Messier object

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.^[1] 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.^[2]

Messier Catalog

All Messier objects
Alternative names	Messier Catalogue
Survey type	Astronomical catalogue
Named after	Charles Messier
Published	1774 (preliminary version)
Related media on Commons

A preliminary version of the catalogue first appeared in 1774 in the Memoirs of the French Academy of Sciences for the year 1771.^[3][4][5] 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.^[6] By 1780 the catalogue had increased to 70 objects.^[7] The final version of the catalogue containing 103 objects was published in 1781 in the Connaissance des Temps for the year 1784.^[8][4] 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.^[9]

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.^[10]

Lists and editions

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.^[11] 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.^[12]

Messier's final catalogue was included in the Connaissance des Temps pour l'Année 1784 [Knowledge of the Times for the Year 1784], the French official yearly publication of astronomical ephemerides.^[8][4]

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.^[13]

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.^[14]

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.^[15][16]

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[17]	NGC 1952	Crab Nebula		Supernova remnant	4.9–8.1	Taurus	8.4	420″ × 290″	05h 34m 31.94s	+22° 00′ 52.2″
M2[18]	NGC 7089	–		Globular cluster	33	Aquarius	6.5	16'	21h 33m 27.02s	−00° 49′ 23.7″
M3[19]	NGC 5272	–		Globular cluster	33.9	Canes Venatici	6.2	18'	13h 42m 11.62s	+28° 22′ 38.2″
M4[20]	NGC 6121	Spider Globular Cluster		Globular cluster	7.2	Scorpius	5.6	26'	16h 23m 35.22s	−26° 31′ 32.7″
M5[21]	NGC 5904	Rose Cluster		Globular cluster	24.5	Serpens	5.6	23'	15h 18m 33.22s	+02° 04′ 51.7″
M6[22]	NGC 6405	Butterfly Cluster		Open cluster	1.6	Scorpius	4.2	25'	17h 40.1m	−32° 13′
M7[23]	NGC 6475	Ptolemy's Cluster		Open cluster	0.65–1.31	Scorpius	3.3	80'	17h 53m 51.2s	−34° 47′ 34″
M8[24]	NGC 6523	Lagoon Nebula		Nebula with cluster	4.1	Sagittarius	4.6	90′ × 40′	18h 03m 37s	−24° 23′ 12″
M9[25]	NGC 6333	–		Globular cluster	25.8	Ophiuchus	7.7	9.3'	17h 19m 11.78s	−18° 30′ 58.5″
M10[26]	NGC 6254	–		Globular cluster	14.3	Ophiuchus	6.6	20'	16h 57m 8.92s	−04° 05′ 58.07″
M11[27]	NGC 6705	Wild Duck Cluster		Open cluster	6.2	Scutum	5.8	22.8'	18h 51.1m	−06° 16′
M12[28]	NGC 6218	–		Globular cluster	15.7	Ophiuchus	6.7	16'	16h 47m 14.18s	−01° 56′ 54.7″
M13[29]	NGC 6205	Great Hercules Cluster		Globular cluster	22.2	Hercules	5.8	20'	16h 41m 41.24s	+36° 27′ 35.5″
M14[30]	NGC 6402	–		Globular cluster	30.3	Ophiuchus	7.6	11'	17h 37m 36.15s	−03° 14′ 45.3″
