The Messier Objects
In the 18th century, french astronomer Charles Messier compiled a catalogue of diffuse astronomical objects. This catalogue is known as the Messier Catalogue. Its objects are numbered M1 through M110. The Messier Catalogue is of great practical importance mostly for amateur astronomers, since it contains the most brightest and beautiful deep-sky objects in the night sky. Among them are the famous Andromeda Galaxy (M31) and the well-known Orion Nebula (M42).
Another notable catalog is the NGC catalog.
See also our list of notable stars.
M1 (NGC 1952, Crab Nebula)
a supernova remnant in the constellation Bull
Image credit: NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University)
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M2 (NGC 7089)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Water Carrier
Image credit: NASA/STScI/WikiSky
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M3 (NGC 5272)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Hunting Dogs
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M4 (NGC 6121)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Scorpion
Image credit: NASA/STScI/WikiSky
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M5 (NGC 5904)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M6 (NGC 6405, Butterfly Cluster)
an open star cluster in the constellation Scorpion
Image credit: Ole Nielsen
M7 (NGC 6475, Ptolemy Cluster)
an open star cluster in the constellation Scorpion
Image credit: ESO
M8 (NGC 6523, Lagoon Nebula)
a diffuse nebula in the constellation Archer
Image credit: NASA
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M9 (NGC 6333)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake Holder
Image credit: ESA/Hubble, NASA
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M10 (NGC 6254)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake Holder
Image credit: ESA/NASA
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M11 (NGC 6705, Wild Duck Cluster)
an open star cluster in the constellation Shield
Image credit: ESO
M12 (NGC 6218)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake Holder
Image credit: ESO
M13 (NGC 6205, Great Globular Cluster in Hercules)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Hercules
Image credit: Adam Block/Sid Leach/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M14 (NGC 6402)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake Holder
Image credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
M15 (NGC 7078)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Winged Horse
Image credit: ESA, Hubble, NASA
M16 (NGC 6611, Eagle Nebula)
a diffuse nebula in the constellation Snake
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M17 (NGC 6618, Lobster Nebula)
a diffuse nebula in the constellation Archer
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M18 (NGC 6613)
an open star cluster in the constellation Archer
Image credit: ESO
M19 (NGC 6273)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake Holder
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M20 (NGC 6514, Trifid Nebula)
a diffuse nebula in the constellation Archer
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M21 (NGC 6531)
an open star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M22 (NGC 6656, Sagittarius Cluster)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M23 (NGC 6494)
an open star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M24 (NGC 4715)
an asterism in the constellation Berenice's Hair
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M25 (NGC 4725)
an open star cluster in the constellation Berenice's Hair
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M26 (NGC 6694)
an open star cluster in the constellation Shield
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M27 (NGC 6853, Dumbbell Nebula)
a planetary nebula in the constellation Fox
Image credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
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M28 (NGC 6626)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M29 (NGC 6913)
an open star cluster in the constellation Swan
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M30 (NGC 7099)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Capricorn
Image credit: NASA / ESA
M31 (NGC 224, Andromeda Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Andromeda
Image credit: NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton (University of Washington, USA), B. F. Williams (University of Washington, USA), L. C. Johnson (University of Washington, USA), the PHAT team, and R. Gendler.
M32 (NGC 221)
a dwarf galaxy in the constellation Andromeda
Image credit: NASA/ESA and Thomas M. Brown, Charles W. Bowers, Randy A. Kimble, AllenV. Sweigart (NASA/ESA Goddard Space Flight Center) and Henry C. Ferguson ( Space Telescope Science Institute)
M33 (NGC 598, Triangulum Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Triangle
Image credit: ESA/Hubble and NASA
M34 (NGC 1039)
an open star cluster in the constellation Perseus
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M35 (NGC 2168)
an open star cluster in the constellation Twins
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M36 (NGC 1960)
an open star cluster in the constellation Charioteer
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M37 (NGC 2099)
an open star cluster in the constellation Charioteer
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M38 (NGC 1912)
an open star cluster in the constellation Charioteer
Image credit: Miguel Garcia
M39 (NGC 7092)
an open star cluster in the constellation Swan
Image credit: Christian van Endern
M40 (Winnecke 4)
a double star in the constellation Great Bear
Image credit: Atlas Image obtained as part of the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.
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M41 (NGC 2287)
an open star cluster in the constellation Big Dog
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M42 (NGC 1976, Orion Nebula)
a diffuse nebula in the constellation Orion
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M43 (NGC 1982)
a diffuse nebula in the constellation Orion
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M44 (NGC 2632, Beehive Cluster)
an open star cluster in the constellation Cancer
Image credit: Atlas Image [or Atlas Image mosaic] obtained as part of the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Science Foundation.
