Messier Objects in the Milky Way Galaxy

Most of the 70 Messier objects which are not galaxies are part or member of the Milky Way galaxy of some kind; the only probable exception being globular cluster M54 which belongs to the nearest neighbor galaxy, SagDEG. Basically, all the diffuse nebulae and open star clusters as well as supernova remnants trace the spiral arms of our galaxy, while the globular clusters populate the galactic bulge with a strong concentration toward the Galactic center, and the planetary nebulae are somewhat an intermediate object class and occur in both; the four Messier planetaries happen to be situated not far from the disk and situated either within or close to the spiral arms (more acurately, our Local or Orion Arm).

Spiral Arms traced by Messier Objects:

Perseus Arm
Object             Con Type  RA  (2000) Dec  dist

M 52 NGC 7654 Cas OC 23:24.2 +61:35 5.0 M103 NGC 581 Cas OC 01:33.2 +60:42 8.0 M 38 * NGC 1912 Aur OC 05:28.4 +35:50 4.2 M 1 NGC 1952 Tau SNR 05:34.5 +22:01 6.3 M 36 * NGC 1960 Aur OC 05:36.1 +34:08 4.1 M 37 * NGC 2099 Aur OC 05:52.4 +32:33 4.4
Orion Arm
Object             Con Type  RA  (2000) Dec  dist

M 6 NGC 6405 Sco OC 17:40.1 -32:13 2 M 7 NGC 6475 Sco OC 17:53.9 -34:49 0.8 M 23 NGC 6494 Sgr OC 17:56.8 -19:01 2.15 M 25 IC 4725 Sgr OC 18:31.6 -19:15 2 M 57 NGC 6720 Lyr PN 18:53.6 +33:02 2.3 M 27 NGC 6853 Vul PN 19:59.6 +22:43 1.25 M 29 NGC 6913 Cyg OC 20:23.9 +38:32 4.0 M 73 NGC 6994 Aqr OC? 20:58.9 -12:38 2.0 M 39 NGC 7092 Cyg OC 21:32.2 +48:26 0.825 M 76 NGC 650 Per PN 01:42.4 +51:34 3.4 M 34 NGC 1039 Per OC 02:42.0 +42:47 1.4 M 45 Tau C+N 03:47.0 +24:07 0.38 M 42 NGC 1976 Ori DN 05:35.4 -05:27 1.6 M 43 NGC 1982 Ori DN 05:35.6 -05:16 1.6 M 78 NGC 2068 Ori DN 05:46.7 +00:03 1.6 M 35 NGC 2168 Gem OC 06:08.9 +24:20 2.8 M 41 NGC 2287 CMa OC 06:46.0 -20:44 2.3 M 50 NGC 2323 Mon OC 07:03.2 -08:20 3 M 47 NGC 2422 Pup OC 07:36.6 -14:30 1.6 M 46 NGC 2437 Pup OC 07:41.8 -14:49 5.4 M 93 NGC 2447 Pup OC 07:44.6 -23:52 3.6 M 48 NGC 2548 Hya OC 08:13.8 -05:48 1.5 M 44 NGC 2632 Cnc OC 08:40.1 +19:59 0.577 M 67 NGC 2682 Cnc OC 08:50.4 +11:49 2.7 M 97 NGC 3587 UMa PN 11:14.8 +55:01 2.6 M 40 UMa DS 12:22.4 +58:05 0.51
Sagittarius Arm
Object             Con Type  RA  (2000) Dec  dist

M 20 NGC 6514 Sgr DN 18:02.6 -23:02 5.2 M 8 NGC 6523 Sgr DN 18:03.8 -24:23 5.2 M 21 NGC 6531 Sgr OC 18:04.6 -22:30 4.25 M 24 IC 4715? Sgr MWP 18:16.9 -18:29 10-15 NGC 6603 Sgr OC 18:18.4 -18:25 10 M 16 NGC 6611 Ser C/N 18:18.8 -13:47 7 M 18 NGC 6613 Sgr OC 18:19.9 -17:08 4.9 M 17 NGC 6618 Sgr DN 18:20.8 -16:11 5 M 26 NGC 6694 Sct OC 18:45.2 -09:24 5 M 11 * NGC 6705 Sct OC 18:51.1 -06:16 6
Halo Globular Clusters
Object             Con Type  RA  (2000) Dec  dist

M 79(*) NGC 1904 Lep GC 05:24.5 -24:33 42.1 M 68 NGC 4590 Hya GC 12:39.5 -26:45 33.3 M 53 NGC 5024 Com GC 13:12.9 +18:10 59.7 M 3 NGC 5272 CVn GC 13:42.2 +28:23 33.9 M 5 NGC 5904 Ser GC 15:18.6 +02:05 24.5 M 80 NGC 6093 Sco GC 16:17.0 -22:59 32.6 M 4 NGC 6121 Sco GC 16:23.6 -26:32 7.2 M107 NGC 6171 Oph GC 16:32.5 -13:03 20.9 M 13 NGC 6205 Her GC 16:41.7 +36:28 25.1 M 12 NGC 6218 Oph GC 16:47.2 -01:57 16.0 M 10 NGC 6254 Oph GC 16:57.1 -04:06 14.4 M 62 NGC 6266 Oph GC 17:01.2 -30:07 22.5 M 19 NGC 6273 Oph GC 17:02.6 -26:16 28.4 M 92 NGC 6341 Her GC 17:17.1 +43:08 26.7 M 9 NGC 6333 Oph GC 17:19.2 -18:31 26.7 M 14 NGC 6402 Oph GC 17:37.6 -03:15 29.0 M 28 NGC 6626 Sgr GC 18:24.5 -24:52 18.6 M 69 NGC 6637 Sgr GC 18:31.4 -32:21 28.0 M 22 NGC 6656 Sgr GC 18:36.4 -23:54 10.4 M 70 NGC 6681 Sgr GC 18:43.2 -32:18 29.4 M 54(*) NGC 6715 Sgr GC 18:55.1 -30:29 88.7 M 56 NGC 6779 Lyr GC 19:16.6 +30:11 32.9 M 55 NGC 6809 Sgr GC 19:40.0 -30:58 17.6 M 71 NGC 6838 Sge GC 19:53.8 +18:47 12.7 M 75 NGC 6864 Sgr GC 20:06.1 -21:55 61.3 M 72 NGC 6981 Aqr GC 20:53.5 -12:32 55.4 M 15 NGC 7078 Peg GC 21:30.0 +12:10 33.6 M 2 NGC 7089 Aqr GC 21:33.5 -00:49 37.5 M 30 NGC 7099 Cap GC 21:40.4 -23:11 26.1
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Hartmut Frommert
Christine Kronberg
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Last Modification: November 24, 2003