Messier Objects
Messier Objects
The Messier objects are a set of 110 astronomical objects cataloged by the French astronomer Charles Messier. They include galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters.
Below is a table with some basic details for each Messier object:
| Messier Number | Object Type | Common Name | Constellation | Mag | Size (arcmin) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | Supernova Remnant | Crab Nebula | Taurus | 8.4 | 6.0 | Remnant of a supernova explosion |
| M2 | Globular Cluster | Messier 2 | Aquarius | 6.3 | 16.0 | Rich globular cluster |
| M3 | Globular Cluster | Messier 3 | Canes Venatici | 6.2 | 16.0 | Bright, dense globular cluster |
| M4 | Globular Cluster | Messier 4 | Scorpius | 5.9 | 26.3 | Contains a strong X-ray source |
| M5 | Globular Cluster | Messier 5 | Serpens | 5.7 | 23.1 | One of the oldest known globular clusters |
| M6 | Open Cluster | Butterfly Cluster | Scorpius | 4.2 | 20.0 | Easily visible to the naked eye |
| M7 | Open Cluster | Ptolemy’s Cluster | Scorpius | 3.3 | 80.0 | Contains about 80 stars |
| M8 | Nebula | Lagoon Nebula | Sagittarius | 6.0 | 90.0 | Active star-forming region |
| M9 | Globular Cluster | Messier 9 | Ophiuchus | 8.4 | 12.0 | Close to the center of the Milky Way |
| M10 | Globular Cluster | Messier 10 | Ophiuchus | 6.4 | 20.0 | Bright globular cluster |
| M11 | Open Cluster | Wild Duck Cluster | Scutum | 6.3 | 14.0 | Rich star cluster with dark lanes |
| M12 | Globular Cluster | Messier 12 | Ophiuchus | 6.7 | 14.0 | Contains many variable stars |
| M13 | Globular Cluster | Great Hercules Cluster | Hercules | 5.8 | 20.0 | Brightest globular cluster in the N. Hem. |
| M14 | Globular Cluster | Messier 14 | Ophiuchus | 7.6 | 11.0 | Contains a planetary nebula |
| M15 | Globular Cluster | Messier 15 | Pegasus | 6.2 | 18.0 | Contains a large number of variable stars |
| M16 | Nebula | Eagle Nebula | Serpens | 6.4 | 7.0 | Star-forming region with Pillars of Creation |
| M17 | Nebula | Omega Nebula | Sagittarius | 6.0 | 11.0 | Active star-forming region |
| M18 | Open Cluster | Messier 18 | Sagittarius | 7.5 | 9.0 | Part of a complex of star clusters |
| M19 | Globular Cluster | Messier 19 | Ophiuchus | 7.2 | 17.0 | Elliptical shape with central bar |
| M20 | Nebula | Trifid Nebula | Sagittarius | 6.3 | 28.0 | Combination of emission and reflection nebulae |
| M21 | Open Cluster | Messier 21 | Sagittarius | 6.5 | 13.0 | Contains about 57 stars |
| M22 | Globular Cluster | Messier 22 | Sagittarius | 5.1 | 32.0 | One of the brightest globular clusters |
| M23 | Open Cluster | Messier 23 | Sagittarius | 6.9 | 27.0 | Open cluster with roughly 150 stars |
| M24 | Star Cloud | Small Sagittarius Star Cloud | Sagittarius | – | – | Part of the Milky Way obscured by dust |
| M25 | Open Cluster | Messier 25 | Sagittarius | 4.6 | 32.0 | Bright open cluster with nebulosity |
| M26 | Open Cluster | Messier 26 | Scutum | 8.0 | 9.0 | Open cluster with a dense core |
| M27 | Planetary Nebula | Dumbbell Nebula | Vulpecula | 7.4 | 8.0 | Shaped like a prolate spheroid |
| M28 | Globular Cluster | Messier 28 | Sagittarius | 6.8 | 11.0 | Contains RR Lyrae variable stars |
| M29 | Open Cluster | Messier 29 | Cygnus | 7.1 | 7.0 | Loose open cluster with 50 stars |
| M30 | Globular Cluster | Messier 30 | Capricornus | 7.2 | 12.0 | Rich in variable stars |
| M31 | Galaxy | Andromeda Galaxy | Andromeda | 3.4 | 190.0 | Largest galaxy in the Local Group |
| M32 | Galaxy | Messier 32 | Andromeda | 8.1 | 8.0 | Satellite galaxy of M31 |
| M33 | Galaxy | Triangulum Galaxy | Triangulum | 5.7 | 70.0 | Member of the Local Group |
| M34 | Open Cluster | Messier 34 | Perseus | 5.5 | 35.0 | Contains about 100 stars |
| M35 | Open Cluster | Messier 35 | Gemini | 5.3 | 28.0 | Rich open cluster with over 200 stars |
| M36 | Open Cluster | Messier 36 | Auriga | 6.0 | 14.0 | Young open cluster |
