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with contributions by
Glen Cozens,
Guy McArthur and
Bill Arnett
Also available as ascii file
This list summarizes all deep sky objects which are known or seriously assumed to have been discovered before William Herschel began his great Deep Sky survey in September, 1782.
We give the identification by name or catalog number, basic astronomical data, discovery data, and possible common names for each object. As these objects have all been detected with moderate equipment, they are all within the range of even modest modern amateur telescopes.
This project was partly inspired by a fruitful discussion with Glen Cozens. Data are partly based on the original Messier data, collected by Guy McArthur and updated by the authors with the help of Bill Arnett.
This list is arranged to 1 line per object. Also available as 2-lines and 3-lines per object lists.
This list is sorted by Declination. Also available: ordered by Catalog Number or Name, ordered by Right Ascension, ordered by Constellation, ordered.by Discovery Date.
M No/Name NGC Const T SubT RA Dec m_v Dim Dist Discov. Date Discoverer Names/NotesKey:
M 82 3034 UMa 7 Ir-II 09:55.8 +69:41 8.4 9x4 12000 1774 Dec 31 Bode (#18) Cigar Galaxy M 81 3031 UMa 5 Sb 09:55.6 +69:04 6.9 21x10 12000 1774 Dec 31 Bode (#17) Bode's Galaxy M 52 7654 Cas 1 'e' 23:24.2 +61:35 7.3 13.0 5.0 1774 Sep 7 Messier M103 581 Cas 1 'd' 01:33.2 +60:42 7.4 6.0 8 1781 Mar-Apr Mechain M 40 UMa C - 12:22.4 +58:05 8.4 0.8 0.51 1764 Oct 24 [Messier] Winnecke 4 h Per 869 Per 1 'f' 02:19.0 +57:09 4.3 30 7.1 130 BC Hipparchus h Persei, double cluster with chi. Chi Per 884 Per 1 'e' 02:22.4 +57:07 4.4 30 7.4 130 BC Hipparchus chi Persei, double cluster with h. UMa Cl UMa 1 12:30: +56: 0: 1800: 0.075 pre-hist Ursa Major Moving Cluster, Cr 285 M102? 5866 Dra 8 S0_3 15:06.5 +55:46 9.9 5.2x2.3 40000 1781 Mar-Apr Mechain? Messier? Spindle Galaxy M108 3556 UMa 5 Sc 11:11.5 +55:40 10.0 8x1 45000 1781 Feb 16 Mechain M 97 3587 UMa 3 3a 11:14.8 +55:01 9.9 3.4x3.3 2.6 1781 Feb 16 Mechain Owl Nebula M101 5457 UMa 5 Sc 14:03.2 +54:21 7.9 22.0 27000 1781 Mar 27 Mechain Pinwheel Galaxy M109 3992 UMa 5 SBc 11:57.6 +53:23 9.8 7x4 55000 1781 Feb 16 Mechain M 76 650 Per 3 3+6 01:42.4 +51:34 10.1 2.7x1.8 3.4 1780 Sep 5 Mechain Little Dumbbell Nebula Mel 20 Per 1 03:22 +49: 1.2 185 0.601 <1654 Hodierna The Alpha Persei Moving Cluster M 39 7092 Cyg 1 'e' 21:32.2 +48:26 5.2 32.0 0.825 1764 Oct 24 Messier M106 4258 CVn 5 Sbp 12:19.0 +47:18 8.4 19x8 25000 1781 Jul Mechain 5195 CVn 7 Pec 13:30.0 +47:16 9.6 6.4x4.6 37000 1781 Mar 20 Mechain Companion of M51 M 51 5194 CVn 5 Sc 13:29.9 +47:12 8.4 11x7 