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M45 (NGC 1432, Pleiades)
an open star cluster in the constellation Bull
Image credit: STScI and NASA
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M46 (NGC 2437)
an open star cluster in the constellation Poop Deck
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M47 (NGC 2422)
an open star cluster in the constellation Poop Deck
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M48 (NGC 2548)
an open star cluster in the constellation Sea Serpent
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M49 (NGC 4472)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Virgin
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, J. Blakenslee, P Cote et al.
M50 (NGC 2323)
an open star cluster in the constellation Unicorn
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M51 (NGC 5194, Whirlpool Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Hunting Dogs
Image credit: NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI), and The Hubble Heritage Team STScI/AURA)
M52 (NGC 7654)
an open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia
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M53 (NGC 5024)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Berenice's Hair
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M54 (NGC 6715)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M55 (NGC 6809)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M56 (NGC 6779)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Lyre
Image credit: NASA/STScI/WikiSky
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M57 (NGC 6720, Ring Nebula)
a planetary nebula in the constellation Lyre
Image credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).
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M58 (NGC 4579)
a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgin
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Kennicutt (U. of Ariz./Inst. of Astr., U. of Cambridge) and the SINGS Team
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M59 (NGC 4621)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Virgin
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, P. Cote
M60 (NGC 4649)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Virgin
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M61 (NGC 4303)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgin
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M62 (NGC 6266)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake Holder
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M63 (NGC 5055, Sunflower Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Hunting Dogs
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M64 (NGC 4826, Black Eye Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Berenice's Hair
Image credit: NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI)
M65 (NGC 3623, Leo Triplet)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Lion
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M66 (NGC 3627, Leo Triplet)
a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Lion
Image credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration. Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin and Robert Gendler
M67 (NGC 2682)
an open star cluster in the constellation Cancer
Image credit: ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2, Davide De Martin
M68 (NGC 4590)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Sea Serpent
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M69 (NGC 6637)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Archer
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M70 (NGC 6681)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M71 (NGC 6838)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Arrow
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M72 (NGC 6981)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Water Carrier
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M73 (NGC 6994)
an asterism in the constellation Water Carrier
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M74 (NGC 628)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Fishes
Image credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).
M75 (NGC 6864)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Archer
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M76 (NGC 650, Little Dumbbell Nebula)
a planetary nebula in the constellation Perseus
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M77 (NGC 1068, Cetus A)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Whale
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M78 (NGC 2068)
a reflection nebula in the constellation Orion
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M79 (NGC 1904)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Hare
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M80 (NGC 6093)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Scorpion
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M81 (NGC 3031, Bode's Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Great Bear
Image credit: NASA, ESA, A. Zezas (CfA), and A. Filippenko (UC Berkeley)
Acknowledgment: Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA) & O. Fox (University of California, Berkeley)
M82 (NGC 3034, Cigar Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Great Bear
Image credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team STScI/AURA). Acknowledgment: J. Gallagher (University of Wisconsin), M. Mountain (STScI) and P. Puxley (NSF).
M83 (NGC 5236, Southern Pinwheel Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Sea Serpent
Image credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Acknowledgement: William Blair (Johns Hopkins University)
M84 (NGC 4374)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Virgin
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M85 (NGC 4382)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Berenice's Hair
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M86 (NGC 4406)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Virgin
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M87 (NGC 4486, Virgo A)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Virgin
Image credit: NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA).
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M88 (NGC 4501)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Berenice's Hair
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M89 (NGC 4552)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Virgin
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M90 (NGC 4569)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgin
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M91 (NGC 4548)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Berenice's Hair
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M92 (NGC 6341)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Hercules
Image credit: Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter/University of Arizona
M93 (NGC 2447)
an open star cluster in the constellation Poop Deck
Image credit: Sergio Eguivar
M94 (NGC 4736)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Hunting Dogs
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M95 (NGC 3351)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Lion
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA
M96 (NGC 3368)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Lion
Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA and the LEGUS Team
M97 (NGC 3587, Owl Nebula)
a planetary nebula in the constellation Great Bear
Image credit: NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
M98 (NGC 4192)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Berenice's Hair
Image credit: ESO, Flickr user jbarring
M99 (NGC 4254)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Berenice's Hair
Image credit: ESO
M100 (NGC 4321)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Berenice's Hair
Image credit: ESO
M101 (NGC 5457, Pinwheel Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Great Bear
Image credit: European Space Agency & NASA
M102 (NGC 5866)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Dragon
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M103 (NGC 581)
an open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia
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M104 (NGC 4594, Sombrero Galaxy)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgin
Image credit: NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team STScI/AURA)
M105 (NGC 3379)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Lion
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M106 (NGC 4258)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Hunting Dogs
Image credit: NASA, ESA, the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA), and R. Gendler (for the Hubble Heritage Team). Acknowledgment: J. GaBany
M107 (NGC 6171)
a globular star cluster in the constellation Snake Holder
Image credit: ESO/ESO Imaging Survey
M108 (NGC 3556)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Great Bear
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M109 (NGC 3992)
a spiral galaxy in the constellation Great Bear
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M110 (NGC 205)
an elliptic galaxy in the constellation Andromeda
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