How an 18th century comet-hunter’s list of targets to avoid became the most famous astronomy catalogue – BBC Sky at Night

The complete Messier Catalogue, including magnitudes and coordinates to find each one in the night sky.

By Iain Todd

Published: Wednesday, 01 May 2024 at 10:54 AM

The Messier Catalogue is perhaps the most famous astronomy catalogue there is, detailing deep-sky objects such as galaxies, globular clusters and nebulae. It’s a ‘what’s what’ of some of the best objects to see in the night sky with a telescope.

But the Messier Catalogue didn’t start out as a list of desirable astronomical objects: rather, it was comet-hunter Charles Messier‘s record of targets to avoid in the night sky.

M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy, is one of the most famous objects in the Messier Catalogue. This image of the galaxy was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Who was Charles Messier?

Charles Messier was born in Badonviller, eastern France, on 26 June 1730.

Based at an observatory in the Hôtel de Cluny in central Paris, he became one of the most famous comet hunters of his time with at least 13 comets to his credit, along with observations of many others.

However, he was distracted by other ‘fuzzy’ objects in the heavens and in May 1764 decided to start keeping a record of them to avoid subsequently mistaking them for real comets.

His initial catalogue consisted of 41 entries, so he added several other previously known objects to bring the total to 45.

In later years its creator was helped by friend and colleague Pierre Méchain, who was responsible for most of the latter Messier objects.

Messier’s final catalogue, published in 1781, went up to 103 entries. Although he never added any more objects to his list before his death in Paris on 12 April 1817, he did leave notes on several more he had found.

Charles Messier, creator of the original Messier Catalogue. Credit: Ansiaume (1729—1786) - Stoyan R. et al. Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlights of the Deep Sky. — Cambridge: Cambridge Univercity Press, 2008. — P. 15. — Charles Messier, creator of the original Messier Catalogue. Credit: Ansiaume (1729—1786) – Stoyan R. et al. Atlas of the Messier Objects: Highlights of the Deep Sky. — Cambridge: Cambridge Univercity Press, 2008. — P. 15.

In modern times, these objects have become part of the Messier Catalogue. The work of other astronomers brought the total to 110, and has also uncovered one duplicate.

M102 is the second observation of M101 by Méchain, who confirmed this in a letter. Some observers like to include a faint galaxy in Draco as a substitute for the ‘missing’ M102.

Despite its age, the Messier Catalogue remains the first set of deep-sky objects that many aspiring astronomers view.

Though he was not in the least interested in these objects during his lifetime, it is for his catalogue of them that he will always be remembered.

Below is the complete Messier Catalogue, including a description of what each object is, its limiting magnitude and coordinates to find it in the night sky.

If you don’t fancy trying to complete the entire list, try our 8 Messier Catalogue objects to spot in the night sky.

The complete Messier Catalogue

M1, The Crab Nebula

M1, the Crab Nebula. Credit: Dieter Retzl / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Dieter Retzl / CCDGuide.com

Supernova remnant in Taurus
RA 05h 34.5m, dec. +22º 01’
Mag. +8.4

M2

M2, imaged by Ron Brecher. Credit: Ron Brecher — Credit: Ron Brecher

Globular cluster in Aquarius
RA 21h 33.5m, dec. –00º 49’
Mag. +6.5

M3

M3 in Canes Venatici. Credit: Manfred Wasshuber / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Manfred Wasshuber / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Canes Venatici
RA 13h 42.2m, dec. +28º 23’
Mag. +6.2

M4

M4. Credit: CEDIC Team, Herbert Walter / CCDGuide.com — Credit: CEDIC Team, Herbert Walter / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Scorpius
RA 16h 23.6m, dec. –26º 32’
Mag. +5.6

M5

M5. Manfred Wasshuber / CCD Guide.com — Credit: Manfred Wasshuber / CCD Guide.com

Globular cluster in Serpens Caput
RA 15h 18.6m, dec. +02º 05’
Mag. +5.6

M6, The Butterfly Cluster

M6. Credit: Bernhard Hubl / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Bernhard Hubl / CCDGuide.com

Open cluster in Scorpius
RA 17h 40.1m, dec. –32º 13’
Mag. +5.3

M7, Ptolemy’s Cluster

M7, imaged by Luis Fernando Parmegiani. — Credit: Luis Fernando Parmegiani.

Open cluster in Scorpius
RA 17h 53.9m, dec. –34º 49’
Mag. +4.1

M8, The Lagoon Nebula

M8, imaged by Ronald Piacenti Junior. — Credit: Ronald Piacenti Junior.

