Messier Catalog
🔽 Description
The Messier Catalog dates to the 18th century when French astronomer Charles Messier set out to create a "Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters." Interestingly enough, his motivation wasn't to discover deep sky objects. Charles was a devoted comet hunter and wanted to be sure other astronomers didn't waste their time on these "distractions." The catalog features 110 objects ranging from nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters to rich star fields and asterisms. My goal is to observe every target in the catalog. Use this grid to explore the catalog. Click colum headings to sort. The season is the best time of year to observe the target and the difficulty describes how easy targets are to view with binoculars.
✅ Very Easy
🟢 Easy
🟡 Moderate
🔴 Hard
⛔ Very Hard
🌼 Spring
☀ Summer
Target | Name | Type | Constellation | R.A. | Dec. | Mag. | Size | Distance | Season | Difficulty |
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M1 |
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Supernova Remnant | Taurus | 5h 34.5m | 22°1 | 8.4 | 6.0x4.0 | 6,300 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟡 Moderate |
M2 |
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Globular Cluster | Aquarius | 21h 33.5m | -0°49 | 6.5 | 12.9 | 37,500 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M3 |
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Globular Cluster | Canes Venatici | 13h 42.2m | 28°23 | 6.2 | 16.2 | 33,900 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟢 Easy |
M4 |
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Globular Cluster | Scorpius | 16h 23.6m | -26°32 | 5.6 | 26.3 | 7,200 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🔴 Hard |
M5 |
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Globular Cluster | Serpens Caput | 15h 18.6m | 2°5 | 5.6 | 17.4 | 24,500 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | ✅ Very Easy |
M6 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | 17h 40.1m | -32°13 | 5.3 | 25 | 2,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy | |
M7 | Open Cluster | Scorpius | 17h 53.9m | -34°49 | 4.1 | 80 | 800 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy | |
M8 |
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Diffuse Nebula | Sagittarius | 18h 3.8m | -24°23 | 6 | 90x40 | 5,200 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M9 |
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Globular Cluster | Ophiucus | 17h 19.2m | -18°31 | 7.7 | 9.3 | 26,700 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M10 |
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Globular Cluster | Ophiucus | 16h 57.1m | -4°6 | 6.6 | 15.1 | 14,400 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M11 |
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Open Cluster | Scutum | 18h 51.1m | -6°16 | 6.3 | 14 | 6,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | ✅ Very Easy |
M12 |
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Globular Cluster | Ophiucus | 16h 47.2m | -1°57 | 6.7 | 14.5 | 16,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M13 |
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Globular Cluster | Hercules | 16h 41.7m | 36°28 | 5.8 | 16.6 | 22,800 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | ✅ Very Easy |
M14 |
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Globular Cluster | Ophiucus | 17h 37.6m | -3°15 | 7.6 | 11.7 | 27,400 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M15 |
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Globular Cluster | Pegasus | 21h 30m | 12°10 | 6.2 | 12.3 | 33,600 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M16 |
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Open Cluster | Serpens Claudia | 18h 18.8m | -13°47 | 6.4 | 7 | 7,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M17 |
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Diffuse Nebula | Sagittarius | 18h 20.8m | -16°11 | 7 | 11 | 5,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M18 |
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Open Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 19.9m | -17°8 | 7.5 | 9 | 4,900 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M19 |
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Globular Cluster | Ophiucus | 17h 2.6m | -26°16 | 6.8 | 13.5 | 27,100 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M20 |
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Diffuse Nebula | Sagittarius | 18h 2.3m | -23°2 | 9 | 28 | 5,200 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | ⛔ Very Hard |
M21 |
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Open Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 4.6m | -22°30 | 6.5 | 13 | 4,250 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M22 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 36.4m | -23°54 | 5.1 | 24 | 10,100 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | ✅ Very Easy |
M23 |
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Open Cluster | Sagittarius | 17h 56.8m | -19°1 | 6.9 | 27 | 2,150 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M24 |
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Star Cloud | Sagittarius | 18h 18.4m | -18°25 | 4.6 | 90 | 10,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M25 |
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Open Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 31.7m | -19°14 | 6.5 | 40 | 2,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M26 |
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Open Cluster | Scutum | 18h 45.2m | -9°24 | 8 | 15 | 5,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M27 |
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Planetary Nebula | Vulpecula | 19h 59.6m | 22°43 | 7.4 | 8.0x5.7 | 1,250 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M28 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 24.5m | -24°52 | 6.8 | 11.2 | 17,900 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M29 |
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Open Cluster | Cygnus | 20h 23.9m | 38°32 | 7.1 | 7 | 4,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M30 |
