. M58, barred spiral galaxy
2. 11
3. Virgo

1. M59, elliptical galaxy
2. 11.5
3. Virgo

1. M60, elliptical galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Virgo

1. M61, spiral galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Virgo

1. M62, globular cluster
2. 8
3. Ophiuchus

1. M63, Sunflower Galaxy
2. 8.5
3. Canes Venatici

1. M64, Blackeye Galaxy
2. 9
3. Coma Berenices

1. M65, Leo Triplet
2. 10.5
3. Leo

1. M66, Leo Triplet
2. 10
3. Leo

1. M67, King Cobra Cluster
2. 7.5
3. Cancer

1. M68, globular cluster
2. 9
3. Hydra

1. M69, globular cluster
2. 9
3. Sagittarius

1. M70, globular cluster
2. 9
3. Sagittarius

1. M71, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Sagitta

1. M72, globular cluster
2. 10
3. Aquarius

1. M73, asterism
2. 9
3. Aquarius

1. M74, Phantom Galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Pisces

1. M75, globular cluster
2. 9.5
3. Sagittarius

1. M76, Lil Dumbbell Nebula
2. 12
3. Perseus

1. M77, Cetus A
2. 10.5
3. Cetus

1. M78, nebula
2. 8
3. Orion

1. M79, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Lepus

1. M80, globular cluster
2. 8.5
3. Scorpius

1. M81, Bode's Galaxy
2. 8.5
3. Ursa Major

1. M82, Cigar Galaxy
2. 9.5
3. Ursa Major

1. M83, S. Pinwheel Galaxy
2. 8.5
3. Hydra

1. M84, lenticular galaxy
2. 11
3. Virgo

1. M85, lenticular galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Coma Berenices

1. M86, lenticular galaxy
2. 11
3. Virgo

1. M87, elliptical galaxy
2. 11
3. Virgo

1. M88, spiral galaxy
2. 11
3. Coma Berenices

1. M89, elliptical galaxy
2. 11.5
3. Virgo

1. M90, spiral galaxy
2. 11
3. Virgo

1. M91, barred spiral galaxy
2. 11.5
3. Coma Berenices

1. M92, globular cluster
2. 7.5
3. Hercules

1. M93, open cluster
2. 6.5
3. Puppis

1. M94, Cat's Eye Galaxy
2. 9.5
3. Canes Venatici

1. M95, barred spiral galaxy
2. 11
3. Leo

1. M96, spiral galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Leo

1. M97, Owl Nebula
2. 12
3. Ursa Major

1. M98, spiral galaxy
2. 11
3. Coma Berenices

1. M99, spiral galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Coma Berenices

1. M100, spiral galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Coma Berenices

1. M101, Pinwheel Galaxy
2. 8.5
3. Ursa Major

1. M102, Spindle Galaxy
2. 10.5
3. Draco

1. M103, open cluster
2. 7
3. Cassiopeia

1. M104, Sombrero Galaxy
2. 9.5
3. Virgo

1. M105, elliptical galaxy
2. 11
3. Leo

1. M106, spiral galaxy
2. 9.5
3. Ursa Major

1. M107, globular cluster
2. 10
3. Ophiuchus

1. M108, Surfboard Galaxy
2. 11
3. Ursa Major

1. M109, spiral galaxy
2. 11
3. Ursa Major

1. M110, Edward Young Star
2. 10
3. Andromeda

Orion telescopes

Messier Catalog Types

Galaxies = 39
Open clusters = 26
Globular clusters = 29
Nebulae = 11
Supernovae remnants = 1

Magnitude Chart

Magnitude values generally apply to point-like objects such stars. Galaxies and nebulae are diffuse, so subtract an integer.

Naked-eye = 4 (city)
Naked-eye = 5 (suburbs)
Naked-eye = 6* (dark sky)
Binoculars = 10
4" (100mm) telescope = 12.5
8" (200mm) telescope = 14
12" (300m) telescope = 15
16" (400m) telescope = 16
Hubble space telescope = 30

* up to 8 with perfect eyes under ideal skies