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Astronomical objects catalogued by Charles Messier
Messier Catalog
Pictures of all messier objectsAll Messier objects
Alternative namesMessier Catalogue
Survey typeAstronomical catalogue
Named afterCharles Messier
Published1774 (preliminary version)
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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). Because Messier was interested only in finding comets, he created a list of those non-comet objects that frustrated his hunt for them. This list, which Messier created in collaboration with his assistant Pierre Méchain, is now known as the Messier catalogue. The Messier catalogue is one of the most famous lists of astronomical objects, and many objects on the list are still referenced by their Messier numbers. The catalogue includes most of the astronomical deep-sky objects that can be easily observed from Earth's Northern Hemisphere; many Messier objects are popular targets for amateur astronomers.

A preliminary version of the catalogue first appeared in 1774 in the Memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences for the year 1771. The first version of Messier's catalogue contained 45 objects, which were not numbered. Eighteen of the objects were discovered by Messier; the rest had been previously observed by other astronomers. By 1780 the catalogue had increased to 70 objects. The final version of the catalogue containing 103 objects was published in 1781 in the Connaissance des Temps for the year 1784. However, due to what was thought for a long time to be 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.

The catalogue consists of a diverse range of astronomical objects, from star clusters and nebulae to galaxies. For example, Messier 1 is a supernova remnant, known as the Crab Nebula, and the great spiral Andromeda Galaxy is M31. Further inclusions followed; 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.

Lists and editions

Painting of Charles Messier
Charles Messier

The first edition of 1774 covered 45 objects (M1 to M45). The total list published by Messier in 1781 contained 103 objects, but the list was expanded through successive additions by other astronomers, motivated by notes in Messier's and Méchain's texts indicating that at least one of them knew of the additional objects. The first such addition came from Nicolas Camille Flammarion in 1921, who added Messier 104 after finding a note Messier made in a copy of the 1781 edition 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. M102 was observed by Méchain, who communicated his notes to Messier. Méchain later concluded that this object was simply a re-observation of M101, though some sources suggest that the object Méchain observed was the galaxy NGC 5866 and identify that as M102.

Messier's final catalogue was included in the Connaissance des Temps pour l'Année 1784 , the French official yearly publication of astronomical ephemerides.

Messier lived and did his astronomical work at the Hôtel de Cluny (now the Musée national du Moyen Âge), in Paris, France. The list he compiled contains only objects found in the sky area he could observe: from the north celestial pole to a celestial latitude of about −35.7° . He did not observe or list objects visible only from farther south, such as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds.

Observations

The Messier catalogue comprises nearly all of the most spectacular examples of the five types of deep-sky object – diffuse nebulae, planetary nebulae, open clusters, globular clusters, and galaxies – visible from European latitudes. Furthermore, almost all of the Messier objects are among the closest to Earth in their respective classes, which makes them heavily studied with professional class instruments that today can resolve very small and visually significant details in them. A summary of the astrophysics of each Messier object can be found in the Concise Catalog of Deep-sky Objects.

Since these objects could be observed visually with the relatively small-aperture refracting telescope (approximately 100 mm ≈ 4 inches) used by Messier to study the sky from downtown Paris, they are among the brightest and thus most attractive astronomical objects (popularly called deep-sky objects) observable from Earth, and are popular targets for visual study and astrophotography available to modern amateur astronomers using larger aperture equipment. In early spring, astronomers sometimes gather for "Messier marathons", when all of the objects can be viewed over a single night.

