IMAGES of the MESSIER OBJECTS
by members of the Wells & Mendip Astronomers
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.
Contributors:
Hugh Allen (200mm Meade LX90 telescope, Meade DSI II colour camera. Spectra: Alpy 600 spectroscope and Atik 314L camera)
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
Pete Richardson (William Optics ZS80mm APO telescope, QSI683WSG camera)
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)
Send contributions to: allenhugh10@gmail.com
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M1 Crab Nebula (supernova remnant, distance approx. 6500 ly) |
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M2 Globular cluster (distance 55000 ly) |
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M3 Globular cluster (distance 33900 ly) |
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M4 Globular cluster (distance 7200 ly) |
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M5 Globular cluster (distance 24500 ly) |
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M6 The Butterfly Cluster (open cluster, distance 1590 ly) |
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M7 Open cluster (distance 980 ly) |
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M8 Lagoon Nebula (star forming region, distance 4100 ly) |
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M9 Globular cluster (distance 25800 ly) |
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M10 Globular cluster (distance 14300 ly) |
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M11 Wild Duck Cluster (open cluster, distance 6120 ly) |
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M12 Globular cluster (distance 15700 ly) |
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M13 Hercules Globular Cluster (distance 22200 ly) |
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M14 Globlar cluster (distance 30300 ly) |
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M15 Globular cluster (distance 33000 ly) |
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M16
Eagle Nebula (open cluster and star forming region, distance 5700 ly) |
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M17 Swan Nebula (star forming region, distance approx. 5500 ly) |
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M18 Open cluster (distance 4230 ly) |
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M19 Globular cluster (distance 28700 ly) |
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M20 Triffid Nebula (star forming region, distance 4100 ly) |
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M21 Open cluster (distance 3930 ly) |
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M22 Globular cluster (distance 10600 ly) |
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M23 Open cluster (distance 2050 ly) |
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M24 Sagittarius Star Cloud (distance approx. 10000 ly) |
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M25 Open cluster (distance 2000 ly) |
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M26 Open cluster (distance 5160 ly) |
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M27 Dumbbell Planetary Nebula (distance approx. 1300 ly) |
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M28 Globular cluster (distance 17900 ly) |
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M29 Open cluster (distance 3740 ly) |
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M30 Globular cluster (distance 27100 ly) |
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M31 Andromeda Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 2.54 Mly) |
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M32 Dwarf Galaxy (Andromeda satellite, distance 2.49 Mly) |
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M33 Triangulum Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 2.73 Mly) |
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M34 Open cluster (distance 1500 ly) |
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M35 Open cluster (distance 3870 ly) |
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M36 Open cluster (distance 4340 ly) |
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M37 Open cluster (distance 4511 ly) |
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M38 Open cluster (distance 3480 ly) |
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M39 Open cluster (distance 1010 ly) |
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M40 Double star (optical double star, distance A = 1140ly and B = 460 ly |
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M41 Open cluster (distance 2300 ly) |
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M42 Orion Nebula (diffuse nebula and star forming region, distance 1344 ly) |
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M43 Star-forming nebula (above Orion Nebula, distance 1600 ly) |
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M44 Beehive Cluster (open cluster, distance 577 ly) |
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M45 The Pleiades (open cluster, distance 444 ly) |
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M46 Open cluster (distance 4920 ly) |
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M47 Open cluster (distance 1600 ly) |
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M48 Open cluster (distance 2500 ly) |
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M49
Elliptical galaxy (distance 56 Mly) |
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M50 Open cluster (distance 2870 ly) |
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M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy (interacting spiral galaxy, distance 23 Mly) |
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M52 Open cluster (distance 4600 ly) |
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M53 Globular cluster (distance 58000 ly) |
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M54 Globular cluster (distance 87400 ly) |
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M55 Globu;ar cluster (distance 17600 ly) |
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M56 Globular cluster (distance 32900 ly) |
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M57 The Ring Nebula (planetary nebula, distance 2570 ly) |
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M58 Spiral galaxy (distance 62 Mly) |
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M59 Elliptical galaxy (distance 50 Mly) |
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M60 Elliptical galaxy (distance 57 Mly) |
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M61 Spiral galaxy (distance 53 Mly) |
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M62 Globular cluster (distance 22200 ly) |
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M63 The Sunflower Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 29 Mly) |
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M64 The Blackeye Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 17.3 Mly) |
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M65 Spiral galaxy (distance 35 Mly) |
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M66 Spiral galaxy (distance 31 Mly) |
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M67 Open cluster (distance approx. 2750 ly) |
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M68 Globular cluster (distance 33000 ly) |
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M69 Globular cluster (distance 28700 ly) |
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M70 Globular cluster (distance 29400 ly) |
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M71 Globular cluster (distance 12000 ly) |
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M72 Globular cluster (distance 55000 ly) |
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M73 Sparse asterism (distance to individual stars 820 - 3300 ly) |
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M74 Spiral galaxy (distance 32 Mly) |
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M75 Globular cluster (distance 67500 ly) |
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M76 The Little Dumbbell Nebula (planetary nebula, distance 2500 ly) |
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M77 Spiral galaxy (distance 47 Mly) |
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M78 Reflection nebula (distance 1350 ly) |
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M79 Globular cluster (distance 42000 ly) |
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M80 Globular cluster (distance 32600 ly) |
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M81 Bode's Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 12 Mly) |
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M82 The Cigar Galaxy (starburst galaxy, distance 12 Mly) |
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M83 The Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 15 Mly) |
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M84 Elliptical galaxy (distance 55 Mly) |
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M85 Lenticular galaxy (distance 60 Mly) |
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M86 Elliptical galaxy (distance 52 Mly) |
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M87 Elliptical galaxy (distance 53 Mly. Central black hole recently imaged) |
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M88 Spiral galaxy (distance 55 Mly) |
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M89 Elliptical galaxy (distance 50 Mly) |
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M90 Spiral galaxy (distance 60 Mly) |
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M91 Spiral galaxy (distance 63 Mly) |
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M92 Globular cluster (distance 26700 ly) |
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M93 Open cluster (distance 3380 ly) |
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M94 Spiral galaxy (distance 16 Mly) |
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M95 Spiral galaxy (distance 33 Mly) |
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M96 Spiral galaxy (distance 31 Mly) |
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M97 The Owl Nebula (planetary nebula, distance 2000 ly) |
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M98 Spiral galaxy (distance 44 Mly) |
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M99 Spiral galaxy (distance 49 Mly) |
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M100 Spiral galaxy (distance 55 Mly) |
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M101 The Pinwheel Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 21 Mly) |
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M102 The Spindle Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 50 Mly) |
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M103 Open cluster (distance approx. 8500 ly) |
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M104 The Sombrero Galaxy (spiral galaxy, distance 31 Mly) |
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M105 Elliptical galaxy (distance 37 Mly) |
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M106 Spiral galaxy (distance 24 Mly) |
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M107 Globular cluster (distance 20900 ly) |
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M108 Spiral galaxy (distance 46 Mly) |
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M109 Spiral galaxy (distance approx. 84 Mly) |
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M110 Dwarf elliptical galaxy (Andromeda satellite galaxy, distance 2.7 Mly) |
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