M15[31]	NGC 7078	Great Pegasus Cluster		Globular cluster	33	Pegasus	6.2	18'	21h 29m 58.33s	+12° 10′ 01.2″
M16[32]	NGC 6611	Eagle Nebula		H II region nebula with cluster	7	Serpens	6.4	70' x 50'	18h 18m 48s	−13° 49′
M17[33]	NGC 6618	Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, Lobster, or Checkmark Nebula		H II region nebula with cluster	5–6	Sagittarius	6.0	11'	18h 20m 26s	−16° 10′ 36″
M18[34]	NGC 6613	Black Swan Cluster		Open cluster	4.9	Sagittarius	7.5	9.8'	18h 19.9m	−17° 08′
M19[35]	NGC 6273	–		Globular cluster	28.7	Ophiuchus	6.8	17'	17h 02m 37.69s	−26° 16′ 04.6″
M20[36]	NGC 6514	Trifid Nebula		H II region nebula with cluster	5.2	Sagittarius	6.3	28'	18h 02m 23s	−23° 01′ 48″
M21[37]	NGC 6531	Webb's Cross Cluster		Open cluster	4.25	Sagittarius	6.5	14'	18h 04.6m	−22° 30′
M22[38]	NGC 6656	Great Sagittarius Cluster		Globular cluster	9.6–11.6	Sagittarius	5.1	32'	18h 36m 23.94s	−23° 54′ 17.1″
M23[39]	NGC 6494	–		Open cluster	2.15	Sagittarius	5.5	35'	17h 56.8m	−19° 01′
M24[40]	IC 4715	Small Sagittarius Star Cloud		Milky Way star cloud	~10	Sagittarius	2.5	2°x1°	18h 17m	−18° 33′
M25[41]	IC 4725	–		Open cluster	2.0	Sagittarius	4.6	36'	18h 31.6m	−19° 15′
M26[42]	NGC 6694	–		Open cluster	5.0	Scutum	8.0	14'	18h 45.2m	−09° 24′
M27[43]	NGC 6853	Dumbbell Nebula		Planetary nebula	1.148–1.52	Vulpecula	7.4	8.0' × 5.6'	19h 59m 36.340s	+22° 43′ 16.09″
M28[44]	NGC 6626	–		Globular cluster	17.9	Sagittarius	6.8	11.2'	18h 24m 32.89s	−24° 52′ 11.4″
M29[45]	NGC 6913	Cooling Tower Cluster		Open cluster	7.2	Cygnus	7.1	7'	20h 23m 56s	+38° 31′ 24″
M30[46]	NGC 7099	Jellyfish Cluster		Globular cluster	27.8–31	Capricornus	7.2	12'	21h 40m 22.12s	−23° 10′ 47.5″
M31[47]	NGC 224	Andromeda Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	2,430–2,650	Andromeda	3.4	3.167° × 1°	00h 42m 44.3s	+41° 16′ 09″
M32[48]	NGC 221	Andromeda Satellite #1		Dwarf elliptical galaxy	2,410–2,570	Andromeda	8.1	8.7' × 6.5'	00h 42m 41.8s	+40° 51′ 55″
M33[49]	NGC 598	Triangulum/Pinwheel Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	2,380–3,070	Triangulum	5.7	70.8' x 41.7'	01h 33m 50.02s	+30° 39′ 36.7″
M34[50]	NGC 1039	Spiral Cluster		Open cluster	1.5	Perseus	5.5	35'	02h 42.1m	+42° 46′
M35[51]	NGC 2168	Shoe-Buckle Cluster		Open cluster	2.8	Gemini	5.3	28'	06h 09.1m	+24° 21′
M36[52]	NGC 1960	Pinwheel Cluster		Open cluster	4.1	Auriga	6.3	12'	05h 36m 12s	+34° 08′ 04″
M37[53]	NGC 2099	Salt and Pepper Cluster		Open cluster	4.511	Auriga	6.2	24'	05h 52m 18s	+32° 33′ 02″
M38[54]	NGC 1912	Starfish Cluster		Open cluster	4.2	Auriga	7.4	21'	05h 28m 42s	+35° 51′ 18″
M39[55]	NGC 7092	–		Open cluster	0.8244	Cygnus	4.6	29'	21h 31m 42s	+48° 26′ 00″
M40[56]	–	Winnecke 4		Optical Double	0.51	Ursa Major	8.4	51.7″	12h 22m 12.5s	+58° 04′ 59″
