Charles Messier was a French astronomer, observing from the Hôtel de Cluny in Paris during the second half of the 18th century. Together with his friend and assistant Pierre Méchain, he catalogued for the first time a number of nebulae and faint star clusters. We'll let Messier himself explain:
"What caused me to undertake the catalog was the nebula I discovered above the southern horn of Taurus on September 12, 1758 [what we now know as M1 The Crab Nebula], while observing the comet of that year. ... This nebula had such a resemblance to a comet in its form and brightness that I endeavored to find others, so that astronomers would not confuse these same nebulae with comets just beginning to shine. I observed further with suitable refractors for the discovery of comets, and this is the purpose I had in mind in compiling the catalog." Charles Messier, Connaissance des Tems, 1800/1801
Messier discovered 13 comets including the Great Comet of 1771. The nebulae and star clusters that he wanted to avoid have become known as the Messier Objects of which 110 were eventually listed. They are all relatively bright which makes them ideal targets for amateur telescopes and binoculars. In the second half of March each year, it is just possible for southerly UK observers to catch sight of almost all 110 objects during a single night's observing from dusk to dawn - the so-called Messier Marathon.
"What caused me to undertake the catalog was the nebula I discovered above the southern horn of Taurus on September 12, 1758 [what we now know as M1 The Crab Nebula], while observing the comet of that year. ... This nebula had such a resemblance to a comet in its form and brightness that I endeavored to find others, so that astronomers would not confuse these same nebulae with comets just beginning to shine. I observed further with suitable refractors for the discovery of comets, and this is the purpose I had in mind in compiling the catalog." Charles Messier, Connaissance des Tems, 1800/1801
Messier discovered 13 comets including the Great Comet of 1771. The nebulae and star clusters that he wanted to avoid have become known as the Messier Objects of which 110 were eventually listed. They are all relatively bright which makes them ideal targets for amateur telescopes and binoculars. In the second half of March each year, it is just possible for southerly UK observers to catch sight of almost all 110 objects during a single night's observing from dusk to dawn - the so-called Messier Marathon.
Thank you to all our member contributions, see the details at the bottom of the page. Send contributions to: [email protected]
|
M1
Crab Nebula (supernova remnant, distance approx. 6500 ly) |
|
M2
Globular cluster (distance 55000 ly) |
|
M3 Globular cluster (distance 33900 ly) |
|
M4
Globular cluster (distance 7200 ly) |
|
M5 Globular cluster (distance 24500 ly)
|
|
M6
The Butterfly Cluster (open cluster, distance 1590 ly) |
|
M7
Open cluster (distance 980 ly) |
|
M8
Lagoon Nebula (star forming region, distance 4100 ly) |
|
M9
Globular cluster (distance 25800 ly) |
|
M10
Globular cluster (distance 14300 ly) |
|
M11
Wild Duck Cluster (open cluster, distance 6120 ly) |
|
M12
Globular cluster (distance 15700 ly) |
|
M13
Hercules Globular Cluster (distance 22200 ly) |
|
M14
Globlar cluster (distance 30300 ly) |
|
M15
Globular cluster (distance 33000 ly) |
|
M16
Eagle Nebula (open cluster and star forming region, distance 5700 ly) |
|
M17