| M37 | Open Cluster | Messier 37 | Auriga | 5.6 | 24.0 | Rich open cluster with 500 stars |
| M38 | Open Cluster | Messier 38 | Auriga | 6.4 | 21.0 | Contains an associated reflection nebula |
| M39 | Open Cluster | Messier 39 | Cygnus | 4.6 | 32.0 | Part of the Cygnus OB1 association |
| M40 | Double Star | Winnecke 4 | Ursa Major | 9.1 | – | Not originally included by Messier |
| M41 | Open Cluster | Messier 41 | Canis Major | 4.5 | 38.0 | Bright open cluster with 100 stars |
| M42 | Nebula | Orion Nebula | Orion | 4.0 | 65.0 | Emission nebula in the Orion Molecular Cloud |
| M43 | Nebula | De Mairan’s Nebula | Orion | 9.0 | 20.0 | Part of the Orion Nebula complex |
| M44 | Open Cluster | Beehive Cluster | Cancer | 3.1 | 95.0 | Bright open cluster with over 1,000 stars |
| M45 | Open Cluster | Pleiades | Taurus | 1.6 | 110.0 | Bright and well-known open cluster |
| M46 | Open Cluster | Messier 46 | Puppis | 6.1 | 27.0 | Contains a planetary nebula |
| M47 | Open Cluster | Messier 47 | Puppis | 4.2 | 30.0 | Rich open cluster with 50 stars |
| M48 | Open Cluster | Messier 48 | Hydra | 5.5 | 54.0 | Contains over 80 stars |
| M49 | Elliptical Galaxy | Messier 49 | Virgo | 8.4 | 9.0 | Member of the Virgo Cluster |
| M50 | Open Cluster | Messier 50 | Monoceros | 5.9 | 16.0 | Contains about 200 stars |
| M51 | Galaxy | Whirlpool Galaxy | Canes Venatici | 8.4 | 12.0 | Interacting galaxy pair |
| M52 | Open Cluster | Messier 52 | Cassiopeia | 6.9 | 13.0 | Rich open cluster with about 200 stars |
| M53 | Globular Cluster | Messier 53 | Coma Berenices | 7.7 | 13.0 | Elliptical globular cluster |
| M54 | Globular Cluster | Messier 54 | Sagittarius | 7.6 | 11.0 | In the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy |
| M55 | Globular Cluster | Messier 55 | Sagittarius | 7.0 | 19.0 | Rich, dense globular cluster |
| M56 | Globular Cluster | Messier 56 | Lyra | 8.3 | 8.0 | Contains RR Lyrae variable stars |
| M57 | Planetary Nebula | Ring Nebula | Lyra | 8.8 | 1.4×1.0 | Formed by expanding shell of ionized gas |
| M58 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 58 | Virgo | 9.7 | 5.5×4.5 | Part of the Virgo Cluster |
| M59 | Elliptical Galaxy | Messier 59 | Virgo | 9.6 | 5.5×4.5 | Part of the Virgo Cluster |
| M60 | Elliptical Galaxy | Messier 60 | Virgo | 8.8 | 7.6×6.2 | Part of the Virgo Cluster |
| M61 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 61 | Virgo | 9.7 | 6.5×5.9 | Part of the Virgo Cluster |
| M62 | Globular Cluster | Messier 62 | Ophiuchus | 6.5 | 15.0 | Elliptical globular cluster |
| M63 | Spiral Galaxy | Sunflower Galaxy | Canes Venatici | 8.6 | 12.6×7.2 | Also known as the Black Eye Galaxy |
| M64 | Spiral Galaxy | Black Eye Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 8.5 | 9.3×5.4 | Distinct dark band of absorbing dust |
| M65 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 65 | Leo | 9.3 | 8.0×1.6 | Part of the Leo Triplet |
| M66 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 66 | Leo | 8.9 | 9.1×4.2 | Part of the Leo Triplet |
| M67 | Open Cluster | Messier 67 | Cancer | 6.1 | 25.0 | Older than most open clusters |
| M68 | Globular Cluster | Messier 68 | Hydra | 7.8 | 11.0 | Elliptical globular cluster |
| M69 | Globular Cluster | Messier 69 | Sagittarius | 7.6 | 7.0 | Part of the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy |
| M70 | Globular Cluster | Messier 70 | Sagittarius | 7.9 | 7.0 | Part of the Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy |
| M71 | Globular Cluster | Messier 71 | Sagitta | 7.9 | 7.0 | Unusual for a globular cluster |
| M72 | Globular Cluster | Messier 72 | Aquarius | 9.3 | 6.0 | Elliptical globular cluster |
| M73 | Asterism | Messier 73 | Aquarius | 9.0 | – | Asterism of four stars |
| M74 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 74 | Pisces | 10.0 | 10.0×9.4 | Low surface brightness spiral galaxy |
| M75 | Globular Cluster | Messier 75 | Sagittarius | 8.5 | 6.0 | Elliptical globular cluster |
