You are here

Messier Objects

A list of about 110 astronomical objects compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier at the end of the 18th century. The catalog includes objects such as nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies, and the objects are denoted by an M followed by a number from 1 to 110.

Resources

Virgo, the virgin

Virgo October 4, 2011
Cancer, the Crab

Cancer, the Crab October 4, 2011

Radio Programs

Mars and the Beehive A star cluster with many names June 1, 2023

Confusing Cluster A cluster with a confusing background January 5, 2023

Messier 39 The right tool for a star cluster September 4, 2022

Messier 71 Changing views of a star cluster July 5, 2022

Messier 5 Early residents of the Milky Way May 18, 2022

Old Neighborhood A neighborhood of ancient stars April 30, 2022

Messier 35 A crowded stellar neighborhood April 27, 2022

Misleading Stars A star cluster with the blues April 4, 2022

Messier 15 Relics from the early universe October 3, 2021

Venus and Companions Faint companions for the “evening star” July 2, 2021

Hercules Cluster A starry realm that never gets dark June 2, 2021

Puppis Clusters A busy season of discoveries April 2, 2021

M48 A family of stars that’s falling apart March 13, 2021

Blue Stragglers Rejuvenating some old stars January 19, 2021

Messier 35 The crowded skies of M35 January 8, 2021

Galaxy Pair Stirring up a pair of spiral galaxies November 27, 2020

Sagittarius Cluster Extra black holes in a star cluster August 17, 2020

Sagittarius Nurseries Starbirth in the Milky Way August 16, 2020

Population II Stars Stars young and old in the Milky Way August 11, 2020

Nesting Stars Keeping the chicks close to the nest June 26, 2020

Ophiuchan Clusters A plenitude of star clusters May 31, 2020

Southern Pinwheel Pinwheeling across the southern sky April 28, 2020

Messier 53 Stars all around, galaxy below April 27, 2020

Bright Galaxies Sniffing out some bright galaxies April 5, 2020

Counting Candles Counting stellar birthday candles March 20, 2020

Auriga Clusters Clustering around the charioteer December 15, 2019

Adopted Cluster The Milky Way adopts a star cluster November 30, 2019

Spicy Clusters Making sausage in the Milky Way November 29, 2019

Dumbbell Nebula A blaze of color for a dying star September 25, 2019

Moon in the Beehive Stars buzzing near the Moon August 27, 2019

Messier 7 A far but bright star cluster August 24, 2019

Messier 11 Fast living for stellar siblings July 29, 2019

Messier 10 Rejuvenation for some old stars June 19, 2019

Messier 3 A cluster with a great view April 29, 2019

More Hercules Some of the galaxy’s oldest residents May 15, 2018

Hercules The strongman climbs high May 14, 2018

Black-Eye Galaxy Giving a galaxy a black eye May 13, 2018

Close Clusters Two star clusters that stick together May 12, 2018

Messier 48 A cluster that was discovered twice February 11, 2018

M71 A star cluster faces a rough ride August 28, 2017

Wild Duck Cluster Measuring the age of some wild ducks August 27, 2017

Future Resident A future resident of the Milky Way August 11, 2017

Messier 5 Some of the oldest stars in the galaxy June 11, 2017

M100 The grandeur of a spiral galaxy April 19, 2017

M82 A gas crisis for a vigorous galaxy March 26, 2017

Featured Images

hubble space telescope view of glubular cluster Messier 5

Old Family May 18, 2022
Messier 15, a globular star cluster

Relics October 3, 2021

Starry Realm June 2, 2021
Star cluster M47

Blue Gems April 2, 2021
New view of Messier 106

Wonky Galaxy March 19, 2021
SDSS view of Messier 48

Disintegrating Family March 13, 2021
Messier 50/NGC 2323

Young Family January 30, 2021
messier 35 and ngc 2158

Crowded Skies January 8, 2021
Messier 22

Lightness and Darkness August 17, 2020
Hubble Space Telescope view of Messier 10

Impressive Family May 31, 2020
Messier 34 and Messier 36

Young and Younger March 20, 2020
Messier 7

Distant Sparklers August 24, 2019
Messier 11

A Big Cluster July 29, 2019
Ring Nebula

Last Gasp July 4, 2019
Messier 10

Crowded Cluster June 19, 2019
Combined optical, infrared view of the Crab Nebula

Colorful Crab April 19, 2018
M97, the Owl Nebula, in Ursa Major

It's a Hoot March 17, 2018
Sirius, Mirzam, and M41 in Canis Major, the big dog

Doggie Treats March 11, 2018
messier 48

Double Discovery February 11, 2018
Messier 11, the Wild Duck Cluster

Wild Duck August 27, 2017
The spiral galaxy Messier 77

Spiral Beauty July 12, 2017
VLT image of three galactic nebulae: M17, M16, and Sharpless 2-54

Galactic Nurseries June 29, 2017
Hubble Space Telescope view of galaxy M100

Grand Spiral April 19, 2017