Messier objects

  Open cluster   Globular cluster   Diffuse nebula   Planetary nebula   Supernova remnant   Galaxy   Other
Messier number NGC/IC number Common name Image Object type Distance (kly) Constellation Apparent magnitude Apparent dimensions Right ascension Declination
M1 NGC 1952 Crab Nebula Supernova remnant 4.9–8.1 Taurus 8.4 420″ × 290″ 05 34 31.94 +22° 00′ 52.2″
M2 NGC 7089 – Globular cluster 33 Aquarius 6.5 16' 21 33 27.02 −00° 49′ 23.7″
M3 NGC 5272 – Globular cluster 33.9 Canes Venatici 6.2 18' 13 42 11.62 +28° 22′ 38.2″
M4 NGC 6121 Spider Globular Cluster Globular cluster 7.2 Scorpius 5.6 26' 16 23 35.22 −26° 31′ 32.7″
M5 NGC 5904 Rose Cluster Globular cluster 24.5 Serpens 5.6 23' 15 18 33.22 +02° 04′ 51.7″
M6 NGC 6405 Butterfly Cluster Open cluster 1.6 Scorpius 4.2 25' 17 40.1 −32° 13′
M7 NGC 6475 Ptolemy's Cluster Open cluster 0.65–1.31 Scorpius 3.3 80' 17 53 51.2 −34° 47′ 34″
M8 NGC 6523 Lagoon Nebula Nebula with cluster 4.1 Sagittarius 4.6 90′ × 40′ 18 03 37 −24° 23′ 12″
M9 NGC 6333 – Globular cluster 25.8 Ophiuchus 7.7 9.3' 17 19 11.78 −18° 30′ 58.5″
M10 NGC 6254 – Globular cluster 14.3 Ophiuchus 6.6 20' 16 57 8.92 −04° 05′ 58.07″
M11 NGC 6705 Wild Duck Cluster Open cluster 6.2 Scutum 5.8 22.8' 18 51.1 −06° 16′
M12 NGC 6218 – Globular cluster 15.7 Ophiuchus 6.7 16' 16 47 14.18 −01° 56′ 54.7″
M13 NGC 6205 Great Hercules Cluster Globular cluster 22.2 Hercules 5.8 20' 16 41 41.24 +36° 27′ 35.5″
M14 NGC 6402 – Globular cluster 30.3 Ophiuchus 7.6 11' 17 37 36.15 −03° 14′ 45.3″
M15 NGC 7078 Great Pegasus Cluster Globular cluster 33 Pegasus 6.2 18' 21 29 58.33 +12° 10′ 01.2″
M16 NGC 6611 Eagle Nebula H II region nebula with cluster 7 Serpens 6.4 70' x 50' 18 18 48 −13° 49′
M17 NGC 6618 Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, Lobster, or Checkmark Nebula H II region nebula with cluster 5–6 Sagittarius 6.0 11' 18 20 26 −16° 10′ 36″
M18 NGC 6613 Black Swan Cluster Open cluster 4.9 Sagittarius 7.5 9.8' 18 19.9 −17° 08′
M19 NGC 6273 – Globular cluster 28.7 Ophiuchus 6.8 17' 17 02 37.69 −26° 16′ 04.6″
M20 NGC 6514 Trifid Nebula H II region nebula with cluster 5.2 Sagittarius 6.3 28' 18 02 23 −23° 01′ 48″
M21 NGC 6531 Webb's Cross Cluster Open cluster 4.25 Sagittarius 6.5 14' 18 04.6 −22° 30′
M22 NGC 6656 Great Sagittarius Cluster Globular cluster 9.6–11.6 Sagittarius 5.1 32' 18 36 23.94 −23° 54′ 17.1″
M23 NGC 6494 – Open cluster 2.15 Sagittarius 5.5 35' 17 56.8 −19° 01′
M24 IC 4715 Small Sagittarius Star Cloud Milky Way star cloud ~10 Sagittarius 2.5 2°x1° 18 17 −18° 33′
M25 IC 4725 – Open cluster 2.0 Sagittarius 4.6 36' 18 31.6 −19° 15′
M26 NGC 6694 – Open cluster 5.0 Scutum 8.0 14' 18 45.2 −09° 24′
