Messier Objects by Apparent Visual Magnitude

Messier Object Data, sorted by Apparent Visual Magnitude

Here we present the Messier catalog in the order of decreasing visual magnitude; this should roughly coincide with difficulty. Note, many of the magnitudes are not very well determined, so this order should be taken with the appropriate care.

Type:: 1=Open Cluster, 2=Globular Cluster, 3=Planetary Nebula, 4=Starforming Nebula (with open cluster), 5=Spiral Galaxy, 6=Elliptical Galaxy, 7=Irregular Galaxy, 8=Lenticular (S0) Galaxy, 9=Supernova Remnant, A=System of 4 stars or Asterism, B=Milky Way Patch, C=Binary star.
ra=: right ascension in hours minutes.decimal seconds
dec=: declination in degrees minutes
B=: apparent visual magnitude
D=: appparent (angular) dimension in arc minutes
d=: distance in kilo-light-years


Link  M#   NGC# Con Type  ra    dec   B      D          d

 M45  045  0000 Tau 1 03 47.0 +24 07  1.6  110.0        0.38   
 M31  031   224 And 5 00 42.7 +41 16  3.4  178x63    2900      
 M44  044  2632 Cnc 1 08 40.1 +19 59  3.7   95.0        0.577  
 M42  042  1976 Ori 4 05 35.4 -05 27  4.0   85x60       1.6    
  M7  007  6475 Sco 1 17 53.9 -34 49  4.1   80.0        0.8    
  M6  006  6405 Sco 1 17 40.1 -32 13  4.2   25.0        1.6    
 M24  024 >6603 Sgr B 18 16.9 -18 29  4.6   90         10     
 M41  041  2287 CMa 1 06 46.0 -20 44  4.6   38.0        2.3    
 M39  039  7092 Cyg 1 21 32.2 +48 26  4.6   32.0        0.825  
 M22  022  6656 Sgr 2 18 36.4 -23 54  5.1   24.0       10.4    
 M47  047  2422 Pup 1 07 36.6 -14 30  5.2   30.0        1.6    
 M35  035  2168 Gem 1 06 08.9 +24 20  5.3   28.0        2.8    
 M34  034  1039 Per 1 02 42.0 +42 47  5.5   35.0        1.4    
 M48  048  2548 Hya 1 08 13.8 -05 48  5.5   54.0        1.5    
  M4  004  6121 Sco 2 16 23.6 -26 32  5.6   26.3        7.2    
  M5  005  5904 Ser 2 15 18.6 +02 05  5.6   17.4       24.5    
 M33  033   598 Tri 5 01 33.9 +30 39  5.7   73x45    3000      
 M13  013  6205 Her 2 16 41.7 +36 28  5.8   16.6       25.1    
 M46  046  2437 Pup 1 07 41.8 -14 49  6.0   27.0        5.4    
 M93  093  2447 Pup 1 07 44.6 -23 52  6.0   22.0        3.6    
  M8  008  6523 Sgr 4 18 03.8 -24 23  6.0   90x40       5.2    
 M67  067  2682 Cnc 1 08 50.4 +11 49  6.1   30.0        2.7    
 M37  037  2099 Aur 1 05 52.4 +32 33  6.2   24.0        4.4    
  M3  003  5272 CVn 2 13 42.2 +28 23  6.2   16.2       33.9    
 M15  015  7078 Peg 2 21 30.0 +12 10  6.2   12.3       33.6    
 M36  036  1960 Aur 1 05 36.1 +34 08  6.3   12.0        4.1    
 M50  050  2323 Mon 1 07 03.2 -08 20  6.3   16.0        3      
 M11  011  6705 Sct 1 18 51.1 -06 16  6.3   14.0        6      