37000 1773 Oct 13 Messier Whirlpool Galaxy M 92 6341 Her 2 IV 17:17.1 +43:08 6.4 11.2 26.4 1777 Dec 31 Bode (#76) M 34 1039 Per 1 'd' 02:42.0 +42:47 5.5 35.0 1.4 <1654 Hodierna M 63 5055 CVn 5 Sb 13:15.8 +42:02 8.6 10x6 37000 1779 Jun 14 Mechain Sunflower Galaxy M110 205 And 6 E6p 00:40.4 +41:41 8.5 17x10 2900 1773 Aug 10 Messier A Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, M31 M 31 224 And 5 Sb 00:42.7 +41:16 3.4 178x63 2900 < 905 AD Al Sufi Andromeda Galaxy M 94 4736 CVn 5 Sb 12:50.9 +41:07 8.2 7x3 14500 1781 Mar 22 Mechain M 32 221 And 6 E2 00:42.7 +40:52 8.1 8x6 2900 1749 Oct 29 Le Gentil A Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, M31 M 29 6913 Cyg 1 'd' 20:23.9 +38:32 7.1 7.0 4.0 1764 Jul 29 Messier 752 And 1 'd' 01:57.8 +37:41 5.7 60 1.3 <1654 Hodierna (prob) M 13 6205 Her 2 V 16:41.7 +36:28 5.8 16.6 22.8 1714 Halley Hercules Globular Cluster M 38 1912 Aur 1 'e' 05:28.4 +35:50 7.4 21.0 4.2 <1654 Hodierna M 36 1960 Aur 1 'f' 05:36.1 +34:08 6.3 12.0 4.1 <1654 Hodierna M 57 6720 Lyr 3 4+3 18:53.6 +33:02 8.8 1.4x1.0 4.1 1779 Jan Darquier Ring Nebula M 37 2099 Aur 1 'f' 05:52.4 +32:33 6.2 24.0 4.4 <1654 Hodierna M 33 598 Tri 5 Sc 01:33.9 +30:39 5.7 73x45 3000 <1654 Hodierna Triangulum Galaxy M 56 6779 Lyr 2 X 19:16.6 +30:11 8.3 7.1 31.6 1779 Jan 19 Messier M 3 5272 CVn 2 VI 13:42.2 +28:23 6.2 16.2 30.6 1764 May 3 Messier Mel 111 Com 1 12:25 +26: 1.8 275 0.288 138 AD Ptolemy Coma Star Cluster M 35 2168 Gem 1 'e' 06:08.9 +24:20 5.3 28.0 2.8 1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 12 M 45 Tau 1 'c' 03:47.0 +24:07 1.6 110.0 0.38 pre-hist (Hesiod 1000 BC) Pleiades M 27 6853 Vul 3 3a+2 19:59.6 +22:43 7.4 8.0x5.7 1.25 1764 Jul 12 Messier Dumbbell Nebula M 1 1952 Tau 9 - 05:34.5 +22:01 8.4 6x4 6.3 1731 Bevis Crab Nebula M 64 4826 Com 5 Sb 12:56.7 +21:41 8.5 9.3x5.4 12000 1779 Apr 4 Bode (#77) Blackeye Galaxy Cr 399 Vul 1 19:25.4 +20:11 3.6 60 0.42 964 AD Al Sufi Brocchi's Cluster M 44 2632 Cnc 1 'd' 08:40.1 +19:59 3.7 95.0 0.577 300-250 BC Aratus/Theophrastus Beehive Cluster, Praesepe M 71 6838 Sge 2 X-XI 19:53.8 +18:47 8.2 7.2 11.7 1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 13 M 85 4382 Com 8 S0 12:25.4 +18:11 9.1 7.1x5.2 60000 1781 Mar 4 Mechain M 53 5024 Com 2 V 13:12.9 +18:10 7.6 12.6 56.4 1775 Feb 3 Bode (#26) Mel 25 Tau 1 04:27 +16: 0.5 330 0.150 pre-hist Hyades M100 4321 Com 5 Sc 12:22.9 +15:49 9.3 7x6 60000 1781 Mar 15 Mechain M 74 628 Psc 5 Sc 01:36.7 +15:47 9.4 10.2x9.5 35000 1780 Sep end Mechain M 98 4192 Com 5 Sb 12:13.8 +14:54 10.1 9.5x3.2 60000 1781 Mar 15 Mechain M 91 4548 Com 5 SBb 12:35.4 +14:30 10.2 5.4x4.4 60000 1781 Mar 18 Messier M 88 4501 Com 5 Sc 12:32.0 +14:25 9.6 