Swan Nebula (star forming region, distance approx. 5500 ly) |
|
M18
Open cluster (distance 4230 ly) |
|
M19
Globular cluster (distance 28700 ly) |
|
M20
Triffid Nebula (star forming region, distance 4100 ly) |
|
M21
Open cluster (distance 3930 ly) |
|
M22 Globular cluster (distance 10600 ly)
|
|
M23
Open cluster (distance 2050 ly) |
|
M24
Sagittarius Star Cloud (distance approx. 10000 ly) |
|
M25
Open cluster (distance 2000 ly) |
|
M26
Open cluster (distance 5160 ly) |
|
M27 Dumbbell Planetary Nebula (distance approx. 1300 ly)
|
|
M28
Globular cluster (distance 17900 ly) |
|
M29
Open cluster (distance 3740 ly) |
|
M30
Globular cluster (distance 27100 ly) |
|
M31
Andromeda Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 2.54 Mly) |
|
M32
Dwarf Galaxy (Andromeda satellite, distance 2.49 Mly) |
|
M33
Triangulum Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 2.73 Mly) |
|
M34
Open cluster (distance 1500 ly) |
|
M35
Open cluster (distance 3870 ly) |
|
M36
Open cluster (distance 4340 ly) |
|
M37
Open cluster (distance 4511 ly) |
|
M38
Open cluster (distance 3480 ly) |
|
M39
Open cluster (distance 1010 ly) |
|
M40
Double star optical double A = 1140ly B = 460 ly |
|
M41
Open cluster (distance 2300 ly) |
|
M42
Orion Nebula (diffuse nebula and star forming region, distance 1344 ly) |
|
M43
Star-forming nebula (above Orion Nebula, distance 1600 ly) |
|
M44
Beehive Cluster (open cluster, distance 577 ly) |
|
M45
The Pleiades (open cluster, distance 444 ly) |
|
M46
Open cluster (distance 4920 ly) |
|
M47
Open cluster (distance 1600 ly) |
|
M48
Open cluster (distance 2500 ly) |
|
M49
Elliptical galaxy (distance 56 Mly) |
|
M50
Open cluster (distance 2870 ly) |
|
M51
The Whirlpool Galaxy (interacting spiral galaxy, distance 23 Mly) |
|
M52
Open cluster (distance 4600 ly) |
|
M53
Globular cluster (distance 58000 ly) |
|
M54
Globular cluster (distance 87400 ly) |
|
M55
Globular cluster (distance 17600 ly) |
|
M56
Globular cluster (distance 32900 ly) |
|
M57
The Ring Nebula (planetary nebula, distance 2570 ly) |
|
M58
Spiral galaxy (distance 62 Mly) |
|
M59
Elliptical galaxy (distance 50 Mly) |
|
M60
Elliptical galaxy (distance 57 Mly) |
 |
M61
Spiral galaxy (distance 53 Mly) |
|
M62
Globular cluster (distance 22200 ly) |
|
M63
The Sunflower Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 29 Mly) |
|
M64
The Blackeye Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 17.3 Mly) |
|
M65
Spiral galaxy (distance 35 Mly) |
|
M66
Spiral galaxy (distance 31 Mly) |
|
M67
Open cluster (distance approx. 2750 ly) |
|
M68
Globular cluster (distance 33000 ly) |
|
M69
Globular cluster (distance 28700 ly) |
|
M70
Globular cluster (distance 29400 ly) |
|
M71
Globular cluster (distance 12000 ly) |
|
M72
Globular cluster (distance 55000 ly) |
|
M73
Sparse asterism (distance to individual stars 820 - 3300 ly) |
|
M74
Spiral galaxy (distance 32 Mly) |
|
M75
Globular cluster (distance 67500 ly) |
|
M76
The Little Dumbbell Nebula (planetary nebula, distance 2500 ly) |
|
M77
Spiral galaxy (distance 47 Mly) |
|
M78
Reflection nebula (distance 1350 ly) |
|
M79
Globular cluster (distance 42000 ly) |
|
M80
Globular cluster (distance 32600 ly) |
|
M81
Bode's Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 12 Mly) |
|
M82
The Cigar Galaxy (starburst galaxy, distance 12 Mly) |
|
M83
The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 15 Mly) |
|
M84
Elliptical galaxy (distance 55 Mly) |
|
M85
Lenticular galaxy (distance 60 Mly) |
|
M86
