Messier checklist
Charles Messier listed 110 fuzzy things in the night sky so comet hunters wouldn't mistake them for comets. They're now the classic checklist for a small telescope. 5 photographed so far, plus M32, caught beside Andromeda.
"Up to" is how high each one gets above the horizon from Northern Ireland; the ones that never clear 15° are behind the hedge, the house or the murk for most of us here.
M1
Crab Nebula
Nebula in Taurus, NGC 1952. Up to 57° here.
Not yet
M2
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Aquarius, NGC 7089. Up to 34° here.
Not yet
M3
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Canes Venatici, NGC 5272. Up to 63° here.
Not yet
M4
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Scorpius, NGC 6121. Never clears 8° here.
Not yet
M5
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Serpens, NGC 5904. Up to 37° here.
Not yet
M6
Butterfly Cluster
Open cluster in Scorpius, NGC 6405. Never clears 3° here.
Not yet
M7
Ptolemy's Cluster
Open cluster in Scorpius, NGC 6475. Never clears 0° here.
Not yet
M8
Lagoon Nebula
Nebula in Sagittarius, NGC 6523. Never clears 11° here.
Not yet
M9
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus, NGC 6333. Up to 16° here.
Not yet
M10
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus, NGC 6254. Up to 31° here.
Not yet
M11
Amas de l'Ecu de Sobieski
Open cluster in Scutum, NGC 6705. Up to 29° here.
Not yet
M12
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus, NGC 6218. Up to 33° here.
Not yet
M13
Hercules Globular Cluster
Globular cluster in Hercules, NGC 6205. Up to 71° here.
Not yet
M14
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus, NGC 6402. Up to 32° here.
Not yet
M15
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Pegasus, NGC 7078. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M16
Eagle Nebula
Nebula in Serpens, NGC 6611. Up to 21° here.
Not yet
M17
Checkmark Nebula
Nebula in Sagittarius, NGC 6618. Up to 19° here.
Not yet
M18
Open cluster
Open cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6613. Up to 18° here.
Not yet
M19
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus, NGC 6273. Never clears 9° here.
Not yet
M20
Trifid Nebula
Nebula in Sagittarius, NGC 6514. Never clears 12° here.
Not yet
M21
Open cluster
Open cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6531. Never clears 13° here.
Not yet
M22
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6656. Never clears 11° here.
Not yet
M23
Open cluster
Open cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6494. Up to 16° here.
Not yet
M24
Small Sgr Star Cloud
Open cluster in Sagittarius, IC 4715. Up to 16° here.
Not yet
M25
Open cluster
Open cluster in Sagittarius, IC 4725. Up to 16° here.
Not yet
M26
Open cluster
Open cluster in Scutum, NGC 6694. Up to 26° here.
Not yet
M27
Dumbbell Nebula
Planetary nebula in Vulpecula, NGC 6853. Up to 58° here.
Photographed: 3 October 2026
M28
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6626. Never clears 10° here.
Not yet
M29
Open cluster
Open cluster in Cygnus, NGC 6913. Up to 74° here.
Not yet
M30
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Capricornus, NGC 7099. Never clears 12° here.
Not yet
M31
Andromeda Galaxy
Galaxy in Andromeda, NGC 224. Up to 76° here.
Photographed: 13 October 2026, 6 October 2026
M32
Galaxy
Galaxy in Andromeda, NGC 221. Up to 76° here.
Caught beside M31: 13 October 2026
M33
Triangulum Galaxy
Galaxy in Triangulum, NGC 598. Up to 66° here.
Photographed: 15 October 2026
M34
Open cluster
Open cluster in Perseus, NGC 1039. Up to 78° here.
Not yet
M35
Open cluster
Open cluster in Gemini, NGC 2168. Up to 59° here.
Not yet
M36
Open cluster
Open cluster in Auriga, NGC 1960. Up to 69° here.
Not yet
M37
Open cluster
Open cluster in Auriga, NGC 2099. Up to 68° here.
Not yet
M38
Open cluster
Open cluster in Auriga, NGC 1912. Up to 71° here.
Not yet
M39
Open cluster
Open cluster in Cygnus, NGC 7092. Up to 83° here.
Not yet
M40
Double star
Double star in Ursa Major. Up to 87° here.
Not yet
M41
Open cluster
Open cluster in Canis Major, NGC 2287. Never clears 14° here.
Not yet
M42
Great Orion Nebula
Cluster and nebula in Orion, NGC 1976. Up to 30° here.
Not yet
M43
Mairan's Nebula
Nebula in Orion, NGC 1982. Up to 30° here.
Not yet
M44
Beehive
Open cluster in Cancer, NGC 2632. Up to 55° here.
Not yet
M45
Pleiades
Open cluster in Taurus. Up to 59° here.
Photographed: 13 October 2026
M46
Open cluster
Open cluster in Puppis, NGC 2437. Up to 20° here.
Not yet
M47
Open cluster
Open cluster in Puppis, NGC 2422. Up to 21° here.
Not yet
M48
Open cluster
Open cluster in Hydra, NGC 2548. Up to 29° here.
Not yet
M49
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4472. Up to 43° here.
Not yet
M50
Open cluster
Open cluster in Monoceros, NGC 2323. Up to 27° here.
Not yet
M51
Whirlpool Galaxy
Galaxy in Canes Venatici, NGC 5194. Up to 82° here.