| M76 | Planetary Nebula | Little Dumbbell Nebula | Perseus | 11.1 | 2.7×1.8 | Bipolar planetary nebula |
| M77 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 77 | Cetus | 8.9 | 7.0×6.0 | Active galactic nucleus |
| M78 | Reflection Nebula | Messier 78 | Orion | 8.3 | 8.0 | Reflection nebula in Orion Molecular Cloud |
| M79 | Globular Cluster | Messier 79 | Lepus | 7.7 | 9.0 | Elliptical globular cluster |
| M80 | Globular Cluster | Messier 80 | Scorpius | 7.3 | 8.9 | Rich globular cluster with a central bar |
| M81 | Spiral Galaxy | Bode’s Galaxy | Ursa Major | 6.9 | 21.0×11.0 | Interacting galaxy pair with M82 |
| M82 | Irregular Galaxy | Cigar Galaxy | Ursa Major | 8.4 | 11.0×4.4 | Starburst galaxy with intense star formation |
| M83 | Spiral Galaxy | Southern Pinwheel Galaxy | Hydra | 7.6 | 13.1×12.9 | Barred spiral galaxy |
| M84 | Lenticular Galaxy | Messier 84 | Virgo | 9.1 | 5.3×5.1 | Elliptical galaxy with a dust lane |
| M85 | Lenticular Galaxy | Messier 85 | Coma Berenices | 9.1 | 7.1×5.8 | Elliptical galaxy in the Virgo Cluster |
| M86 | Lenticular Galaxy | Messier 86 | Virgo | 8.9 | 8.9×5.8 | Elliptical galaxy in the Virgo Cluster |
| M87 | Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo A | Virgo | 8.6 | 7.2×6.8 | Giant elliptical galaxy with a jet |
| M88 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 88 | Coma Berenices | 9.6 | 6.0×4.8 | Spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster |
| M89 | Elliptical Galaxy | Messier 89 | Virgo | 9.8 | 5.2×4.9 | Elliptical galaxy in the Virgo Cluster |
| M90 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 90 | Virgo | 9.5 | 9.0×5.6 | Spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster |
| M91 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 91 | Coma Berenices | 10.2 | 5.5×4.8 | Spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster |
| M92 | Globular Cluster | Messier 92 | Hercules | 6.4 | 14.0 | Bright, compact globular cluster |
| M93 | Open Cluster | Messier 93 | Puppis | 6.0 | 22.0 | Open cluster with about 80 stars |
| M94 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 94 | Canes Venatici | 8.2 | 11.0×9.0 | Spiral galaxy with a central ring |
| M95 | Barred Spiral Galaxy | Messier 95 | Leo | 9.7 | 7.0×5.0 | Barred spiral galaxy |
| M96 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 96 | Leo | 9.2 | 6.0×5.0 | Spiral galaxy with a faint outer ring |
| M97 | Planetary Nebula | Owl Nebula | Ursa Major | 9.9 | 3.4×3.3 | Planetary nebula with a dark “eye” |
| M98 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 98 | Coma Berenices | 10.1 | 9.8×2.8 | Spiral galaxy with faint arms |
| M99 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 99 | Coma Berenices | 9.9 | 4.8×4.2 | Spiral galaxy with a bright core |
| M100 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 100 | Coma Berenices | 9.4 | 7.0×6.1 | Grand design spiral galaxy |
| M101 | Spiral Galaxy | Pinwheel Galaxy | Ursa Major | 7.9 | 27.0×26.0 | Spiral galaxy with prominent arms |
| M102 | Galaxy | Spindle Galaxy | Draco | 9.7 | 6.9×2.0 | Later identified as NGC 5866 |
| M103 | Open Cluster | Messier 103 | Cassiopeia | 7.4 | 6.0 | Open cluster with about 40 stars |
| M104 | Spiral Galaxy | Sombrero Galaxy | Virgo | 8.0 | 9.4×4.6 | Spiral galaxy with a bright nucleus |
| M105 | Elliptical Galaxy | Messier 105 | Leo | 9.3 | 4.8×4.4 | Elliptical galaxy in the Leo I Group |
| M106 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 106 | Canes Venatici | 8.4 | 18.0×8.4 | Seyfert II galaxy with an active nucleus |
| M107 | Globular Cluster | Messier 107 | Ophiuchus | 7.9 | 13.0 | Elliptical globular cluster |
| M108 | Spiral Galaxy | Messier 108 | Ursa Major | 10.0 | 8.6×2.2 | Edge-on spiral galaxy |
| M109 | Barred Spiral Galaxy | Messier 109 | Ursa Major | 9.8 | 7.0×4.6 | Barred spiral galaxy |
| M110 | Elliptical Galaxy | Messier 110 | Andromeda | 8.5 | 17.0×9.0 | Satellite galaxy of M31 |
