This table describes Messier Objects and when we first observed them, as described in our Astroblog. The data are adapted from the SEDS Messier Objects page.
| Messier Number | Date First Observed by Us | Location When First Observed | Mag. | App. Size (min.) | Type | Constellation | Common Name(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 | 9 | 6 | supernova remnant | Taurus | Crab Nebula | ||
| M2 | 7.5 | 12.9 | globular cluster | Aquarius | |||
| M3 | 7 | 16.2 | globular cluster | Canes Venatici | |||
| M4 | 7.5 | 26.3 | globular cluster | Scorpius | |||
| M5 | 7 | 17.4 | globular cluster | Serpens | |||
| M6 | 4.5 | 15 | open cluster | Scorpius | Butterfly Cluster | ||
| M7 | 3.5 | 80 | open cluster | Scorpius | Ptolemy's Cluster | ||
| M8 | 5 | 60 | cluster with nebula | Sagittarius | Lagoon Nebula | ||
| M9 | 9 | 9.3 | globular cluster | Ophiuchus | |||
| M10 | 7.5 | 15.1 | globular cluster | Ophiuchus | |||
| M11 | 17 Sept. 2004 | front yard (Indiana) | 7 | 14 | open cluster | Scutum | Wild Duck Cluster |
| M12 | 8 | 14.5 | globular cluster | Ophiuchus | |||
| M13 | 22 Aug. 2003 | Adirondacks | 7 | 16.6 | globular cluster | Hercules | Hercules Cluster |
| M14 | 9.5 | 11.7 | globular cluster | Ophiuchus | |||
| M15 | 7.5 | 12.3 | globular cluster | Pegasus | |||
| M16 | 6.5 | 7 | cluster with nebula | Serpens | assoc with Eagle Nebula, Star Queen Nebula | ||
| M17 | 7 | 11 | cluster with nebula | Sagittarius | Omega Nebula, Swan Nebula, Lobster Nebula | ||
| M18 | 8 | 9 | open cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M19 | 8.5 | 13.5 | globular cluster | Ophiuchus | |||
| M20 | 5 | 28 | cluster with nebula | Sagittarius | Trifid Nebula | ||
| M21 | 7 | 13 | open cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M22 | 6.5 | 24 | globular cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M23 | 6 | 27 | open cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M24 | 11.5 | 5 | Milky Way patch | Sagittarius | Delle Caustiche | ||
| M25 | 4.9 | 40 | open cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M26 | 9.5 | 15 | open cluster | Scutum | |||
| M27 | 17 Sep. 2003 | back yard (Rochester) | 7.5 | 8 | planetary nebula | Vulpecula | Dumbbell Nebula |
| M28 | 8.5 | 11.2 | globular cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M29 | 17 Sep. 2003 | back yard (Rochester) | 9 | 7 | open cluster | Cygnus | |
| M30 | 8.5 | 11 | globular cluster | Capricornus | |||
| M31 | 28 Aug. 2003 | back yard (Rochester) | 4.5 | 178 | galaxy | Andromeda | Andromeda Galaxy |
| M32 | 20 Nov. 2003 | Durand-Eastman Park (Rochester) | 10 | 8 | galaxy | Andromeda | |
| M33 | 7 | 73 | galaxy | Triangulum | Triangulum Galaxy | ||
| M34 | 20 Nov. 2003 | Durand-Eastman Park (Rochester) | 6 | 35 | open cluster | Perseus | |
| M35 | 26 Dec. 2003 | back yard (Rochester) | 5.5 | 28 | open cluster | Gemini | |
| M36 | 29 Nov. 2003 | Western Maryland | 6.5 | 12 | open cluster | Auriga | |
| M37 | 29 Nov. 2003 | Western Maryland | 6 | 24 | open cluster | Auriga | |
| M38 | 29 Nov. 2003 | Western Maryland | 7 | 21 | open cluster | Auriga | |
| M39 | 5.5 | 32 | open cluster | Cygnus | |||
| M40 | 9 | 0.8 | double star | Ursa Major | WNC4 | ||
| M41 | 5 | 38 | open cluster | Canis Major | |||
| M42 | 20 Nov. 2003 | Durand-Eastman Park (Rochester) | 5 | 85 | diffuse nebula | Orion | Orion Nebula |
| M43 | 26 Dec. 2003 | back yard (Rochester) | 7 | 20 | diffuse nebula | Orion | de Mairan's nebula; part of Orion Nebula |
| M44 | 16 Feb. 2004 | back yard (Rochester) | 4 | 95 | open cluster | Cancer | Praesepe, Beehive Cluster |
| M45 | 8 Nov. 2003 | back yard (Rochester) | 1.4 | 110 | open cluster | Taurus | Subaru, Pleiades, Seven Sisters |
