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with contributions by
Glen Cozens,
Guy McArthur and
Bill Arnett
Also available as ascii file
This list summarizes all deep sky objects which are known or seriously assumed to have been discovered before William Herschel began his great Deep Sky survey in September, 1782.
We give the identification by name or catalog number, basic astronomical data, discovery data, and possible common names for each object. As these objects have all been detected with moderate equipment, they are all within the range of even modest modern amateur telescopes.
This project was partly inspired by a fruitful discussion with Glen Cozens. Data are partly based on the original Messier data, collected by Guy McArthur and updated by the authors with the help of Bill Arnett.
This list is arranged to 1 line per object. Also available as 2-lines and 3-lines per object lists.
This list is sorted by Declination. Also available: ordered by Catalog Number or Name, ordered by Right Ascension, ordered by Constellation, ordered.by Discovery Date.
M No/Name NGC Const T SubT RA Dec m_v Dim Dist
Discov. Date Discoverer
Names/Notes
M 82 3034 UMa 7 Ir-II 09:55.8 +69:41 8.4 9x4 12000
1774 Dec 31 Bode (#18)
Cigar Galaxy
M 81 3031 UMa 5 Sb 09:55.6 +69:04 6.9 21x10 12000
1774 Dec 31 Bode (#17)
Bode's Galaxy
M 52 7654 Cas 1 'e' 23:24.2 +61:35 7.3 13.0 5.0
1774 Sep 7 Messier
M103 581 Cas 1 'd' 01:33.2 +60:42 7.4 6.0 8
1781 Mar-Apr Mechain
M 40 UMa C - 12:22.4 +58:05 8.4 0.8 0.51
1764 Oct 24 [Messier]
Winnecke 4
h Per 869 Per 1 'f' 02:19.0 +57:09 4.3 30 7.1
130 BC Hipparchus
h Persei, double cluster with chi.
Chi Per 884 Per 1 'e' 02:22.4 +57:07 4.4 30 7.4
130 BC Hipparchus
chi Persei, double cluster with h.
UMa Cl UMa 1 12:30: +56: 0: 1800: 0.075
pre-hist
Ursa Major Moving Cluster, Cr 285
M102? 5866 Dra 8 S0_3 15:06.5 +55:46 9.9 5.2x2.3 40000
1781 Mar-Apr Mechain? Messier?
Spindle Galaxy
M108 3556 UMa 5 Sc 11:11.5 +55:40 10.0 8x1 45000
1781 Feb 16 Mechain
M 97 3587 UMa 3 3a 11:14.8 +55:01 9.9 3.4x3.3 2.6
1781 Feb 16 Mechain
Owl Nebula
M101 5457 UMa 5 Sc 14:03.2 +54:21 7.9 22.0 27000
1781 Mar 27 Mechain
Pinwheel Galaxy
M109 3992 UMa 5 SBc 11:57.6 +53:23 9.8 7x4 55000
1781 Feb 16 Mechain
M 76 650 Per 3 3+6 01:42.4 +51:34 10.1 2.7x1.8 3.4
1780 Sep 5 Mechain
Little Dumbbell Nebula
Mel 20 Per 1 03:22 +49: 1.2 185 0.601
<1654 Hodierna
The Alpha Persei Moving Cluster
M 39 7092 Cyg 1 'e' 21:32.2 +48:26 5.2 32.0 0.825
1764 Oct 24 Messier
M106 4258 CVn 5 Sbp 12:19.0 +47:18 8.4 19x8 25000
1781 Jul Mechain
5195 CVn 7 Pec 13:30.0 +47:16 9.6 6.4x4.6 37000
1781 Mar 20 Mechain
Companion of M51
M 51 5194 CVn 5 Sc 13:29.9 +47:12 8.4 11x7 37000
1773 Oct 13 Messier
Whirlpool Galaxy
M 92 6341 Her 2 IV 17:17.1 +43:08 6.4 11.2 26.4
1777 Dec 31 Bode (#76)
M 34 1039 Per 1 'd' 02:42.0 +42:47 5.5 35.0 1.4
<1654 Hodierna
M 63 5055 CVn 5 Sb 13:15.8 +42:02 8.6 10x6 37000
1779 Jun 14 Mechain
Sunflower Galaxy
M110 205 And 6 E6p 00:40.4 +41:41 8.5 17x10 2900
1773 Aug 10 Messier
A Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, M31
M 31 224 And 5 Sb 00:42.7 +41:16 3.4 178x63 2900
< 905 AD Al Sufi