 M55  055  6809 Sgr 2 19 40.0 -30 58  6.3   19.0       17.6    
 M92  092  6341 Her 2 17 17.1 +43 08  6.4   11.2       26.7    
 M16  016  6611 Ser 1 18 18.8 -13 47  6.4    7.0        7      
 M21  021  6531 Sgr 1 18 04.6 -22 30  6.5   13.0        4.25   
 M25  025 I4725 Sgr 1 18 31.6 -19 15  6.5   40.0        2      
  M2  002  7089 Aqr 2 21 33.5 -00 49  6.5   12.9       37.5    
 M62  062  6266 Oph 2 17 01.2 -30 07  6.5   14.1       22.5    
 M10  010  6254 Oph 2 16 57.1 -04 06  6.6   15.1       14.4    
 M12  012  6218 Oph 2 16 47.2 -01 57  6.7   14.5       16.0    
 M19  019  6273 Oph 2 17 02.6 -26 16  6.8   13.5       28.4    
 M28  028  6626 Sgr 2 18 24.5 -24 52  6.8   11.2       18.6    
 M81  081  3031 UMa 5 09 55.6 +69 04  6.9   21x10   12000     
 M23  023  6494 Sgr 1 17 56.8 -19 01  6.9   27.0        2.15   
 M17  017  6618 Sgr 4 18 20.8 -16 11  7.0   11.0        5      
 M29  029  6913 Cyg 1 20 23.9 +38 32  7.1    7.0        4.0    
 M30  030  7099 Cap 2 21 40.4 -23 11  7.2   11.0       26.1    
 M80  080  6093 Sco 2 16 17.0 -22 59  7.3    8.9       32.6    
 M52  052  7654 Cas 1 23 24.2 +61 35  7.3   13.0        5.0   
M103  103   581 Cas 1 01 33.2 +60 42  7.4    6.0        8.5   
 M38  038  1912 Aur 1 05 28.4 +35 50  7.4   21.0        4.2    
 M27  027  6853 Vul 3 19 59.6 +22 43  7.4  8.0x5.7      1.25   
 M18  018  6613 Sgr 1 18 19.9 -17 08  7.5    9.0        4.9    
 M83  083  5236 Hya 5 13 37.0 -29 52  7.6   11x10   15000      
 M14  014  6402 Oph 2 17 37.6 -03 15  7.6   11.7       29.0    
 M54  054  6715 Sgr 2 18 55.1 -30 29  7.6    9.1       88.7    
 M53  053  5024 Com 2 13 12.9 +18 10  7.6   12.6       59.7    
 M69  069  6637 Sgr 2 18 31.4 -32 21  7.6    7.1       28.0    
  M9  009  6333 Oph 2 17 19.2 -18 31  7.7    9.3       26.7    
 M79  079  1904 Lep 2 05 24.5 -24 33  7.7    8.7       42.1    
 M68  068  4590 Hya 2 12 39.5 -26 45  7.8   12.0       33.3    
M101  101  5457 UMa 5 14 03.2 +54 21  7.9   22.0    27000      
 M70  070  6681 Sgr 2 18 43.2 -32 18  7.9    7.8       29.4    
M107  107  6171 Oph 2 16 32.5 -13 03  7.9   10.0       20.9    
M104  104  4594 Vir 5 12 40.0 -11 37  8.0    9x4    50000      
 M26  026  6694 Sct 1 18 45.2 -09 24  8.0   15.0        5      
 M32  032   221 And 6 00 42.7 +40 52  8.1    8x6     2900      
 M94  094  4736 CVn 5 12 50.9 +41 07  8.2    7x3    14500      
 M71  071  6838 Sge 2 19 53.8 +18 47  8.2    7.2       12.7    
 M78  078  2068 Ori 4 05 46.7 +00 03  8.3    8x6        1.6    
 M56  056  6779 Lyr 2 19 16.6 +30 11  8.3    7.1       32.6    
  M1  001  1952 Tau 9 05 34.5 +22 01  8.4    6x4        6.3    
 M82  082  3034 UMa 7 09 55.8 +69 41  8.4    9x4    12000     