| M46 | 6.5 | 27 | open cluster | Puppis | |||
| M47 | 4.5 | 30 | open cluster | Puppis | |||
| M48 | 5.5 | 54 | open cluster | Hydra | |||
| M49 | 10 | 9 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M50 | 24 Feb. 2004 | back yard (Rochester) | 7 | 16 | open cluster | Monoceros | |
| M51 | 8 | 11 | galaxy | Canes Venatici | Whirlpool Galaxy | ||
| M52 | 8 | 13 | open cluster | Cassiopeia | |||
| M53 | 8.5 | 12.6 | globular cluster | Coma Berenices | |||
| M54 | 8.5 | 9.1 | globular cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M55 | 7 | 19 | globular cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M56 | 9.5 | 7.1 | globular cluster | Lyra | |||
| M57 | 20 Sep. 2003 | back yard (Rochester) | 9.5 | 1.4 | planetary nebula | Lyra | Ring Nebula |
| M58 | 11 | 5.5 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M59 | 11.5 | 5 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M60 | 10.5 | 7 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M61 | 10.5 | 6 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M62 | 8 | 14.1 | globular cluster | Ophiuchus | |||
| M63 | 8.5 | 10 | galaxy | Canes Venatici | Sunflower Galaxy | ||
| N64 | 9 | 9.3 | galaxy | Coma Berenices | Blackeye Galaxy | ||
| M65 | 10.5 | 8 | galaxy | Leo | |||
| M66 | 10 | 8 | galaxy | Leo | |||
| M67 | 7.5 | 30 | open cluster | Cancer | |||
| M68 | 9 | 12 | globular cluster | Hydra | |||
| M69 | 9 | 7.1 | globular cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M70 | 9 | 7.8 | globular cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M71 | 8.5 | 7.2 | globular cluster | Sagitta | |||
| M72 | 10 | 5.9 | globular cluster | Aquarius | |||
| M73 | 9 | 2.8 | open cluster or asterism | Aquarius | |||
| M74 | 10.5 | 10.2 | galaxy | Pisces | |||
| M75 | 9.5 | 6 | globular cluster | Sagittarius | |||
| M76 | 12 | 2.7 | planetary nebula | Perseus | Little Dumbbell Nebula, Cork Nebula | ||
| M77 | 10.5 | 7 | galaxy | Cetus | |||
| M78 | 8 | 8 | diffuse nebula | Orion | |||
| M79 | 8.5 | 8.7 | globular cluster | Lepus | |||
| M80 | 8.5 | 8.9 | globular cluster | Scorpius | |||
| M81 | 8.5 | 21 | galaxy | Ursa Major | Bode's Galaxy | ||
| M82 | 9.5 | 9 | galaxy | Ursa Major | Cigar Galaxy | ||
| M83 | 8.5 | 11 | galaxy | Hydra | Southern Pinwheel Galaxy | ||
| M84 | 11 | 5 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M85 | 10.5 | 7.1 | galaxy | Coma Berenices | |||
| M86 | 11 | 7.5 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M87 | 11 | 7 | galaxy | Virgo | Virgo A | ||
| M88 | 11 | 7 | galaxy | Coma Berenices | |||
| M89 | 11.5 | 4 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M90 | 11 | 9.5 | galaxy | Virgo | |||
| M91 | 11.5 | 5.4 | galaxy | Coma Berenices | |||
| M92 | 7.5 | 11.2 | globular cluster | Hercules | |||
| M93 | 6.5 | 22 | open cluster | Puppis | |||
| M94 | 9.5 | 7 | galaxy | Canes Venatici | |||
| M95 | 11 | 4.4 | galaxy | Leo | |||
| M96 | 10.5 | 6 | galaxy | Leo | |||
| M97 | 12 | 3.4 | planetary nebula | Ursa Major | Owl Nebula | ||
| M98 | 11 | 9.5 | galaxy | Coma Berenices | |||
| M99 | 10.5 | 5.4 | galaxy | Coma Berenices | |||
| M100 | 10.5 | 7 | galaxy | Coma Berenices | |||
| M101 | 8.5 | 22 | galaxy | Ursa Major | Pinwheel Galaxy | ||
| M102 | 10.5 | 5.2 | galaxy | Draco | Spindle Galaxy | ||
| M103 | 7 | 6 | open cluster | Cassiopeia | |||
| M104 | 9.5 | 9 | galaxy | Virgo | Sombrero Galaxy | ||
| M105 | 11 | 2 | galaxy | Leo | |||
| M106 | 9.5 | 19 | galaxy | Canes Venatici | |||
| M107 | 10 | 10 | globular cluster | Ophiuchus | |||
| M108 | 11 | 8 | galaxy | Ursa Major | |||
| M109 | 11 | 7 | galaxy | Ursa Major | |||
| M110 | 10 | 17 | galaxy | Andromeda |
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