M41[57]	NGC 2287	Little Beehive Cluster		Open cluster	2.3	Canis Major	4.5	38'	06h 46.0m	−20° 46′
M42[58]	NGC 1976	Great Orion Nebula		H II region nebula	1.324–1.364	Orion	4.0	65' x 60'	05h 35m 17.3s	−05° 23′ 28″
M43[59]	NGC 1982	De Mairan's Nebula		H II region nebula (part of the Orion Nebula)	1.6	Orion	9.0	20' x 15'	05h 35.6m	−05° 16′
M44[60]	NGC 2632	Beehive Cluster or Praesepe		Open cluster	0.577	Cancer	3.7	95'	08h 40.4m	+19° 59′
M45[61]	–	Pleiades, Seven Sisters or Subaru		Open cluster	0.39–0.46	Taurus	1.6	2°	03h 47m 24s	+24° 07′ 00″
M46[62]	NGC 2437	–		Open cluster	5.4	Puppis	6.0	22.8'	07h 41.8m	−14° 49′
M47[63]	NGC 2422	–		Open cluster	1.6	Puppis	4.4	30'	07h 36.6m	−14° 30′
M48[64]	NGC 2548	–		Open cluster	1.5	Hydra	5.5	30'	08h 13.7m	−05° 45′
M49[65]	NGC 4472	–		Elliptical galaxy	53,600–58,200	Virgo	8.4	10.2' × 8.3'	12h 29m 46.7s	+08° 00′ 02″
M50[66]	NGC 2323	Heart-Shaped Cluster		Open cluster	3.2	Monoceros	5.9	16'	07h 03.2m	−08° 20′
M51[67]	NGC 5194, NGC 5195	Whirlpool Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	19,000–27,000	Canes Venatici	8.4	11.2′ × 6.9′	13h 29m 52.7s	+47° 11′ 43″
M52[68]	NGC 7654	Scorpion Cluster		Open cluster	5.0	Cassiopeia	7.3	13'	23h 24.2m	+61° 35′
M53[69]	NGC 5024	–		Globular cluster	58	Coma Berenices	7.6	13'	13h 12m 55.25s	+18° 10′ 05.4″
M54[70]	NGC 6715	–		Globular cluster	87.4	Sagittarius	7.6	12'	18h 55m 03.33s	−30° 28′ 47.5″
M55[71]	NGC 6809	Specter Cluster		Globular cluster	17.6	Sagittarius	6.3	19'	19h 39m 59.71s	−30° 57′ 53.1″
M56[72]	NGC 6779	–		Globular cluster	32.9	Lyra	8.3	8.8'	19h 16m 35.57s	+30° 11′ 00.5″
M57[73]	NGC 6720	Ring Nebula		Planetary nebula	1.6–3.8	Lyra	8.8	230" × 230"	18h 53m 35.079s	+33° 01′ 45.03″
M58[74]	NGC 4579	–		Barred Spiral galaxy	~63,000	Virgo	9.7	5.9' × 4.7'	12h 37m 43.5s	+11° 49′ 05″
M59[75]	NGC 4621	–		Elliptical galaxy	55,000–65,000	Virgo	9.6	5.4' × 3.7'	12h 42m 02.3s	+11° 38′ 49″
M60[76]	NGC 4649	–		Elliptical galaxy	51,000–59,000	Virgo	8.8	7.4' × 6.0'	12h 43m 39.6s	+11° 33′ 09″
M61[77]	NGC 4303	Swelling Spiral Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	50,200–54,800	Virgo	9.7	6.5' × 5.8'	12h 21m 54.9s	+04° 28′ 25″
M62[78]	NGC 6266	Flickering Globular		Globular cluster	22.2	Ophiuchus	6.5	15'	17h 01m 12.60s	−30° 06′ 44.5″
M63[79]	NGC 5055	Sunflower Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	37,000	Canes Venatici	8.6	12.6' × 7.2'	13h 15m 49.3s	+42° 01′ 45″
M64[80]	NGC 4826	Black Eye Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	22,000–26,000	Coma Berenices	8.5	10.7' × 5.1'	12h 56m 43.7s	+21° 40′ 58″
M65[81]	NGC 3623	Leo Triplet		Barred Spiral galaxy	41,000–42,000	Leo	9.3	8.7' × 2.5'	11h 18m 55.9s	+13° 05′ 32″
M66[82]	NGC 3627	Leo Triplet		Barred Spiral galaxy	31,000–41,000	Leo	8.9	9.1' × 4.2'	11h 20m 15.0s	+12° 59′ 30″