M27 NGC 6853 Dumbbell Nebula Planetary nebula 1.148–1.52 Vulpecula 7.4 8.0' × 5.6' 19 59 36.340 +22° 43′ 16.09″
M28 NGC 6626 – Globular cluster 17.9 Sagittarius 6.8 11.2' 18 24 32.89 −24° 52′ 11.4″
M29 NGC 6913 Cooling Tower Cluster Open cluster 7.2 Cygnus 7.1 7' 20 23 56 +38° 31′ 24″
M30 NGC 7099 Jellyfish Cluster Globular cluster 27.8–31 Capricornus 7.2 12' 21 40 22.12 −23° 10′ 47.5″
M31 NGC 224 Andromeda Galaxy Spiral galaxy 2,430–2,650 Andromeda 3.4 3.167° × 1° 00 42 44.3 +41° 16′ 09″
M32 NGC 221 Andromeda Satellite #1 Dwarf elliptical galaxy 2,410–2,570 Andromeda 8.1 8.7' × 6.5' 00 42 41.8 +40° 51′ 55″
M33 NGC 598 Triangulum/Pinwheel Galaxy Spiral galaxy 2,380–3,070 Triangulum 5.7 70.8' x 41.7' 01 33 50.02 +30° 39′ 36.7″
M34 NGC 1039 Spiral Cluster Open cluster 1.5 Perseus 5.5 35' 02 42.1 +42° 46′
M35 NGC 2168 Shoe-Buckle Cluster Open cluster 2.8 Gemini 5.3 28' 06 09.1 +24° 21′
M36 NGC 1960 Pinwheel Cluster Open cluster 4.1 Auriga 6.3 12' 05 36 12 +34° 08′ 04″
M37 NGC 2099 Salt and Pepper Cluster Open cluster 4.511 Auriga 6.2 24' 05 52 18 +32° 33′ 02″
M38 NGC 1912 Starfish Cluster Open cluster 4.2 Auriga 7.4 21' 05 28 42 +35° 51′ 18″
M39 NGC 7092 – Open cluster 0.8244 Cygnus 4.6 29' 21 31 42 +48° 26′ 00″
M40 – Winnecke 4 Optical Double 0.51 Ursa Major 8.4 51.7″ 12 22 12.5 +58° 04′ 59″
M41 NGC 2287 Little Beehive Cluster Open cluster 2.3 Canis Major 4.5 38' 06 46.0 −20° 46′
M42 NGC 1976 Great Orion Nebula H II region nebula 1.324–1.364 Orion 4.0 65' x 60' 05 35 17.3 −05° 23′ 28″
M43 NGC 1982 De Mairan's Nebula H II region nebula (part of the Orion Nebula)
 1.6 Orion 9.0 20' x 15' 05 35.6 −05° 16′
M44 NGC 2632 Beehive Cluster or Praesepe Open cluster 0.577 Cancer 3.7 95' 08 40.4 +19° 59′
M45 – Pleiades, Seven Sisters or Subaru Open cluster 0.39–0.46 Taurus 1.6 2° 03 47 24 +24° 07′ 00″
M46 NGC 2437 – Open cluster 5.4 Puppis 6.0 22.8' 07 41.8 −14° 49′
M47 NGC 2422 – Open cluster 1.6 Puppis 4.4 30' 07 36.6 −14° 30′
M48 NGC 2548 – Open cluster 1.5 Hydra 5.5 30' 08 13.7 −05° 45′
M49 NGC 4472 – Elliptical galaxy 53,600–58,200 Virgo 8.4 10.2' × 8.3' 12 29 46.7 +08° 00′ 02″
M50 NGC 2323 Heart-Shaped Cluster Open cluster 3.2 Monoceros 5.9 16' 07 03.2 −08° 20′
M51 NGC 5194, NGC 5195 Whirlpool Galaxy Spiral galaxy 19,000–27,000 Canes Venatici 8.4 11.2′ × 6.9′ 13 29 52.7 +47° 11′ 43″
M52 NGC 7654 Scorpion Cluster Open cluster 5.0 Cassiopeia 7.3 13' 23 24.2 +61° 35′
M53 NGC 5024 – Globular cluster 58 Coma Berenices 7.6 13' 13 12 55.25 +18° 10′ 05.4″
M54 NGC 6715 – Globular cluster 87.4 Sagittarius 7.6 12' 18 55 03.33 −30° 28′ 47.5″
M55 NGC 6809 Specter Cluster Globular cluster 17.6 Sagittarius 6.3 19' 19 39 59.71 −30° 57′ 53.1″
M56 NGC 6779 – Globular cluster 32.9 Lyra 8.3 8.8' 19 16 35.57 +30° 11′ 00.5″