7x4 60000 1781 Mar 18 Messier M 99 4254 Com 5 Sc 12:18.8 +14:25 9.9 5.4x4.8 60000 1781 Mar 15 Mechain M 90 4569 Vir 5 Sb 12:36.8 +13:10 9.5 9.5x4.5 60000 1781 Mar 18 Messier M 65 3623 Leo 5 Sa 11:18.9 +13:05 9.3 8x1.5 35000 1780 Mar 1 Mechain in the Leo Triplett M 66 3627 Leo 5 Sb 11:20.2 +12:59 8.9 8x2.5 35000 1780 Mar 1 Mechain in the Leo Triplett M 86 4406 Vir 8 S0 12:26.2 +12:57 8.9 7.5x5.5 60000 1781 Mar 18 Messier M 84 4374 Vir 8 S0 12:25.1 +12:53 9.1 5.0 60000 1781 Mar 18 Messier M105 3379 Leo 6 E1 10:47.8 +12:35 9.3 2.0 38000 1781 Mar 24 Mechain M 89 4552 Vir 6 E0 12:35.7 +12:33 9.8 4.0 60000 1781 Mar 18 Messier M 87 4486 Vir 6 E1 12:30.8 +12:24 8.6 7.0 60000 1781 Mar 18 Messier Virgo A M 15 7078 Peg 2 IV 21:30.0 +12:10 6.2 12.3 32.6 1746 Sep 7 Maraldi M 58 4579 Vir 5 SBc 12:37.7 +11:49 9.7 5.5x4.5 60000 1779 Apr 15 Messier M 67 2682 Cnc 1 'f' 08:50.4 +11:49 6.1 30.0 2.7 <1779 Koehler (#19) M 96 3368 Leo 5 Sa 10:46.8 +11:49 9.2 6x4 38000 1781 Mar 20 Mechain M 95 3351 Leo 5 SBb 10:44.0 +11:42 9.7 4.4x3.3 38000 1781 Mar 20 Mechain M 59 4621 Vir 6 E5 12:42.0 +11:39 9.6 5x3.5 60000 1779 Apr 11 Koehler M 60 4649 Vir 6 E2 12:43.7 +11:33 8.8 7x6 60000 1779 Apr 11 Koehler M 49 4472 Vir 6 E4 12:29.8 +08:00 8.4 9x7.5 60000 1771 Feb 19 Messier 6633 Oph 1 18:27.7 +06:34 4.6 27 1.04 1745-46 de Cheseaux I4665 Oph 1 17:46.3 +05:43 4.2 70 1.4 1745-46 de Cheseaux 2244 Mon 1 06:32.3 +05:03 4.8 80x60 5.5 1690 Flamsteed cluster in Rosette Nebula M 61 4303 Vir 5 SABbc 12:21.9 +04:28 9.7 6x5.5 60000 1779 May 5 Oriani M 5 5904 SerCap 2 V 15:18.6 +02:05 5.6 17.4 22.8 1702 May 5 Kirch M 78 2068 Ori 4 R 05:46.7 +00:03 8.3 8x6 1.6 1780 "begin" Mechain M 77 1068 Cet 5 Sb 02:42.7 -00:01 8.9 7x6 60000 1780 Oct 29 Mechain Cetus A M 2 7089 Aqr 2 II 21:33.5 -00:49 6.5 12.9 36.2 1746 Sep 11 Maraldi M 12 6218 Oph 2 IX 16:47.2 -01:57 6.7 14.5 17.6 1764 May 30 Messier M 14 6402 Oph 2 VIII 17:37.6 -03:15 7.6 11.7 27.4 1764 Jun 1 Messier M 10 6254 Oph 2 VII 16:57.1 -04:06 6.6 15.1 13.4 1764 May 29 Messier M 43 1982 Ori 4 E+R 05:35.6 -05:16 9.0 20x15 1.6 1731 de Mairan De Mairan's Nebula, part of Orion Nebula M 42 1976 Ori 4 E+R 05:35.4 -05:27 4.0 85x60 1.6 1610 Peiresc Orion Nebula M 48 2548 Hya 1 'f' 08:13.8 -05:48 5.5 54.0 1.5 1771 Feb 19 Messier M 11 6705 Sct 1 'g' 18:51.1 -06:16 6.3 14.0 6 1681 Kirch Wild Duck Cluster M 50 2323 Mon 1 'e' 07:03.2 -08:20 6.3 16.0 3 1711 G.D. Cassini (?) M 26 6694 Sct 1 'f' 18:45.2 -09:24 8.0 15.0 5 1764 Jun 20 Messier M104 4594 Vir 5 Sa 12:40.0 -11:37 8.0 9x4 50000 1781 May 11 Messier Sombrero Galaxy M 72 6981 Aqr 2 IX 20:53.5 -12:32 9.3 5.9 52.8 1780 Aug 30 Mechain M 73 6994 Aqr A - 20:58.9 -12:38 9.0 2.8 0 1780 Oct 4 [Messier] M107 