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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec MAG 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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
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
M# NGC# Con Type ra dec B D d
M91 091 4548 Com 5 12 35.4 +14 30 10.2 5.4x4.4 60000