Andromeda Galaxy
M 94 4736 CVn 5 Sb 12:50.9 +41:07 8.2 7x3 14500
1781 Mar 22 Mechain
M 32 221 And 6 E2 00:42.7 +40:52 8.1 8x6 2900
1749 Oct 29 Le Gentil
A Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, M31
M 29 6913 Cyg 1 'd' 20:23.9 +38:32 7.1 7.0 4.0
1764 Jul 29 Messier
752 And 1 'd' 01:57.8 +37:41 5.7 60 1.3
<1654 Hodierna (prob)
M 13 6205 Her 2 V 16:41.7 +36:28 5.8 16.6 22.8
1714 Halley
Hercules Globular Cluster
M 38 1912 Aur 1 'e' 05:28.4 +35:50 7.4 21.0 4.2
<1654 Hodierna
M 36 1960 Aur 1 'f' 05:36.1 +34:08 6.3 12.0 4.1
<1654 Hodierna
M 57 6720 Lyr 3 4+3 18:53.6 +33:02 8.8 1.4x1.0 4.1
1779 Jan Darquier
Ring Nebula
M 37 2099 Aur 1 'f' 05:52.4 +32:33 6.2 24.0 4.4
<1654 Hodierna
M 33 598 Tri 5 Sc 01:33.9 +30:39 5.7 73x45 3000
<1654 Hodierna
Triangulum Galaxy
M 56 6779 Lyr 2 X 19:16.6 +30:11 8.3 7.1 31.6
1779 Jan 19 Messier
M 3 5272 CVn 2 VI 13:42.2 +28:23 6.2 16.2 30.6
1764 May 3 Messier
Mel 111 Com 1 12:25 +26: 1.8 275 0.288
138 AD Ptolemy
Coma Star Cluster
M 35 2168 Gem 1 'e' 06:08.9 +24:20 5.3 28.0 2.8
1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 12
M 45 Tau 1 'c' 03:47.0 +24:07 1.6 110.0 0.38
pre-hist (Hesiod 1000 BC)
Pleiades
M 27 6853 Vul 3 3a+2 19:59.6 +22:43 7.4 8.0x5.7 1.25
1764 Jul 12 Messier
Dumbbell Nebula
M 1 1952 Tau 9 - 05:34.5 +22:01 8.4 6x4 6.3
1731 Bevis
Crab Nebula
M 64 4826 Com 5 Sb 12:56.7 +21:41 8.5 9.3x5.4 12000
1779 Apr 4 Bode (#77)
Blackeye Galaxy
Cr 399 Vul 1 19:25.4 +20:11 3.6 60 0.42
964 AD Al Sufi
Brocchi's Cluster
M 44 2632 Cnc 1 'd' 08:40.1 +19:59 3.7 95.0 0.577
300-250 BC Aratus/Theophrastus
Beehive Cluster, Praesepe
M 71 6838 Sge 2 X-XI 19:53.8 +18:47 8.2 7.2 11.7
1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 13
M 85 4382 Com 8 S0 12:25.4 +18:11 9.1 7.1x5.2 60000
1781 Mar 4 Mechain
M 53 5024 Com 2 V 13:12.9 +18:10 7.6 12.6 56.4
1775 Feb 3 Bode (#26)
Mel 25 Tau 1 04:27 +16: 0.5 330 0.150
pre-hist
Hyades
M100 4321 Com 5 Sc 12:22.9 +15:49 9.3 7x6 60000
1781 Mar 15 Mechain
M 74 628 Psc 5 Sc 01:36.7 +15:47 9.4 10.2x9.5 35000
1780 Sep end Mechain
M 98 4192 Com 5 Sb 12:13.8 +14:54 10.1 9.5x3.2 60000
1781 Mar 15 Mechain
M 91 4548 Com 5 SBb 12:35.4 +14:30 10.2 5.4x4.4 60000
1781 Mar 18 Messier
M 88 4501 Com 5 Sc 12:32.0 +14:25 9.6 7x4 60000
1781 Mar 18 Messier
M 99 4254 Com 5 Sc 12:18.8 +14:25 9.9 5.4x4.8 60000
1781 Mar 15 Mechain
M 90 4569 Vir 5 Sb 12:36.8 +13:10 9.5 9.5x4.5 60000
1781 Mar 18 Messier
M 65 3623 Leo 5 Sa 11:18.9 +13:05 9.3 8x1.5 35000
1780 Mar 1 Mechain
in the Leo Triplett
M 66 3627 Leo 5 Sb 11:20.2 +12:59 8.9 8x2.5 35000
1780 Mar 1 Mechain
in the Leo Triplett
M 86 4406 Vir 8 S0 12:26.2 +12:57 8.9 7.5x5.5 60000
1781 Mar 18 Messier
M 84 4374 Vir 8 S0 12:25.1 +12:53 9.1 5.0 60000
1781 Mar 18 Messier
M105 3379 Leo 6 E1 10:47.8 +12:35 9.3 2.0 38000
1781 Mar 24 Mechain
M 89 4552 Vir 6 E0 12:35.7 +12:33 9.8 4.0 60000
1781 Mar 18 Messier
M 87 4486 Vir 6 E1 12:30.8 +12:24 8.6 7.0 60000
1781 Mar 18 Messier
Virgo A
M 15 7078 Peg 2 IV 21:30.0 +12:10 6.2 12.3 32.6
1746 Sep 7 Maraldi
M 58 4579 Vir 5 SBc 12:37.7 +11:49 9.7 5.5x4.5 60000
1779 Apr 15 Messier
M 67 2682 Cnc 1 'f' 08:50.4 +11:49 6.1 30.0 2.7
<1779 Koehler (#19)