6171 Oph 2 X 16:32.5 -13:03 7.9 10.0 19.6 1782 Apr Mechain M 16 6611 SerCau 1 'e' 18:18.8 -13:47 6.4 7.0 7 1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 4 associated with the Eagle Nebula M 47 2422 Pup 1 'd' 07:36.6 -14:30 5.2 30.0 1.6 <1654 Hodierna M 46 2437 Pup 1 'f' 07:41.8 -14:49 6.0 27.0 5.4 1771 Feb 19 Messier M 17 6618 Sgr 4 E 18:20.8 -16:11 7.0 11.0 5 1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 20 Omega, Swan, Horseshoe or Lobster Nebula M 18 6613 Sgr 1 'd' 18:19.9 -17:08 7.5 9.0 4.9 1764 Jun 3 Messier M 24 >6603 Sgr B - 18:16.9 -18:29 4.6 90 10 1764 Jun 20 [Messier] Sagittarius Star Cloud, Delle Caustiche M 9 6333 Oph 2 VIII 17:19.2 -18:31 7.7 9.3 26.4 1764 May 28 Messier M 23 6494 Sgr 1 'e' 17:56.8 -19:01 6.9 27.0 2.15 1764 Jun 20 Messier M 25 I4725 Sgr 1 'd' 18:31.6 -19:15 6.5 40.0 2 1745-46 de Cheseaux No. 5 M 41 2287 CMa 1 'e' 06:46.0 -20:44 4.6 38.0 2.3 <1654 Hodierna M 75 6864 Sgr 2 I 20:06.1 -21:55 8.5 6.0 57.7 1780 Aug 27 Mechain M 21 6531 Sgr 1 'd' 18:04.6 -22:30 6.5 13.0 4.25 1764 Jun 5 Messier M 80 6093 Sco 2 II 16:17.0 -22:59 7.3 8.9 27.4 1781 Jan 4 Messier M 20 6514 Sgr 4 E+R 18:02.6 -23:02 9.0 28.0 5.2 1764 Jun 5 Messier Trifid Nebula M 30 7099 Cap 2 V 21:40.4 -23:11 7.2 11.0 24.8 1764 Aug 3 Messier M 93 2447 Pup 1 'g' 07:44.6 -23:52 6.0 22.0 3.6 1781 Mar 20 Messier M 22 6656 Sgr 2 VII 18:36.4 -23:54 5.1 24.0 10.1 1665 Aug 26 Ihle 6530 Sgr 1 'e' 18:04.8 -24:20 4.6 14 5.2 <1654 Hodierna Open cluster associated with M8 M 8 6523 Sgr 4 E 18:03.8 -24:23 6.0 90x40 5.2 1749 Le Gentil Lagoon Nebula M 79 1904 Lep 2 V 05:24.5 -24:33 7.7 8.7 41.1 1780 Oct 26 Mechain M 28 6626 Sgr 2 IV 18:24.5 -24:52 6.8 11.2 17.9 1764 Jul 27 Messier 2362 CMa 1 07:18.8 -24:57 4.1 8 5.0 <1654 Hodierna Tau CMa cluster M 19 6273 Oph 2 VIII 17:02.6 -26:16 6.8 13.5 27.1 1764 Jun 5 Messier M 4 6121 Sco 2 IX 16:23.6 -26:32 5.6 26.3 6.8 1745-6 de Cheseaux No. 19 M 68 4590 Hya 2 X 12:39.5 -26:45 7.8 12.0 32.3 1780 Apr 9 Mechain Milky Way Sgr 5 SABbc 17:45.6 -28:56 28 pre-hist Milky Way, our Galaxy M 83 5236 Hya 5 SABc 13:37.0 -29:52 7.6 11x10 15000 1751-52 Lacaille I.6 Southern Pinwheel M 62 6266 Oph 2 IV 17:01.2 -30:07 6.5 14.1 21.5 1771 Jun 7 Messier M 54 6715 Sgr 2 III 18:55.1 -30:29 7.6 9.1 82.8 1778 Jul 24 Messier M 55 6809 Sgr 2 XI 19:40.0 -30:58 6.3 19.0 16.6 1751-52 Lacaille I.14 M 6 6405 Sco 1 'e' 17:40.1 -32:13 5.3 25.0 2 <1654 Hodierna Butterfly Cluster M 70 6681 Sgr 2 V 18:43.2 -32:18 7.9 7.8 28.0 1780 Aug 31 Messier M 69 6637 Sgr 2 V 18:31.4 -32:21 7.6 7.1 26.7 1751-52 Lacaille I.11 M 7 6475 Sco 1 'e' 17:53.9 -34:49 4.1 80.0 0.8 138 AD Ptolemy The Scorpion's Tail, Ptolemy's Cluster 2546 Pup 1 08:12.4 -37:38 