Diffuse nebula in Sagittarius
RA 18h 03.8m, dec. –24º 23’
Mag. +6.0

M9

M9. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Bernhard Hubl, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Bernhard Hubl, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
RA 17h 19.2m, dec. –18º 31’
Mag. +7.7

M10

M10, by Günter Kerschhuber. Credit: Günter Kerschhuber / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Günter Kerschhuber / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
RA 16h 57.1m, dec. –04º 06’
Mag. +6.6

M11, The Wild Duck Cluster

M11. Credit: Ron Brecher — Credit: Ron Brecher

Open cluster in Scutum
RA 18h 51.1m, dec. –06º 16’
Mag. +6.3

M12

M12. Credit: Bernhard Hubl — Credit: Bernhard Hubl

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
RA 16h 47.2m, dec. –01º 57’
Mag. +6.7

M13, The Hercules Globular Cluster

M13 by Alvaro Ibañz Perez. — Credit: Alvaro Ibañz Perez.

Globular cluster in Hercules
RA 16h 41.7m, dec. +36º 28’
Mag. +5.8

M14

M14. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
RA 17h 37.6m, dec. –03º 15’
Mag. +7.6

M15

M15 by Mark Griffith. — Credit: Mark Griffith.

Globular cluster in Pegasus
RA 21h 30.0m; dec. +12º 10’
Mag. +6.2

M16, The Eagle Nebula

M16 by Mark Griffith — Credit: Mark Griffith

Open cluster plus nebula in Serpens Cauda
RA 18h 18.8m, dec. –13º 47’
Mag. +6.4

M17, The Omega Nebula

The Omega Nebula Tom Bishton, Gold Coast Hinterland, Australia. Equipment: Canon EOS 600D DSLR camera, Black Diamond ED120 refractor, Sky-Watcher AZ EQ6 mount. — Credit: Tom Bishton

Diffuse nebula in Sagittarius
RA 18h 20.8m, dec. –16º 11’
Mag. +7.0

M18

M18. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Open cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 19.9m, dec. –17º 08’
Mag. +7.5

M19

M19. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
RA 17h 02.6m, dec. –26º 16’
Mag. +6.8

M20, The Trifid Nebula

The Triffid Nebula Chris Platkiw, iTelescope Siding Springs Observatory, Australia. Equipment: SBIG ST-2000XCM camera, Takahashi SKY-90 refractor. — Credit: Chris Platkiw

Diffuse nebula in Sagittarius
RA 18h 02.6m, dec. –23º 02’
Mag. +9.0

M21

M21. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Open cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 04.6m, dec. –22º 30’
Mag. +6.5

M22

M22 - Globular Cluster by Ronald Piacenti Jr — M22 – Globular Cluster by Ronald Piacenti Jr

Globular cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 36.4m, dec. –23º 54’
Mag. +5.1

M23

M23. Credit: Bachleitner Hannes — Credit: Bachleitner Hannes

Open cluster in Sagittarius
RA 17h 56.8m, dec. –19º 01’
Mag. +6.9

M24, The Sagittarius Star Cloud

M24 by Christian vd Berge — Credit: Christian vd Berge

Milky Way patch in Sagittarius
RA 18h 16.9m, dec. –18º 29’
Mag. +4.6

M25

M25. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Open cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 31.6m, dec. –19º 15’
Mag. +6.5

M26

M26. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Open cluster in Scutum
RA 18h 45.2m, dec. –09º 24’
Mag. +8.0

M27, The Dumbbell Nebula

M27 by Jaroslav Vlcek — Credit: Jaroslav Vlcek

Planetary nebula in Vulpecula
RA 19h 59.6m, dec. +22º 43’
Mag. +7.4

M28

M28. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 24.5m, dec. –24º 52’
Mag. +6.8

M29

M29 by Bill McSorley — Credit: Bill McSorley

Open cluster in Cygnus
RA 20h 23.9m, dec. +38º 32’
Mag. +7.1

M30

M30. Credit: Daniel Verschatse. — Credit: Daniel Verschatse.

Globular cluster in Capricornus
RA 21h 40.4m, dec. –23º 11’
Mag. +7.2

M31, The Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy by Mariusz Szymaszek. — Credit: Mariusz Szymaszek.