M67[83]	NGC 2682	King Cobra or Golden Eye Cluster		Open cluster	2.61–2.93	Cancer	6.1	30'	08h 51.3m	+11° 49′
M68[84]	NGC 4590	–		Globular cluster	33.6	Hydra	7.8	11'	12h 39m 27.98s	−26° 44′ 38.6″
M69[85]	NGC 6637	–		Globular cluster	29.7	Sagittarius	7.6	10.8'	18h 31m 23.10s	−32° 20′ 53.1″
M70[86]	NGC 6681	–		Globular cluster	29.4	Sagittarius	7.9	8'	18h 43m 12.76s	−32° 17′ 31.6″
M71[87]	NGC 6838	Angelfish Cluster		Globular cluster	13.0	Sagitta	8.2	7.2'	19h 53m 46.49s	+18° 46′ 45.1″
M72[88]	NGC 6981	–		Globular cluster	53.40–55.74	Aquarius	9.3	6.6'	20h 53m 27.70s	−12° 32′ 14.3″
M73[89]	NGC 6994	–		Asterism	~2.5	Aquarius	9.0	2.8'	20h 58m 54s	−12° 38′
M74[90]	NGC 628	Phantom Galaxy[91]		Spiral galaxy	24,000–36,000	Pisces	9.4	10.5' x 9.5'	01h 36m 41.8s	+15° 47′ 01″
M75[92]	NGC 6864	–		Globular cluster	67.5	Sagittarius	8.5	6.8'	20h 06m 04.75s	−21° 55′ 16.2″
M76[93]	NGC 650, NGC 651	Little Dumbbell Nebula		Planetary nebula	2.5	Perseus	10.1	2.7' × 1.8'	01h 42.4m	+51° 34′ 31″
M77[94]	NGC 1068	Cetus A or Squid Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	47,000	Cetus	8.9	7.1' × 6.0'	02h 42m 40.7s	−00° 00′ 48″
M78[95]	NGC 2068	–		Diffuse nebula	1.6	Orion	8.3	8' × 6'	05h 46m 46.7s	+00° 00′ 50″
M79[96]	NGC 1904	–		Globular cluster	41	Lepus	7.7	8.7'	05h 24m 10.59s	−24° 31′ 27.3″
M80[97]	NGC 6093	–		Globular cluster	32.6	Scorpius	7.3	10'	16h 17m 02.41s	−22° 58′ 33.9″
M81[98]	NGC 3031	Bode's Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	11,400–12,200	Ursa Major	6.9	26.9' × 14.1'	09h 55m 33.2s	+69° 03′ 55″
M82[99]	NGC 3034	Cigar Galaxy		Starburst galaxy	10,700–12,300	Ursa Major	8.4	11.2' × 4.3'	09h 55m 52.2s	+69° 40′ 47″
M83[100]	NGC 5236	Southern Pinwheel Galaxy		Barred Spiral galaxy	14,700	Hydra	7.6	12.9' × 11.5'	13h 37m 00.9s	−29° 51′ 57″
M84[101]	NGC 4374	–		Lenticular galaxy	57,000–63,000	Virgo	9.1	6.5' × 5.6'	12h 25m 03.7s	+12° 53′ 13″
M85[102]	NGC 4382	–		Lenticular galaxy	56,000–64,000	Coma Berenices	9.1	7.1' × 5.5'	12h 25m 24.0s	+18° 11′ 28″
M86[103]	NGC 4406	–		Lenticular galaxy	49,000–55,000	Virgo	8.9	8.9' × 5.8'	12h 26m 11.7s	+12° 56′ 46″
M87[104]	NGC 4486	Virgo A or Smoking Gun Galaxy		Elliptical galaxy	51,870–55,130	Virgo	8.6	7.2' × 6.8'	12h 30m 49.42338s	+12° 23′ 28.0439″
M88[105]	NGC 4501	–		Spiral galaxy	39,000–56,000	Coma Berenices	9.6	6.9' × 3.7'	12h 31m 59.2s	+14° 25′ 14″
M89[106]	NGC 4552	–		Elliptical galaxy	47,000–53,000	Virgo	9.8	5.1' × 4.7'	12h 35m 39.8s	+12° 33′ 23″
M90[107]	NGC 4569	–		Spiral galaxy	55,900–61,500	Virgo	9.5	9.5' × 4.4'	12h 36m 49.8s	+13° 09′ 46″
M91[108]	NGC 4548	–		Barred Spiral galaxy	47,000–79,000	Coma Berenices	10.2	5.4' × 4.3'	12h 35m 26.4s	+14° 29′ 47″
M92[109]	NGC 6341	–		Globular cluster	26.7	Hercules	6.4	14'	17h 17m 07.39s	+43° 08′ 09.4″