6.3 41 3.3 1751-52 Lacaille II.4 2451 Pup 1 07:45.4 -37:58 2.8 45 0.85 <1654 Hodierna (prob) 2477 Pup 1 'g' 07:52.3 -38:33 5.8 27 4.2 1751-52 Lacaille I.3 6242 Sco 1 'f' 16:55.6 -39:30 6.4 9 3.9 1751-52 Lacaille I.10 6124 Sco 1 16:25.6 -40:40 5.8: 29 18.6 1751-52 Lacaille I.8 6231 Sco 1 'e' 16:54.0 -41:48 2.6 15 5.9 <1654 Hodierna Omega Cen 5139 Cen 2 VIII 13:26.8 -47:29 3.68 36.3 16.0 1677 Halley Omega Centauri 2547 Vel 1 'd' 08:10.7 -49:16 4.7 20 1.96 1751-52 Lacaille III.2 3228 Vel 1 'f' 10:21.8 -51:43 6.0 18 1.6 1751-52 Lacaille II.7 o Vel I2391 Vel 1 'c' 08:40.2 -53:04 2.5 50 0.58 964 AD Al Sufi; Lac II.5 omicron Velorum cluster 6397 Ara 2 IX 17:40.7 -53:40 5.9 26.0 7.2 1751-52 Lacaille III.11 5662 Cen 1 14:35.2 -56:33 5.5 12 1751-52 Lacaille III.8 I2488 Vel 1 09:27.6 -56:59 7.4p 15 , 4) || Crlf) 1751-52 Lacaille III.4 3293 Car 1 'd' 10:35.8 -58:14 4.7 6 8.4 1751-52 Lacaille II.8 3532 Car 1 11:06.4 -58:40 3.0 55 1.3 1751-52 Lacaille II.10 3372 Car 4 E 10:43.8 -59:52 1.0 120x120 10.0 1751-52 Lacaille III.5.6 Eta Carinae nebula Kappa Cru 4755 Cru 1 12:53.6 -60:20 4.2 10 7.6 1751-52 Lacaille II.12 Kappa Cruxis, the Jewel Box cluster 6025 TrA 1 16:03.7 -60:30 5.1 12 2.7 1751-52 Lacaille III.10 2516 Car 1 'g' 07:58.3 -60:52 3.8 30 1.3 1751-52 Lacaille II.3 3766 Cen 1 11:36.1 -61:37 5.3 12 5.5 1751-52 Lacaille III.7 5281 Cen 1 13:46.6 -62:54 5.9 5 4.2 1751-52 Lacaille I.7 I2602 Car 1 10:43.2 -64:24 1.9 50 0.479 1751-52 Lacaille II.9 theta Carinae cluster, Southern Pleiades 2070 Dor 4 E 05:38.7 -69:06 8 40x25 179.0 1751-52 Lacaille I.2 Tarantula Nebula in LMC LMC Dor 7 SBm 05:23.6 -69:45 0.1 650x550 179.0 pre-hist (Magellan 1519) Large Magellanic Cloud 4833 Mus 2 VIII 12:59.6 -70:53 6.91 13.5 18.6 1751-52 Lacaille I.4 47 Tuc 104 Tuc 2 III 00:24.1 -72:05 4.03 30.9 13.4 1751-52 Lacaille I.1 47 Tucanae SMC 292 Tuc 7 SBmp 00:52.7 -72:50 2.3 280x160 210 pre-hist (Magellan 1519) Small Magellanic Cloud
1 Open Cluster
2 Globular Cluster
3 Planetary Nebula
4 Diffuse Nebula
5 Spiral Galaxy
6 Elliptical Galaxy
7 Irregular Galaxy
8 Lenticular (S0) Galaxy
9 Supernova Remnant
A System of 4 stars or Asterism (M73)
B Milky Way Patch (M24)
C Binary star (M40)
positions 2000.0 according to Sky Catalog 2000
PN vis mag from Hynes
Glob Cl vis mag and distances from Harris' database (29-Feb 96/15 May 97)
vis mag's cross-checked with Sky Catalogue 2000.0 and Kenneth Glyn Jones
for galaxies adopted from Uroanometria 2000.0
diameters from Bill Arnett's data file
M63 dist from M51 (group)
M77 quoted from HST PR
M101, M81 group, M96 group distances from HST measurements
Virgo cl distance 60 Mly assumed (HST via M96 gr)
Last Modification: 3 Feb 1998, 22:30 MET