Spiral galaxy in Andromeda
RA 00h 42.7m, dec. +41º 16’
Mag. +3.4

M32

M32. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Elliptical galaxy in Andromeda
RA 00h 42.7m, dec. +40º 52’
Mag. +8.1

M33, The Triangulum Galaxy

M33 - Triangulum Galaxy by David Slack. — Credit: David Slack.

Spiral galaxy in Triangulum
RA 01h 33.9m, dec. +30º 39’
Mag. +5.7

M34

M34 by Jaspal Chadha

Open cluster in Perseus
RA 02h 42.0m, dec. +42º 47’
Mag. +5.5

M35

M35. Credit: Manfred Wasshuber. — Credit: Manfred Wasshuber.

Open cluster in Gemini
RA 06h 08.9m, dec. +24º 20’
Mag. +5.3

M36

Open Cluster M36 in the constellation Auriga by Ron Larter — Credit: Ron Larter

Open cluster in Auriga
RA 05h 36.1m, dec. +34º 08’
Mag. +6.3

M37

M37 by Houssem Ksontini — Credit: Houssem Ksontini

Open cluster in Auriga
RA 05h 52.4m, dec. +32º 33’
Mag. +6.2

M38

M38 by Bradley Swift — Credit: Bradley Swift

Open cluster in Auriga
RA 05h 28.4m, dec. +35º 50’
Mag. +7.4

M39

M39 by Tom Howard — Credit: Tom Howard

Open cluster in Cygnus
RA 21h 32.2m, dec. +48º 26’
Mag. +4.6

M40

M40. Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com

Binary star in Ursa Major
RA 12h 22.4m, dec. +58º 05’
Mag. +8.4

M41

M41. Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com

Open cluster in Canis Major

RA 06h 46.0m, dec. –20º 44’

Mag. +4.6

M42, The Orion Nebula

The Orion Nebula Tom Harbin, Essex, UK. Equipment: Canon Rebel T5i DSLR camera, Celestron NexStar 127mm Maksutov, Alt-Az GoTo mount. — Credit: Tom Harbin

Diffuse nebula in Orion | RA 05h 35.4m, dec. –05º 27’ | Mag. +4.0

M43, De Mairan’s Nebula

M43 De Mairan's nebula, by Mark Griffith. — Credit: Mark Griffith

Emission nebula in Orion

RA 05h 35.6m, dec. –05º 16’ | Mag. +9.0

M44, The Beehive Cluster

M44 - The Beehive Cluster by Bill McSorely — Credit: Bill McSorely

Open cluster in Cancer

RA 08h 40.1m, dec. +19º 59’ | Mag. +3.7

M45, The Pleiades

The Pleiades, by Raoul van Eijndhoven — Credit: Raoul van Eijndhoven

Open cluster in Taurus
RA 03h 47.0m, dec. +24º 07’
Mag. +1.6

M46

M46 by Kfir Simon — Credit: Kfir Simon

Open cluster in Puppis
RA 07h 41.8m, dec. –14º 49’
Mag. +6.0

M47

M47 by Dan Crowson — Credit: Dan Crowson

Open cluster in Puppis
RA 07h 36.6m, dec. –14º 30’
Mag. +5.2

M48

M48. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries. — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries.

Open cluster in Hydra
RA 08h 13.8m, dec. –05º 48’
Mag. +5.5

M49

M49. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries. — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries.

Elliptical galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 29.8m, dec. +08º 00’
Mag. +8.4

M50

M50. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries. — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries.

Open cluster in Monoceros
RA 07h 03.2m, dec. –08º 20’
Mag. +6.3

M51, The Whirlpool Galaxy

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy by Duan Yusef — Credit: Duan Yusef

Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
RA 13h 29.9m, dec. +47º 12’
Mag. +8.4

M52

M52. Credit: Harald Strauß — Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com

Open cluster in Cassiopeia

RA 23h 24.2m, dec. +61º 35’ | Mag. +7.3

M53

M53 Globular Cluster by Mark Griffith — Credit: Mark Griffith

Globular cluster in Coma Berenices
RA 13h 12.9m, dec. +18º 10’
Mag. +7.6

M54

M54. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA — Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Globular cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 55.1m, dec. –30º 29’
Mag. +7.6

M55

M55. Credit: Bernhard Hubl / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Bernhard Hubl / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Sagittarius
RA 19h 40.0m, dec. –30º 58’
Mag. +6.3

M56

M56 by Ron Brecher — Credit: Ron Brecher

Globular cluster in Lyra (radiant of the annual Lyrid meteor shower)
RA 19h 16.6m, dec. +30º 11’
Mag. +8.3

