Messier # |
Name |
Constellation |
Notable Characteristic |
Photo
|
1 |
Crab Nebula |
Taurus |
Supernova Remnant Endpoint of Stellar Evolution |
|
8 |
Lagoon Nebula |
Sagittarius |
Stellar Nursery Emission Nebula |
|
13 |
Hercules Cluster |
Hercules |
Globular Star Cluster Population II Stars |
|
16 |
Eagle Nebula |
Serpens |
Emission Nebula Stellar Birthplace |
|
20 |
Trifid Nebula |
Sagittarius |
Dark, Reflection, and Emission Nebulae |
|
27 |
Dumbbell Nebula |
Vulpecula |
Planetary Nebula After Giant Stage in Sun |
|
31 |
Andromeda Galaxy |
Andromeda |
Spiral Galaxy Visible to Unaided Eye @ 2 Million Light Years |
|
42 |
Orion Nebula |
Orion |
Stellar Nursery Emission Nebula |
|
44 |
Beehive Cluster |
Cancer |
Open Star Cluster Population I Stars |
|
45 |
Pleiades Cluster
|
Taurus |
Open Star Cluster Young Population I Stars |
|
51 |
Whirlpool Galaxy |
Canes Venatici |
Spiral Type Galaxy |
|
57 |
Ring Nebula |
Lyra |
Planetary Nebula |
|
87 |
Virgo A |
Virgo |
Giant Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo Cluster @ 60 Million Light Years |
|
104 |
Sombrero Galaxy |
Virgo |
Edge View of Spiral Galaxy |
|
-- |
Double Cluster |
Perseus |
2 Open Clusters ('H' & Chi) @ 7000-8000 Light Years |
|
-- |
Horsehead Nebula |
Orion |
Emission & Dark Nebulae Stellar Birthplace |
|