Not yet
M52
Open cluster
Open cluster in Cassiopeia, NGC 7654. Up to 83° here.
Not yet
M53
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Coma Berenices, NGC 5024. Up to 53° here.
Not yet
M54
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6715. Never clears 5° here.
Not yet
M55
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6809. Never clears 4° here.
Not yet
M56
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Lyra, NGC 6779. Up to 65° here.
Not yet
M57
Ring Nebula
Planetary nebula in Lyra, NGC 6720. Up to 68° here.
Photographed: 3 October 2026
M58
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4579. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M59
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4621. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M60
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4649. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M61
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4303. Up to 39° here.
Not yet
M62
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus, NGC 6266. Never clears 5° here.
Not yet
M63
Sunflower Galaxy
Galaxy in Canes Venatici, NGC 5055. Up to 77° here.
Not yet
M64
Black Eye Galaxy
Galaxy in Coma Berenices, NGC 4826. Up to 57° here.
Not yet
M65
Galaxy
Galaxy in Leo, NGC 3623. Up to 48° here.
Not yet
M66
Galaxy
Galaxy in Leo, NGC 3627. Up to 48° here.
Not yet
M67
Open cluster
Open cluster in Cancer, NGC 2682. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M68
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Hydra, NGC 4590. Never clears 8° here.
Not yet
M69
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6637. Never clears 3° here.
Not yet
M70
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6681. Never clears 3° here.
Not yet
M71
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagitta, NGC 6838. Up to 54° here.
Not yet
M72
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Aquarius, NGC 6981. Up to 22° here.
Not yet
M73
Asterism
Asterism in Aquarius, NGC 6994. Up to 22° here.
Not yet
M74
Galaxy
Galaxy in Pisces, NGC 628. Up to 51° here.
Not yet
M75
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Sagittarius, NGC 6864. Never clears 13° here.
Not yet
M76
Barbell Nebula
Planetary nebula in Perseus, NGC 650. Up to 87° here.
Not yet
M77
Galaxy
Galaxy in Cetus, NGC 1068. Up to 35° here.
Not yet
M78
Nebula
Nebula in Orion, NGC 2068. Up to 35° here.
Not yet
M79
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Lepus, NGC 1904. Never clears 10° here.
Not yet
M80
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Scorpius, NGC 6093. Never clears 12° here.
Not yet
M81
Bode's Galaxy
Galaxy in Ursa Major, NGC 3031. Up to 76° here.
Not yet
M82
Cigar Galaxy
Galaxy in Ursa Major, NGC 3034. Up to 75° here.
Not yet
M83
Southern Pinwheel Galaxy
Galaxy in Hydra, NGC 5236. Never clears 5° here.
Not yet
M84
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4374. Up to 48° here.
Not yet
M85
Galaxy
Galaxy in Coma Berenices, NGC 4382. Up to 53° here.
Not yet
M86
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4406. Up to 48° here.
Not yet
M87
Virgo Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4486. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M88
Galaxy
Galaxy in Coma Berenices, NGC 4501. Up to 49° here.
Not yet
M89
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4552. Up to 48° here.
Not yet
M90
Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4569. Up to 48° here.
Not yet
M91
Galaxy
Galaxy in Coma Berenices, NGC 4548. Up to 49° here.
Not yet
M92
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Hercules, NGC 6341. Up to 78° here.
Not yet
M93
Open cluster
Open cluster in Puppis, NGC 2447. Never clears 11° here.
Not yet
M94
Galaxy
Galaxy in Canes Venatici, NGC 4736. Up to 76° here.
Not yet
M95
Galaxy
Galaxy in Leo, NGC 3351. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M96
Galaxy
Galaxy in Leo, NGC 3368. Up to 47° here.
Not yet
M97
Owl Nebula
Planetary nebula in Ursa Major, NGC 3587. Up to 90° here.
Not yet
M98
Galaxy
Galaxy in Coma Berenices, NGC 4192. Up to 50° here.
Not yet
M99
Coma Pinwheel
Galaxy in Coma Berenices, NGC 4254. Up to 49° here.
Not yet
M100
Galaxy
Galaxy in Coma Berenices, NGC 4321. Up to 51° here.
Not yet
M101
Galaxy
Galaxy in Ursa Major, NGC 5457. Up to 89° here.
Not yet
M102
Spindle Galaxy (usually taken to be M102)
Galaxy in Draco, NGC 5866. Up to 89° here.
Not yet
M103
Open cluster
Open cluster in Cassiopeia, NGC 581. Up to 84° here.
Not yet
M104
Sombrero Galaxy
Galaxy in Virgo, NGC 4594. Up to 23° here.
Not yet
M105
Galaxy
Galaxy in Leo, NGC 3379. Up to 48° here.
Not yet
M106
Galaxy
Galaxy in Canes Venatici, NGC 4258. Up to 82° here.
Not yet
M107
Globular cluster
Globular cluster in Ophiuchus, NGC 6171. Up to 22° here.
Not yet
M108
Galaxy
Galaxy in Ursa Major, NGC 3556. Up to 89° here.
Not yet
M109
Galaxy
Galaxy in Ursa Major, NGC 3992. Up to 88° here.
Not yet
M110
Galaxy
Galaxy in Andromeda, NGC 205. Up to 77° here.
Not yet
Positions, types and names from OpenNGC, by way of telescopeyoke, under CC BY-SA 4.0. M102 is disputed; it is usually taken to be NGC 5866.