Elliptical galaxy (distance 52 Mly) |
|
M87
Elliptical galaxy (distance 53 Mly. Central black hole recently imaged) |
|
M88
Spiral galaxy (distance 55 Mly) |
|
M89
Elliptical galaxy (distance 50 Mly) |
|
M90
Spiral galaxy (distance 60 Mly) |
|
M91
Spiral galaxy (distance 63 Mly) |
|
M92
Globular cluster (distance 26700 ly) |
|
M93
Open cluster (distance 3380 ly) |
|
M94
Spiral galaxy (distance 16 Mly) |
|
M95
Spiral galaxy (distance 33 Mly) |
|
M96
Spiral galaxy (distance 31 Mly) |
|
M97
The Owl Nebula (planetary nebula, distance 2000 ly) |
|
M98
Spiral galaxy (distance 44 Mly) |
|
M99
Spiral galaxy (distance 49 Mly) |
|
M100
Spiral galaxy (distance 55 Mly) |
|
M101
The Pinwheel Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 21 Mly) |
|
M102
The Spindle Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 50 Mly) |
|
M103
Open cluster (distance approx. 8500 ly) |
|
M104
The Sombrero Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 31 Mly) |
|
M105
Elliptical galaxy (distance 37 Mly) |
|
M106
Spiral galaxy (distance 24 Mly) |
|
M107
Globular cluster (distance 20900 ly) |
|
M108
Spiral galaxy (distance 46 Mly) |
|
M109
Spiral galaxy (distance approx. 84 Mly) |
|
M110
Dwarf elliptical galaxy (Andromeda satellite galaxy, distance 2.7 Mly) |
|
Hugh Allen (200mm Meade LX90 telescope, Meade DSI II colour camera. Spectra: Alpy 600 spectroscope and Atik 314L camera)
Simon Holbeche (Seestar S50)
Andy Hook (William Optics 73mm Zenistar telescope, Canon 7D camera. Also Seestar S50)
Richard Hook (100mm Skywatcher Esprit telescope, Nikon D3200 camera)
Ian Humphreys (Televue NP101mm and 405mm Orion Optics telescopes, Canon 1100D and Atik 11000 Mono (LRGB filters) cameras
Nick Perkins (William Optics RedCat51 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor, ZWO ASI1600MM Pro camera + 7nm Narrowband Filters)
Steve Plenty (Revelations 10 telescope, eyepiece sketching)
Pete Richardson (William Optics ZS80mm APO telescope, QSI683WSG camera)
Graham Roberts (William Optics GT81 telescope, ZWO ASI294MM camera)
Simon Toogood (Home: 5'' Celestron NexStar 127SLT and a Canon EOS 2000D, Leicester University: CDK20, Moravian Mono G3CCD)
Fred and Ed Vanner (Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 Pro or Esprit 80ED Pro telescope, ZWO ASI183MC or MM camera)
John Witchell (10" Meade LX200 Classic telescope and Canon EOS 1000D camera)
Simon Holbeche (Seestar S50)
Andy Hook (William Optics 73mm Zenistar telescope, Canon 7D camera. Also Seestar S50)
Richard Hook (100mm Skywatcher Esprit telescope, Nikon D3200 camera)
Ian Humphreys (Televue NP101mm and 405mm Orion Optics telescopes, Canon 1100D and Atik 11000 Mono (LRGB filters) cameras
Nick Perkins (William Optics RedCat51 Triplet Apochromatic Refractor, ZWO ASI1600MM Pro camera + 7nm Narrowband Filters)
Steve Plenty (Revelations 10 telescope, eyepiece sketching)
Pete Richardson (William Optics ZS80mm APO telescope, QSI683WSG camera)
Graham Roberts (William Optics GT81 telescope, ZWO ASI294MM camera)
Simon Toogood (Home: 5'' Celestron NexStar 127SLT and a Canon EOS 2000D, Leicester University: CDK20, Moravian Mono G3CCD)
Fred and Ed Vanner (Sky-Watcher Skymax 150 Pro or Esprit 80ED Pro telescope, ZWO ASI183MC or MM camera)
John Witchell (10" Meade LX200 Classic telescope and Canon EOS 1000D camera)
Would you like to become a member?
If you are interested in becoming a member of Wells & Mendip Astronomers or wish to renew your membership,
please follow this link
please follow this link