M57 NGC 6720 Ring Nebula Planetary nebula 1.6–3.8 Lyra 8.8 230" × 230" 18 53 35.079 +33° 01′ 45.03″
M58 NGC 4579 – Barred Spiral galaxy ~63,000 Virgo 9.7 5.9' × 4.7' 12 37 43.5 +11° 49′ 05″
M59 NGC 4621 – Elliptical galaxy 55,000–65,000 Virgo 9.6 5.4' × 3.7' 12 42 02.3 +11° 38′ 49″
M60 NGC 4649 – Elliptical galaxy 51,000–59,000 Virgo 8.8 7.4' × 6.0' 12 43 39.6 +11° 33′ 09″
M61 NGC 4303 Swelling Spiral Galaxy Spiral galaxy 50,200–54,800 Virgo 9.7 6.5' × 5.8' 12 21 54.9 +04° 28′ 25″
M62 NGC 6266 Flickering Globular Globular cluster 22.2 Ophiuchus 6.5 15' 17 01 12.60 −30° 06′ 44.5″
M63 NGC 5055 Sunflower Galaxy Spiral galaxy 37,000 Canes Venatici 8.6 12.6' × 7.2' 13 15 49.3 +42° 01′ 45″
M64 NGC 4826 Black Eye Galaxy Spiral galaxy 22,000–26,000 Coma Berenices 8.5 10.7' × 5.1' 12 56 43.7 +21° 40′ 58″
M65 NGC 3623 Leo Triplet Barred Spiral galaxy 41,000–42,000 Leo 9.3 8.7' × 2.5' 11 18 55.9 +13° 05′ 32″
M66 NGC 3627 Leo Triplet Barred Spiral galaxy 31,000–41,000 Leo 8.9 9.1' × 4.2' 11 20 15.0 +12° 59′ 30″
M67 NGC 2682 King Cobra or Golden Eye Cluster Open cluster 2.61–2.93 Cancer 6.1 30' 08 51.3 +11° 49′
M68 NGC 4590 – Globular cluster 33.6 Hydra 7.8 11' 12 39 27.98 −26° 44′ 38.6″
M69 NGC 6637 – Globular cluster 29.7 Sagittarius 7.6 10.8' 18 31 23.10 −32° 20′ 53.1″
M70 NGC 6681 – Globular cluster 29.4 Sagittarius 7.9 8' 18 43 12.76 −32° 17′ 31.6″
M71 NGC 6838 Angelfish Cluster Globular cluster 13.0 Sagitta 8.2 7.2' 19 53 46.49 +18° 46′ 45.1″
M72 NGC 6981 – Globular cluster 53.40–55.74 Aquarius 9.3 6.6' 20 53 27.70 −12° 32′ 14.3″
M73 NGC 6994 – Asterism ~2.5 Aquarius 9.0 2.8' 20 58 54 −12° 38′
M74 NGC 628 Phantom Galaxy Spiral galaxy 24,000–36,000 Pisces 9.4 10.5' x 9.5' 01 36 41.8 +15° 47′ 01″
M75 NGC 6864 – Globular cluster 67.5 Sagittarius 8.5 6.8' 20 06 04.75 −21° 55′ 16.2″
M76 NGC 650, NGC 651 Little Dumbbell Nebula Planetary nebula 2.5 Perseus 10.1 2.7' × 1.8' 01 42.4 +51° 34′ 31″
M77 NGC 1068 Cetus A or Squid Galaxy Spiral galaxy 47,000 Cetus 8.9 7.1' × 6.0' 02 42 40.7 −00° 00′ 48″
M78 NGC 2068 – Diffuse nebula 1.6 Orion 8.3 8' × 6' 05 46 46.7 +00° 00′ 50″
M79 NGC 1904 – Globular cluster 41 Lepus 7.7 8.7' 05 24 10.59 −24° 31′ 27.3″
M80 NGC 6093 – Globular cluster 32.6 Scorpius 7.3 10' 16 17 02.41 −22° 58′ 33.9″
M81 NGC 3031 Bode's Galaxy Spiral galaxy 11,400–12,200 Ursa Major 6.9 26.9' × 14.1' 09 55 33.2 +69° 03′ 55″
M82 NGC 3034 Cigar Galaxy Starburst galaxy 10,700–12,300 Ursa Major 8.4 11.2' × 4.3' 09 55 52.2 +69° 40′ 47″
M83 NGC 5236 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy Barred Spiral galaxy 14,700 Hydra 7.6 12.9' × 11.5' 13 37 00.9 −29° 51′ 57″
