Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M34 (NGC 1039) Open Cluster 02h 42m 05s +42° 45′ 14″ Persius +5.2 35.0 arcmin Overview M34 was discovered by Charles Messier and included in his infamous catalog in 1764, although we have good reason to believe that the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna actually made note …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M78 (NGC 2068) Bright Nebula 05h 46m 42s 00° 03′ 00″ Orion +8.30 8.0 x 6.0 arcmin Overview We’ve probably all seen M42 and M43, the most famous of all the night sky’s nebulae, surrounding Orion’s belt. This nebula is still a part of Orion, but is …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M91 (NGC 4548) Barred Spiral Galaxy 12h 35m 27s +14° 29′ 46″ Coma Berenices +10.0 5.5×4.5 arcmin Overview This barred spiral galaxy was discovered M91 but shrouded it in mystery when he recorded its coordinates incorrectly in his notes. Suggestions for the ‘real’ M91 have included a …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M98 (NGC 4192) Spiral Galaxy 12h 13m 48s +14° 54′ 00″ Comma Berenices +9.93 11.0×2.7 arcmin Overview Pierre Méchain discovered M98 at about the same time as he discovered M99 and M100, in 1781. It was not long after that Messier found them for himself and added …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M99 (NGC 4254) Spiral Galaxy 14h 25m 00s +19° 40′ 01″ Coma Berenices +9.72 5.0×4.7 arcmins Overview This galaxy lies in the small constellation of Coma Berenices but is actually a member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, which includes 15 other galaxies in the Messier catalog. …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M100 (NGC 4321) Spiral Galaxy 12h 22m 55s +15° 49′ 20″ Coma Berenices +9.30 6.1×5.6 arcmins Overview This face-on galaxy in Coma Berenices is the brightest galaxy in the Virgo Cluster. The image below reveal spectacular detail, such as the red glow of hydrogen gas being illuminated …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M87 (NGC 4486) Elliptical Galaxy 12h 30m 50s +12° 23′ 26″ Virgo +8.67 7.1×6.7 arcmin Overview This is both the largest and brightest member of the Virgo-Coma Supercluster of galaxies. M87 is an elliptical galaxy – no swirling arms here – shining brighter than magnitude 9. It’s …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M61 (NGC 4303) Spiral Galaxy 12h 21m 23s +04° 28′ 26″ Virgo +9.52 6.9×6.6 arcmin Overview One of the largest members of the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, M61 was discovered by Barnabus Oriani in May 1779 while observing a comet. Coincidentally, Messier also spied the galaxy on …
Target Type R. A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M53 (NGC 5024) Globular Cluster 13h 12m 55s +18° 10′ 05″ Coma Berenices 7.6 13.0 arcmins Overview This globular cluster is easily accessible in small telescopes and binoculars. Its brightness comes from the 220 light-years wide grouping of stars that shine with the brightness of 200,000 suns. …
Target Type R.A. Dec. Constellation Magnitude Size M58 (NGC 4579) Spiral Galaxy 12h 37m 44s +11° 49′ 05″ Virgo 9.53 5.0×3.8 arcmin Overview With a similar mass to our own Milky Way, this is one of the most prominent galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. Discovered in April 1779 by Charles Messier, on the same day …