M93[110]	NGC 2447	Critter Cluster		Open cluster	3.6	Puppis	6.0	10'	07h 44.6m	−23° 52′
M94[111]	NGC 4736	Crocodile Eye or Cat's Eye Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	14,700–17,300	Canes Venatici	8.2	11.2' × 9.1'	12h 50m 53.1s	+41° 07′ 14″
M95[112]	NGC 3351	–		Barred Spiral galaxy	31,200–34,000	Leo	9.7	3.1' × 2.9'	10h 43m 57.7s	+11° 42′ 14″
M96[113]	NGC 3368	–		Spiral galaxy	28,000–34,000	Leo	9.2	7.6' × 5.2'	10h 46m 45.7s	+11° 49′ 12″
M97[114]	NGC 3587	Owl Nebula		Planetary nebula	2.03	Ursa Major	9.9	3.4' × 3.3'	11h 14m 47.734s	+55° 01′ 08.50″
M98[115]	NGC 4192	–		Spiral galaxy	44,400	Coma Berenices	10.1	9.8' × 2.8'	12h 13m 48.292s	+14° 54′ 01.69″
M99[116]	NGC 4254	St. Catherine's Wheel		Spiral galaxy	44,700–55,700	Coma Berenices	9.9	5.4' × 4.7'	12h 18m 49.6s	+14° 24′ 59″
M100[117]	NGC 4321	Mirror Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	55,000	Coma Berenices	9.3	7.4' × 6.3'	12h 22m 54.9s	+15° 49′ 21″
M101[118]	NGC 5457	Pinwheel Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	19,100–22,400	Ursa Major	7.9	28.8' × 26.9'	14h 03m 12.6s	+54° 20′ 57″
M102[119]	NGC 5866	Spindle Galaxy		Lenticular galaxy	50,000	Draco	9.9	4.7' x 1.9'	15h 06m 29.5s	+55° 45′ 48″
M103[120]	NGC 581	–		Open cluster	10	Cassiopeia	7.4	6'	01h 33.2m	+60° 42′
M104[121]	NGC 4594	Sombrero Galaxy		Spiral galaxy	28,700–30,900	Virgo	8.0	9' x 4'	12h 39m 59.4s	−11° 37′ 23″
M105[122]	NGC 3379	–		Elliptical galaxy	30,400–33,600	Leo	9.3	5.4' × 4.8'	10h 47m 49.6s	+12° 34′ 54″
M106[123]	NGC 4258	–		Spiral galaxy	22,200–25,200	Canes Venatici	8.4	18.6' × 7.2'	12h 18m 57.5s	+47° 18′ 14″
M107[124]	NGC 6171	Crucifix Cluster		Globular cluster	20.9	Ophiuchus	7.9	10'	16h 32m 31.86s	−13° 03′ 13.6″
M108[125]	NGC 3556	Surfboard Galaxy		Barred Spiral galaxy	46,000	Ursa Major	10.0	8.7' × 2.2'	11h 11m 31.0s	+55° 40′ 27″
M109[126]	NGC 3992	Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy		Barred Spiral galaxy	59,500–107,500	Ursa Major	9.8	7.6' × 4.7'	11h 57m 36.0s	+53° 22′ 28″
M110[127]	NGC 205	–		Dwarf elliptical galaxy	2,600–2,780	Andromeda	8.5	21.9' × 11.0'	00h 40m 22.1s	+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

• Lists of astronomical objects
• Caldwell catalogue
• Deep-sky object
• Herschel 400 Catalogue
• New General Catalogue

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).
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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.
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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

• "SEDS Messier Database". Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). — includes images
• "Messier gallery". Messier Objects 101.
• "Messier objects". Deep Sky Videos.
• "Messier Objects Ranked By Viewing Difficulty". Starlust.