M84 NGC 4374 – Lenticular galaxy 57,000–63,000 Virgo 9.1 6.5' × 5.6' 12 25 03.7 +12° 53′ 13″
M85 NGC 4382 – Lenticular galaxy 56,000–64,000 Coma Berenices 9.1 7.1' × 5.5' 12 25 24.0 +18° 11′ 28″
M86 NGC 4406 – Lenticular galaxy 49,000–55,000 Virgo 8.9 8.9' × 5.8' 12 26 11.7 +12° 56′ 46″
M87 NGC 4486 Virgo A or Smoking Gun Galaxy Elliptical galaxy 51,870–55,130 Virgo 8.6 7.2' × 6.8' 12 30 49.42338 +12° 23′ 28.0439″
M88 NGC 4501 – Spiral galaxy 39,000–56,000 Coma Berenices 9.6 6.9' × 3.7' 12 31 59.2 +14° 25′ 14″
M89 NGC 4552 – Elliptical galaxy 47,000–53,000 Virgo 9.8 5.1' × 4.7' 12 35 39.8 +12° 33′ 23″
M90 NGC 4569 – Spiral galaxy 55,900–61,500 Virgo 9.5 9.5' × 4.4' 12 36 49.8 +13° 09′ 46″
M91 NGC 4548 – Barred Spiral galaxy 47,000–79,000 Coma Berenices 10.2 5.4' × 4.3' 12 35 26.4 +14° 29′ 47″
M92 NGC 6341 – Globular cluster 26.7 Hercules 6.4 14' 17 17 07.39 +43° 08′ 09.4″
M93 NGC 2447 Critter Cluster Open cluster 3.6 Puppis 6.0 10' 07 44.6 −23° 52′
M94 NGC 4736 Crocodile Eye or Cat's Eye Galaxy Spiral galaxy 14,700–17,300 Canes Venatici 8.2 11.2' × 9.1' 12 50 53.1 +41° 07′ 14″
M95 NGC 3351 – Barred Spiral galaxy 31,200–34,000 Leo 9.7 3.1' × 2.9' 10 43 57.7 +11° 42′ 14″
M96 NGC 3368 – Spiral galaxy 28,000–34,000 Leo 9.2 7.6' × 5.2' 10 46 45.7 +11° 49′ 12″
M97 NGC 3587 Owl Nebula Planetary nebula 2.03 Ursa Major 9.9 3.4' × 3.3' 11 14 47.734 +55° 01′ 08.50″
M98 NGC 4192 – Spiral galaxy 44,400 Coma Berenices 10.1 9.8' × 2.8' 12 13 48.292 +14° 54′ 01.69″
M99 NGC 4254 St. Catherine's Wheel Spiral galaxy 44,700–55,700 Coma Berenices 9.9 5.4' × 4.7' 12 18 49.6 +14° 24′ 59″
M100 NGC 4321 Mirror Galaxy Spiral galaxy 55,000 Coma Berenices 9.3 7.4' × 6.3' 12 22 54.9 +15° 49′ 21″
M101 NGC 5457 Pinwheel Galaxy Spiral galaxy 19,100–22,400 Ursa Major 7.9 28.8' × 26.9' 14 03 12.6 +54° 20′ 57″
M102 NGC 5866 Spindle Galaxy Lenticular galaxy 50,000 Draco 9.9 4.7' x 1.9' 15 06 29.5 +55° 45′ 48″
M103 NGC 581 – Open cluster 10 Cassiopeia 7.4 6' 01 33.2 +60° 42′
M104 NGC 4594 Sombrero Galaxy Spiral galaxy 28,700–30,900 Virgo 8.0 9' x 4' 12 39 59.4 −11° 37′ 23″
M105 NGC 3379 – Elliptical galaxy 30,400–33,600 Leo 9.3 5.4' × 4.8' 10 47 49.6 +12° 34′ 54″
M106 NGC 4258 – Spiral galaxy 22,200–25,200 Canes Venatici 8.4 18.6' × 7.2' 12 18 57.5 +47° 18′ 14″
M107 NGC 6171 Crucifix Cluster Globular cluster 20.9 Ophiuchus 7.9 10' 16 32 31.86 −13° 03′ 13.6″
M108 NGC 3556 Surfboard Galaxy Barred Spiral galaxy 46,000 Ursa Major 10.0 8.7' × 2.2' 11 11 31.0 +55° 40′ 27″
M109 NGC 3992 Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy Barred Spiral galaxy 59,500–107,500 Ursa Major 9.8 7.6' × 4.7' 11 57 36.0 +53° 22′ 28″
M110 NGC 205 – Dwarf elliptical galaxy 2,600–2,780 Andromeda 8.5 21.9' × 11.0' 00 40 22.1 +41° 41′ 07″

