Messier # |
Name |
Constellation |
Notable Characteristic |
Photo
|
1 |
Crab Nebula |
Taurus |
—Supernova remnant —Endpoint of high mass 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 —Dust and gas visible |
|
27 |
Dumbbell Nebula |
Vulpecula |
—Planetary nebula —After giant stage in Sun |
|
31 |
Andromeda Galaxy |
Andromeda |
—Spiral galaxy —Visible to unaided eye —@2 Million LY |
|
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 galaxy —Interacting pair |
|
57 |
Ring Nebula |
Lyra |
—Planetary nebula —White dwarf visible —Endpoint of low mass stellar evolution |
|
87 |
Virgo A |
Virgo |
—Giant elliptical galaxy —In Virgo Cluster —@60 Million LY |
|
104 |
Sombrero Galaxy |
Virgo |
—Edge view of spiral galaxy —Visible dust lanes |
|
-- |
Double Cluster |
Perseus |
—2 open clusters ('H' & Chi) —@7000-8000 LY |
|
-- |
Horsehead Nebula |
Orion |
—Emission & dark nebulae —Stellar birthplace |
|