M 96 3368 Leo 5 Sa 10:46.8 +11:49 9.2 6x4 38000
1781 Mar 20 Mechain
M 95 3351 Leo 5 SBb 10:44.0 +11:42 9.7 4.4x3.3 38000
1781 Mar 20 Mechain
M 59 4621 Vir 6 E5 12:42.0 +11:39 9.6 5x3.5 60000
1779 Apr 11 Koehler
M 60 4649 Vir 6 E2 12:43.7 +11:33 8.8 7x6 60000
1779 Apr 11 Koehler
M 49 4472 Vir 6 E4 12:29.8 +08:00 8.4 9x7.5 60000
1771 Feb 19 Messier
6633 Oph 1 18:27.7 +06:34 4.6 27 1.04
1745-46 de Cheseaux
I4665 Oph 1 17:46.3 +05:43 4.2 70 1.4
1745-46 de Cheseaux
2244 Mon 1 06:32.3 +05:03 4.8 80x60 5.5
1690 Flamsteed
cluster in Rosette Nebula
M 61 4303 Vir 5 SABbc 12:21.9 +04:28 9.7 6x5.5 60000
1779 May 5 Oriani
M 5 5904 SerCap 2 V 15:18.6 +02:05 5.6 17.4 22.8
1702 May 5 Kirch
M 78 2068 Ori 4 R 05:46.7 +00:03 8.3 8x6 1.6
1780 "begin" Mechain
M 77 1068 Cet 5 Sb 02:42.7 -00:01 8.9 7x6 60000
1780 Oct 29 Mechain Cetus A
M 2 7089 Aqr 2 II 21:33.5 -00:49 6.5 12.9 36.2
1746 Sep 11 Maraldi
M 12 6218 Oph 2 IX 16:47.2 -01:57 6.7 14.5 17.6
1764 May 30 Messier
M 14 6402 Oph 2 VIII 17:37.6 -03:15 7.6 11.7 27.4
1764 Jun 1 Messier
M 10 6254 Oph 2 VII 16:57.1 -04:06 6.6 15.1 13.4
1764 May 29 Messier
M 43 1982 Ori 4 E+R 05:35.6 -05:16 9.0 20x15 1.6
1731 de Mairan
De Mairan's Nebula, part of Orion Nebula
M 42 1976 Ori 4 E+R 05:35.4 -05:27 4.0 85x60 1.6
1610 Peiresc
Orion Nebula
M 48 2548 Hya 1 'f' 08:13.8 -05:48 5.5 54.0 1.5
1771 Feb 19 Messier
M 11 6705 Sct 1 'g' 18:51.1 -06:16 6.3 14.0 6
1681 Kirch
Wild Duck Cluster
M 50 2323 Mon 1 'e' 07:03.2 -08:20 6.3 16.0 3
1711 G.D. Cassini (?)
M 26 6694 Sct 1 'f' 18:45.2 -09:24 8.0 15.0 5
1764 Jun 20 Messier
M104 4594 Vir 5 Sa 12:40.0 -11:37 8.0 9x4 50000
1781 May 11 Messier
Sombrero Galaxy
M 72 6981 Aqr 2 IX 20:53.5 -12:32 9.3 5.9 52.8
1780 Aug 30 Mechain
M 73 6994 Aqr A - 20:58.9 -12:38 9.0 2.8 0
1780 Oct 4 [Messier]
M107 6171 Oph 2 X 16:32.5 -13:03 7.9 10.0 19.6
1782 Apr Mechain
M 16 6611 SerCau 1 'e' 18:18.8 -13:47 6.4 7.0 7
1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 4
associated with the Eagle Nebula
M 47 2422 Pup 1 'd' 07:36.6 -14:30 5.2 30.0 1.6
<1654 Hodierna
M 46 2437 Pup 1 'f' 07:41.8 -14:49 6.0 27.0 5.4
1771 Feb 19 Messier
M 17 6618 Sgr 4 E 18:20.8 -16:11 7.0 11.0 5
1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 20
Omega, Swan, Horseshoe or Lobster Nebula
M 18 6613 Sgr 1 'd' 18:19.9 -17:08 7.5 9.0 4.9
1764 Jun 3 Messier
M 24 >6603 Sgr B - 18:16.9 -18:29 4.6 90 10
1764 Jun 20 [Messier]