Star chart of Messier objects

Star chart depicting the Messier objects plotted on a rectangular grid representing right ascension and declination

See also

References

  1. "Original Messier Catalog of 1781". Students for the Exploration and Development of Space. 10 November 2007.
  2. Garner, Rob (18 December 2018). "Hubble's Messier catalog". Goddard SFC. NASA. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  3. Messier, Charles (16 February 1771). "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des amas d'Étoiles, que l'on découvre parmi les Étoiles fixes, sur l'horizon de Paris. Observées à l'Observatoire de la Marine, avec differens instrumens". Histoire de l'Académie Royale des Sciences. Avec les Mémoires de Mathématique & de Physique, pour la même Année, Tirés des Registres de cette Académie. année 1774. Paris, FR: L'Imprimerie Royale: 435. Retrieved 7 January 2021 – via Gallica (Archives de l'Académie des sciences).
  4. ^ "Charles Messier's original catalog of 1771". Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). 15 June 2007. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  5. "Messier catalog". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 27 May 2015.
  6. Gingerich, Owen (September 1953). "Messier and his catalogue II". Sky & Telescope. No. 142 – via archive.org.
  7. Messier, Charles (1780). "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des amas d'Étoiles, Observées à Paris, par M. Messier, à l'Observatoire de la Marine, hôtel de Clugni, rue des Mathurins". Connoissance des Temps. pour l'année commune 1783. Paris, FR: L'Imprimerie Royale: 225–249, & 408 – via Gallica (Archives de l'Académie des sciences).
  8. ^ Messier, Charles (1781). "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des amas d'Étoiles, Observées à Paris, par M. Messier, à l'Observatoire de la Marine, hôtel de Clugni, rue des Mathurins". Connoissance des Temps, ou Connoissance des mouvemens célestes. pour l'année bissextile 1784. Paris, FR: L'Imprimerie Royale: 227–267. Bibcode:1781cote.rept..227M – via Gallica.
  9. "The Messier Catalogue". SEDS Messier Database. SEDS. 27 May 2015.
  10. Moore, Patrick (1979). The Guinness Book of Astronomy. Guinness Superlatives. ISBN 978-0-900424-76-2 – via archive.org.
  11. Moore, Patrick (1979). The Guinness Book of Astronomy. Guinness Superlatives. ISBN 0-900424-76-1 – via archive.org.
  12. Frommert, Hartmut (10 May 1995). "Messier 102". MSFC X-Ray Astronomy (InterNetNews) (Press release). Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via SEDS.
  13. English, Neil (2018). Chronicling the Golden Age of Astronomy: A history of visual observing from Harriot to Moore. Springer. p. 91. ISBN 978-3319977072. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  14. Finlay, W.H. (2003). Concise Catalog of Deep-sky Objects: Astrophysical information for 500 galaxies. Springer. ISBN 1-85233-691-9.
  15. "The Messier Marathon". Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). 19 March 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  16. Stoyan, Ronald; Binnewies, Stefan; Friedrich, Susanne (2008). Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlights of the Deep Sky. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9783319977072.
  17. "Messier 1". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  18. "Messier 2". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  19. "Messier 3". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  20. "Messier 4". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  21. "Messier 5". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  22. "Messier 6". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  23. "Messier 7". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  24. Stoyan, Ronald (2008). Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlights of the Deep Sky. Cambridge University Press. p. 88. ISBN 978-0521895545.
  25. "Messier 9". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  26. "Messier 10". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  27. O'Meara, Stephen James; Levy, David H. (1998), Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects, Cambridge University Press, p. 65, ISBN 978-0521553322.
  28. "Messier 12". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  29. "Messier 13". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  30. "Messier 14". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  31. "Messier 15". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  32. "Messier 16". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  33. "Messier 17". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  34. "Messier 18". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  35. "Messier 19". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  36. "Messier 20 (The Trifid Nebula)". Hubble's Messier Catalog. 6 October 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
  37. "Messier 21". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  38. "Messier 22". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  39. Thompson, Robert; Thompson, Barbara (2007), Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders: From Novice to Master Observer, DIY science, O'Reilly Media, Inc., p. 408, ISBN 978-0596526856
  40. French, Sue (July 2015). "Small Sagittarius star cloud: The Sagittarius Milky Way is host to dark nebulae and open clusters". Sky & Telescope. p. 56.