M57, The Ring Nebula

M57 by André van der Hoeven — Credit: André van der Hoeven

Planetary nebula in Lyra
RA 18h 53.6m, dec. +33º 02’
Mag. +8.8

M58

M58. Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 37.7m, dec. +11º 49’
Mag +9.7

M59

M59. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Elliptical galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 42.0m, dec. +11º 39’
Mag. +9.6

M60

M60. Credit: Harald Strauß — Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com

Elliptical galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 43.7m, dec. +11º 33’
Mag. +8.8

M61

M61. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 21.9m, dec. +04º 28’
Mag. +9.7

M62

M62. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
RA 17h 01.2m, dec. –30º 07’
Mag. +6.5

M63, The Sunflower Galaxy

M63 by Dan Crowson — Credit: Dan Crowson

Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
RA 13h 15.8m, dec. +42º 02’
Mag. +8.6

M64, The Blackeye Galaxy

M64. Credit: Klauser Franz / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Klauser Franz / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
RA 12h 56.7m, dec. +21º 41’
Mag. +8.5

M65

M65. Credit: Klauser Franz / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Klauser Franz / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Leo
RA 11h 18.9m, dec. +13º 05’
Mag. +9.3

M66

M66. Credit: Manfred Wasshuber / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Manfred Wasshuber / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Leo
RA 11h 20.2m, dec. +12º 59’
Mag. +8.9

M67

M67 - Open Cluster in Cancer by Bill McSorely — Credit: Bill McSorely

Open cluster in Cancer
RA 08h 50.4m, dec. +11º 49’
Mag. +6.1

M68

M68. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Hydra
RA 12h 39.5m, dec. –26º 45’
Mag. +7.8

M69

M69. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA — Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Globular cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 31.4m, dec. –32º 21’
Mag. +7.6

M70

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Globular cluster in Sagittarius
RA 18h 43.2m, dec. –32º 18’
Mag. +7.9

M71

M71 - Globular Cluster in Sagitta by Bill McSorley. — Credit: Bill McSorley.

Globular cluster in Sagitta
RA 19h 53.8m, dec. +18º 47’
Mag. +8.2

M72

M72 by Ron Brecher. — Credit: Ron Brecher.

Globular cluster in Aquarius
RA 20h 53.5m, dec. –12º 32’
Mag. +9.3

M73

M73. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Asterism in Aquarius
RA 20:58.9, dec. –12:38
Mag 9.0

M74

M74. Credit: Franz Klauser / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Franz Klauser / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Pisces
RA 01h 36.7m, dec. +15º 47’
Mag. +9.4

M75

Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Sagittarius
RA 20h 06.1m, dec. –21º 55’
Mag. +8.5

M76, The Little Dumbbell Nebula

LITTLE DUMBBELL M76 by Martin Bailey — Credit: Martin Bailey

Planetary nebula in Perseus
RA 01h 42.4m, dec. +51º 34’
Mag. +10.1

M77

M77 Credit: Günter Kerschhuber / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Günter Kerschhuber / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Cetus
RA 02h 42.7m, dec. –00º 01’
Mag. +8.9

M78

M78 by Alvaro Ibañez Perez. — Credit: Alvaro Ibañez Perez.

Diffuse nebula in Orion
RA 05h 46.7m, dec. +00º 03’
Mag. +8.3

M79

M79. Credit: Harald Strauß — Credit: Harald Strauß

Globular cluster in Lepus

RA 05h 24.5m, dec. –24º 33’ | Mag. +7.7

M80

M80. Credit: Daniel Verschatse / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Daniel Verschatse / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Scorpius

RA 16h 17.0m, dec. –22º 59’ | Mag. +7.3

M81, Bode’s Galaxy

M81, by Frederic Vandewattyne. — Credit: Frederic Vandewattyne.

Spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
RA 09h 55.6m, dec. +69º 04’
Mag. +6.9

M82, The Cigar Galaxy

M82 Cigar Galaxy, by Mark Griffith. — Credit: Mark Griffith.

Irregular galaxy in Ursa Major
RA 09h 55.8m, dec. +69º 41’
Mag. +8.4

M83, The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

M83, Southern Pinwheel Galaxy by Rafael Compassi — Credit: Rafael Compassi

Spiral galaxy in Hydra
RA 13h 37.0m, dec. –29º 52’
Mag. +7.6

M84

M84. Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA — Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Lenticular galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 25.1m, dec. –12º 53’
Mag. +9.1

M85

M85. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries. — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries/ CCDGuide.com

Lenticular galaxy in Coma Berenices
RA 12h 25.4m, dec. +18º 11’
Mag. +9.1

M86

M86. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Lenticular galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 26.2m, dec. +12º 57’
Mag. +8.9

M87, Virgo A

M87. Credit: Bernhard Hubl — Credit: Bernhard Hubl

Elliptical galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 30.8m, dec. +12º 24’
Mag. +8.6

M88

M88 in the Virgo Cluster by John Tonks. — Credit: John Tonks.

Spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
RA 12h 32.0m, dec. +14º 25’
Mag. +9.6

M89

M89. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Elliptical galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 35.7m, dec. +12º 33’
Mag. +9.8

M90

M90. Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 36.8m, dec. +13º 10’
Mag. +9.5

M91

M91. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
RA 12h 35.4m, dec. +14º 30’
Mag. +10.2

M92

M92. Credit: Michael Karrer / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Karrer / CCDGuide.com

Globular cluster in Hercules
RA 17h 17.1m, dec. +43º 08’
Mag. +6.4

M93

M93 - LRGB by Dan Crowson — Credit: Dan Crowson

Open cluster in Puppis
RA 07:44.6, dec. –23:52
Mag. + 6.0

M94

M94 Spiral Galaxy by Mark Griffith — Credit: Mark Griffith

Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
RA 12h 50.9m, dec. +41º 07’
Mag. +8.2

M95

M95. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Leo
RA 10h 44.0m, dec. +11º 42’
Mag. +9.7

M96

M96. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Leo
RA 10h 46.8m, dec. +11º 49’
Mag. +9.2

M97, The Owl Nebula

M97 Owl Nebula by Mark Griffith — Credit: Mark Griffith

Planetary nebula in Ursa Major
RA 11h 14.8m, dec. +55º 01’
Mag. +9.9

M98

M98. Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com — Credit: Harald Strauß / CCDGuide.com

Spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
RA 12h 13.8m, dec. +14º 54’
Mag. +10.1

M99

M99 by Dan Crowson — Credit: Dan Crowson

Spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
RA 12h 18.8m, dec. +14º 25’
Mag. + 9.9

M100

M100 by Dan Crowson — Credit: Dan Crowson

Spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
RA 12h 22.9m, dec. +15º 49’
Mag. +9.3

M101, The Pinwheel Galaxy

M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy by Keith Bramley — Credit: Keith Bramley

Spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
RA 14h 03.2m, dec. +54º 21’
Mag. +7.9

M102 (NGC 5866)

M102. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCD Guide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCD Guide.com

Lenticular galaxy in Draco
RA 15h 06.5m, dec. +55º 46’
Mag. +9.9

M103

M103 - Open Cluster in Cassiopeia by Bill McSorley — M103 – Open Cluster in Cassiopeia by Bill McSorley

Open cluster in Cassiopeia
RA 01h 33.2m, dec. +60º 42’
Mag +7.4

M104, The Sombrero Galaxy

M104 The Sombrero Galaxy by Dan Crowson — Credit: Dan Crowson

Spiral galaxy in Virgo
RA 12h 40.0m, dec. –11º 37’
Mag. +8.0

M105

M105. Credit: Manfred Wasshuber / CCD Guide.com — Credit: Manfred Wasshuber / CCDGuide.com

Elliptical galaxy in Leo
RA 10h 47.8m, dec. +12º 35’
Mag. +9.3

M106

M106 Spiral Galaxy by Mark Griffith

Spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
RA 12h 19.0m, dec. +47º 18’
Mag. +8.4

M107

M107. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCD Guide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCD Guide.com

Globular cluster in Ophiuchus
RA 16h 32.5m, dec. –13º 03’
Mag. +7.9

M108

M108. Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCD Guide.com — Credit: Michael Breite, Stefan Heutz, Wolfgang Ries / CCD Guide.com

Spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
RA 11h 11.5m, dec. +55º 40’
Mag. +10.0

M109

M109 Barred Spiral Galaxy by Mark Griffith — Credit: Mark Griffith

Spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
RA 11h 57.6m, dec. +53º 23’
Mag. +9.8

M110

M110 by Dan Crowson — Credit: Dan Crowson

Elliptical galaxy in Andromeda
RA 00h 40.4m, dec. +41º 41’
Mag. +8.5

How many Messier Catalogue objects have you crossed off the list? Have you managed to photograph any?

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