Sagittarius Star Cloud, Delle Caustiche
M 9 6333 Oph 2 VIII 17:19.2 -18:31 7.7 9.3 26.4
1764 May 28 Messier
M 23 6494 Sgr 1 'e' 17:56.8 -19:01 6.9 27.0 2.15
1764 Jun 20 Messier
M 25 I4725 Sgr 1 'd' 18:31.6 -19:15 6.5 40.0 2
1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 5
M 41 2287 CMa 1 'e' 06:46.0 -20:44 4.6 38.0 2.3
<1654 Hodierna
M 75 6864 Sgr 2 I 20:06.1 -21:55 8.5 6.0 57.7
1780 Aug 27 Mechain
M 21 6531 Sgr 1 'd' 18:04.6 -22:30 6.5 13.0 4.25
1764 Jun 5 Messier
M 80 6093 Sco 2 II 16:17.0 -22:59 7.3 8.9 27.4
1781 Jan 4 Messier
M 20 6514 Sgr 4 E+R 18:02.6 -23:02 9.0 28.0 5.2
1764 Jun 5 Messier
Trifid Nebula
M 30 7099 Cap 2 V 21:40.4 -23:11 7.2 11.0 24.8
1764 Aug 3 Messier
M 93 2447 Pup 1 'g' 07:44.6 -23:52 6.0 22.0 3.6
1781 Mar 20 Messier
M 22 6656 Sgr 2 VII 18:36.4 -23:54 5.1 24.0 10.1
1665 Aug 26 Ihle
6530 Sgr 1 'e' 18:04.8 -24:20 4.6 14 5.2
<1654 Hodierna
Open cluster associated with M8
M 8 6523 Sgr 4 E 18:03.8 -24:23 6.0 90x40 5.2
1749 Le Gentil
Lagoon Nebula
M 79 1904 Lep 2 V 05:24.5 -24:33 7.7 8.7 41.1
1780 Oct 26 Mechain
M 28 6626 Sgr 2 IV 18:24.5 -24:52 6.8 11.2 17.9
1764 Jul 27 Messier
2362 CMa 1 07:18.8 -24:57 4.1 8 5.0
<1654 Hodierna
Tau CMa cluster
M 19 6273 Oph 2 VIII 17:02.6 -26:16 6.8 13.5 27.1
1764 Jun 5 Messier
M 4 6121 Sco 2 IX 16:23.6 -26:32 5.6 26.3 6.8
1745-6 de Cheseaux No. 19
M 68 4590 Hya 2 X 12:39.5 -26:45 7.8 12.0 32.3
1780 Apr 9 Mechain
Milky Way Sgr 5 SABbc 17:45.6 -28:56 28
pre-hist
Milky Way, our Galaxy
M 83 5236 Hya 5 SABc 13:37.0 -29:52 7.6 11x10 15000
1751-52 Lacaille I.6
Southern Pinwheel
M 62 6266 Oph 2 IV 17:01.2 -30:07 6.5 14.1 21.5
1771 Jun 7 Messier
M 54 6715 Sgr 2 III 18:55.1 -30:29 7.6 9.1 82.8
1778 Jul 24 Messier
M 55 6809 Sgr 2 XI 19:40.0 -30:58 6.3 19.0 16.6
1751-52 Lacaille I.14
M 6 6405 Sco 1 'e' 17:40.1 -32:13 5.3 25.0 2
<1654 Hodierna
Butterfly Cluster
M 70 6681 Sgr 2 V 18:43.2 -32:18 7.9 7.8 28.0
1780 Aug 31 Messier
M 69 6637 Sgr 2 V 18:31.4 -32:21 7.6 7.1 26.7
1751-52 Lacaille I.11
M 7 6475 Sco 1 'e' 17:53.9 -34:49 4.1 80.0 0.8
138 AD Ptolemy
The Scorpion's Tail, Ptolemy's Cluster
2546 Pup 1 08:12.4 -37:38 6.3 41 3.3
1751-52 Lacaille II.4
2451 Pup 1 07:45.4 -37:58 2.8 45 0.85
<1654 Hodierna (prob)
2477 Pup 1 'g' 07:52.3 -38:33 5.8 27 4.2
1751-52 Lacaille I.3
6242 Sco 1 'f' 16:55.6 -39:30 6.4 9 3.9
1751-52 Lacaille I.10
6124 Sco 1 16:25.6 -40:40 5.8: 29 18.6
1751-52 Lacaille I.8
6231 Sco 1 'e' 16:54.0 -41:48 2.6 15 5.9
<1654 Hodierna
Omega Cen 5139 Cen 2 VIII 13:26.8 -47:29 3.68 36.3 16.0
1677 Halley
Omega Centauri
2547 Vel 1 'd' 08:10.7 -49:16 4.7 20 1.96
1751-52 Lacaille III.2
3228 Vel 1 'f' 10:21.8 -51:43 6.0 18 1.6
1751-52 Lacaille II.7
o Vel I2391 Vel 1 'c' 08:40.2 -53:04 2.5 50 0.58
964 AD Al Sufi; Lac II.5
omicron Velorum cluster
6397 Ara 2 IX 17:40.7 -53:40 5.9 26.0 7.2
1751-52 Lacaille III.11
5662 Cen 1 14:35.2 -56:33 5.5 12
1751-52 Lacaille III.8
I2488 Vel 1 09:27.6 -56:59 7.4p 15
1751-52 Lacaille III.4
3293 Car 1 'd' 10:35.8 -58:14 4.7 6 8.4
1751-52 Lacaille II.8
3532 Car 1 11:06.4 -58:40 3.0 55 1.3
1751-52 Lacaille II.10
3372 Car 4 E 10:43.8 -59:52 1.0 120x120 10.0
1751-52 Lacaille III.5.6
Eta Carinae nebula
Kappa Cru 4755 Cru 1 12:53.6 -60:20 4.2 10 7.6
1751-52 Lacaille II.12
Kappa Cruxis, the Jewel Box cluster
6025 TrA 1 16:03.7 -60:30 5.1 12 2.7
1751-52 Lacaille III.10
2516 Car 1 'g' 07:58.3 -60:52 3.8 30 1.3
1751-52 Lacaille II.3
3766 Cen 1 11:36.1 -61:37 5.3 12 5.5
1751-52 Lacaille III.7
5281 Cen 1 13:46.6 -62:54 5.9 5 4.2
1751-52 Lacaille I.7
I2602 Car 1 10:43.2 -64:24 1.9 50 0.479
1751-52 Lacaille II.9
theta Carinae cluster, Southern Pleiades
2070 Dor 4 E 05:38.7 -69:06 8 40x25 179.0
1751-52 Lacaille I.2
Tarantula Nebula in LMC
LMC Dor 7 SBm 05:23.6 -69:45 0.1 650x550 179.0
pre-hist (Magellan 1519)
Large Magellanic Cloud
4833 Mus 2 VIII 12:59.6 -70:53 6.91 13.5 18.6
1751-52 Lacaille I.4
47 Tuc 104 Tuc 2 III 00:24.1 -72:05 4.03 30.9 13.4
1751-52 Lacaille I.1
47 Tucanae
SMC 292 Tuc 7 SBmp 00:52.7 -72:50 2.3 280x160 210
pre-hist (Magellan 1519)
Small Magellanic Cloud
Key:
1 Open Cluster
2 Globular Cluster
3 Planetary Nebula
4 Diffuse Nebula
5 Spiral Galaxy
6 Elliptical Galaxy
7 Irregular Galaxy
8 Lenticular (S0) Galaxy
9 Supernova Remnant
A System of 4 stars or Asterism (M73)
B Milky Way Patch (M24)
C Binary star (M40)
positions 2000.0 according to Sky Catalog 2000
PN vis mag from Hynes
Glob Cl vis mag and distances from Harris' database (29-Feb 96/15 May 97)
vis mag's cross-checked with Sky Catalogue 2000.0 and Kenneth Glyn Jones
for galaxies adopted from Uranometria 2000.0
diameters from Bill Arnett's data file
M63 dist from M51 (group)
M77 quoted from HST PR
M101, M81 group, M96 group distances from HST measurements
Virgo cl distance 60 Mly assumed (HST via M96 gr)
Last Modification: February 3, 1998