  41. "Messier 25". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  42. "Messier 26". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  43. "Messier 27". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  44. "Messier 28". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  45. "Messier 29". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  46. "Messier 30". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  47. "Messier 31". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  48. "Messier 32". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  49. "Messier 33". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  50. "Messier 34". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  51. "Messier 35". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  52. "Messier 36". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  53. "Messier 37". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  54. "Messier 38". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  55. "Messier 39". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  56. "Messier 40". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  57. "Messier 41". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  58. "Messier 42". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  59. "Messier 43". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  60. "Messier 44". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  61. "Messier 45". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  62. "Messier 46". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  63. Stoyan, Ronald (2008). Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlights of the Deep Sky. Cambridge University Press. p. 195. ISBN 978-0521895545.
  64. "Messier 48". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  65. "Messier 49". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  66. "Messier 50". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 17 March 2014.
  67. "Messier 51". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  68. "Messier 52". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  69. "Messier 53". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  70. "Messier 54". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  71. "Messier 55". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  72. "Messier 56". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  73. "Messier 57". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  74. "Messier 58". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  75. "Messier 59". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  76. "Messier 60". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  77. "Messier 61". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  78. "Messier 62". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  79. "Messier 63". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  80. "Messier 64". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  81. "Messier 65". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  82. "Messier 66". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  83. "Messier 67". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  84. "Messier 68". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  85. "Messier 69". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  86. "Messier 70". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  87. "Messier 71". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  88. "Messier 72". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  89. "Messier 73". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  90. "Messier 74". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  91. "Messier 74 Phantom Galaxy". 24 July 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  92. "Messier 75". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  93. "Messier 76". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  94. "Messier 77". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  95. "Messier 78". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  96. "Messier 79". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  97. "Messier 80". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  98. "Messier 81". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  99. "Messier 82". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  100. "Messier 83". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  101. "Messier 84". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  102. "Messier 85". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  103. "Messier 86". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  104. "Messier 87". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  105. "Messier 88". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  106. "Messier 89". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  107. "Messier 90". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  108. "Messier 91". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  109. "Messier 92". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  110. "Messier 93". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  111. "Messier 94". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  112. "Messier 95". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  113. "Messier 96". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  114. "Messier 97". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  115. "Messier 98". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  116. "Messier 99". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  117. "Messier 100". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  118. "Messier 101". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  119. "Messier 102". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  120. "Messier 103". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  121. "Messier 104". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  122. "Messier 105". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  123. "Messier 106". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  124. "Messier 107". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  125. "Messier 108". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  126. "Messier 109". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
  127. "Messier 110". SEDS Messier catalog. Retrieved 18 March 2014.

External links

Messier objects
List Painting of Charles Messier, creator of the Messier catalog
See also
Categories: