Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M30(NGC 7099) Globular Cluster 21h 40m 22s -23° 10′ 48″ Capricornus +7.19 12.0 arcmin Overview Charles Messier discovered this cluster in August 1764, believing it to be a round nebula with no stars. Almost twenty years later, in 1783, William Herschel resolved its stars, seeing it as …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M71 (NGC 6838) Globular Cluster 19h 53m 47s +18° 46′ 45″ Sagitta +8.18 3.3 arcmin Overview When is an open cluster not an open cluster? When it’s a globular cluster! M71 caused consternation once upon a time when astronomers couldn’t agree whether it was a loose globular …
Target Type R.A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M74 (NGC 628) Spiral Galaxy 01h 36m 42s +15° 47′ 00″ Pisces 9.03 9.9 x 9.3 arcmin Overview M74 presents the archetypal image of a galaxy. When I conjure a picture of a galaxy in my mind, something very like the face-on image of M74 is what I …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M14 (NGC 6402) Globular Cluster 17h 37m 36s -03° 14′ 45″ Ophiuchus 7.59 11.0 arcmins Overview Contrary to what it’s statistics suggest, M14 turns in a pleasing view at the telescope. It is not visible to the naked eye (but is readily found with binoculars), is relatively …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M28 (NGC 6626) Globular Cluster 18h 24m 33s -24° 52′ 11″ Sagittarius +6.8 13.8 arcmin Overview M28 is a gem of a cluster that’s easy to overlook in favor of the nearby, larger M22. But it shouldn’t be passed by because it is a treat. Messier discovered …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M54 (NGC 6715) Globular Cluster 18h 55m 03s -30° 28′ 48″ Sagittarius +7.6 12.0 arcmin Overview This glorious cluster was discovered by Charles Messier in July 17798 and is the most distant of all his globulars. It also hold the distinction of being the second most massive …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M26 (NGC 6694) Open Cluster 18h 45m 18s -09° 23′ 00″ Scutum +8.0 7.0 arcmins Overview Scutum’s most famous Messier sight is probably the Wild Duck Cluster, M11. It too is an open cluster that presents a splendid visual experience. M26 is the calmer, gentler sibling of …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M56 (NGC 6779) Globular Cluster 19h 16m 26s +30° 11′ 01″ Lyra +8.27 8.8 arcmins Overview Lyra’s most famous Messier object, indeed, one of the most famous of them all, is the Ring Nebula, M57. You can find our guide to seeing that here. This cluster, which …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitudes Size M75(NGC 6864) Globular Cluster 20h 06m 05s -21° 55′ 16″ Sagittarius +8.52 6.8 arcmin Overview M75 suffers from being one of the fainter Messier clusters and from never rising very high in the sky from northern latitudes. As such, many of us miss its beauty, captured in …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M12 (NGC 6218) Globular Cluster 16h 47m 18s -01° 56′ 55″ Ophiuchus +6.69 16.0 arcmin Overview There are many globular clusters in the constellation of Ophiuchus, and we’ve previously provided guides on seeing M9, M10, and M19 (go to the Messier Objects section to find them – …