M106  106  4258 CVn 5 12 19.0 +47 18  8.4   19x8    25000      
 M40  040  Win4 UMa C 12 22.4 +58 05  8.4    0.8        0.51   
 M49  049  4472 Vir 6 12 29.8 +08 00  8.4    9x7.5  60000      
 M51  051  5194 CVn 5 13 29.9 +47 12  8.4   11x7    37000      
M110  110   205 And 6 00 40.4 +41 41  8.5   17x10    2900      
 M64  064  4826 Com 5 12 56.7 +21 41  8.5  9.3x5.4  19000      
 M75  075  6864 Sgr 2 20 06.1 -21 55  8.5    6.0       61.3    
 M87  087  4486 Vir 6 12 30.8 +12 24  8.6    7.0    60000      
 M63  063  5055 CVn 5 13 15.8 +42 02  8.6   10x6    37000      
 M60  060  4649 Vir 6 12 43.7 +11 33  8.8    7x6    60000      
 M57  057  6720 Lyr 3 18 53.6 +33 02  8.8  1.4x1.0      2.3    
 M77  077  1068 Cet 5 02 42.7 -00 01  8.9    7x6    60000      
 M66  066  3627 Leo 5 11 20.2 +12 59  8.9    8x2.5  35000      
 M86  086  4406 Vir 8 12 26.2 +12 57  8.9  7.5x5.5  60000      
 M43  043  1982 Ori 4 05 35.6 -05 16  9.0   20x15       1.6    
 M20  020  6514 Sgr 4 18 02.6 -23 02  9.0   28.0        5.2    
 M73  073  6994 Aqr A 20 58.9 -12 38  9.0    2.8        2.0    
 M84  084  4374 Vir 8 12 25.1 +12 53  9.1    5.0    60000      
 M85  085  4382 Com 8 12 25.4 +18 11  9.1  7.1x5.2  60000      
 M96  096  3368 Leo 5 10 46.8 +11 49  9.2    6x4    38000      
M105  105  3379 Leo 6 10 47.8 +12 35  9.3    2.0    38000      
 M65  065  3623 Leo 5 11 18.9 +13 05  9.3    8x1.5  35000      
M100  100  4321 Com 5 12 22.9 +15 49  9.3    7x6    60000      
 M72  072  6981 Aqr 2 20 53.5 -12 32  9.3    5.9       55.4    
 M74  074   628 Psc 5 01 36.7 +15 47  9.4 10.2x9.5  35000      
 M90  090  4569 Vir 5 12 36.8 +13 10  9.5  9.5x4.5  60000      
 M88  088  4501 Com 5 12 32.0 +14 25  9.6    7x4    60000      
 M59  059  4621 Vir 6 12 42.0 +11 39  9.6    5x3.5  60000      
 M95  095  3351 Leo 5 10 44.0 +11 42  9.7  4.4x3.3  38000      
 M61  061  4303 Vir 5 12 21.9 +04 28  9.7    6x5.5  60000      
 M58  058  4579 Vir 5 12 37.7 +11 49  9.7  5.5x4.5  60000      
M109  109  3992 UMa 5 11 57.6 +53 23  9.8    7x4    55000      
 M89  089  4552 Vir 6 12 35.7 +12 33  9.8    4.0    60000      
 M97  097  3587 UMa 3 11 14.8 +55 01  9.9  3.4x3.3      2.6    
 M99  099  4254 Com 5 12 18.8 +14 25  9.9  5.4x4.8  60000      
M102? 102? 5866 Dra 8 15 06.5 +55 46  9.9  5.2x2.3  40000     
M108  108  3556 UMa 5 11 11.5 +55 40 10.0    8x1    45000      
 M76  076   650 Per 3 01 42.4 +51 34 10.1  2.7x1.8      3.4    
 M98  098  4192 Com 5 12 13.8 +14 54 10.1  9.5x3.2  60000      
 M91  091  4548 Com 5 12 35.4 +14 30 10.2  5.4x4.4  60000

Hartmut Frommert
Christine Kronberg
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Last Modification: August 22, 2007