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Globular Cluster | Capricornus | 21h 40.4m | -23°11 | 7.2 | 11 | 24,800 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M31 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Andromeda | 0h 42.7m | 41°16 | 3.4 | 178x63 | 2,900,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M32 |
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Elliptical Galaxy | Andromeda | 0h 42.7m | 40°52 | 8.1 | 8x6 | 2,900,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M33 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Triangulum | 1h 33.9m | 30°39 | 5.7 | 73x45 | 3,000,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🔴 Hard |
M34 |
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Open Cluster | Perseus | 2h 42m | 42°47 | 5.5 | 35 | 1,400 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M35 |
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Open Cluster | Gemini | 6h 8.9m | 24°20 | 5.3 | 28 | 2,800 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | ✅ Very Easy |
M36 |
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Open Cluster | Auriga | 5h 36.1m | 34°8 | 6.3 | 12 | 4,100 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M37 |
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Open Cluster | Auriga | 5h 52.4m | 32°33 | 6.2 | 24 | 4,400 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M38 |
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Open Cluster | Auriga | 5h 28.7m | 35°50 | 7.4 | 21 | 4,200 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M39 |
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Open Cluster | Cygnus | 21h 32.2m | 48°26 | 5.2 | 32 | 825 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M40 |
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Double Star | Ursa Major | 12h 22.2m | 58°5 | 9.3 | 49 | 510 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟢 Easy |
M41 |
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Open Cluster | Canis Major | 6h 47m | -20°44 | 4.6 | 38 | 2,300 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M42 |
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Diffuse Nebula | Orion | 5h 35.4m | -5°27 | 4 | 85x60 | 1,600 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | ✅ Very Easy |
M43 |
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Diffuse Nebula | Orion | 5h 35.6m | -5°16 | 9 | 20x15 | 1,600 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M44 |
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Open Cluster | Cancer | 8h 40.1m | 19°59 | 3.7 | 95 | 577 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M45 |
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Open Cluster | Taurus | 3h 47m | 24°7.2 | 1.6 | 110 | 380 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | ✅ Very Easy |
M46 |
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Open Cluster | Puppis | 7h 41.8m | -14°49 | 6 | 27 | 5,400 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M47 |
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Open Cluster | Puppis | 7h 36.6m | -14°30 | 5.2 | 30 | 1,600 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M48 |
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Open Cluster | Hydra | 8h 13.8m | -5°48 | 5.5 | 54 | 1,500 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M49 |
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Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 29.8m | 8°0 | 8.4 | 9x7.5 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M50 |
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Open Cluster | Monocerus | 7h 3.2m | -8°20 | 6.3 | 16 | 3,000 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M51 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | 13h 29.9m | 47°12 | 8.4 | 11x7 | 37,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M52 |
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Open Cluster | Cassiopeia | 23h 24.2m | 61°35 | 7.3 | 13 | 5,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M53 |
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Globular Cluster | Coma Berenices | 13h 12.9m | 18°10 | 7.6 | 12.6 | 56,400 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟢 Easy |
M54 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 55.1m | -30°29 | 7.6 | 9.1 | 82,800 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M55 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 19h 40m | -30°58 | 6.3 | 19 | 16,600 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🔴 Hard |
M56 |
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Globular Cluster | Lyra | 19h 16.6m | 30°11 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 31,600 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M57 |
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Planetary Nebula | Lyra | 18h 53.6m | 33°2 | 8.8 | 1.4x1 | 4,100 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M58 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 37.7m | 11°49 | 9.7 | 5.5x4.5 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M59 |
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Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 42m | 11°39 | 9.6 | 5x3.5 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M60 |
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Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 43.7m | 11°33 | 8.8 | 7x6 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M61 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 21.9m | 4°28 | 9.7 | 6x5.5 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M62 |
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Globular Cluster | Ophiucus | 17h 1.2m | -30°7 | 6.5 | 14.1 | 21,500 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M63 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | 13h 15.8m | 42°2 | 8.6 | 10x6 | 37,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M64 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 12h 56.7m | 21°41 | 8.5 | 9.3x5.4 | 19,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M65 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Leo | 11h 18.9m | 13°5 | 9.3 | 8x1.5 | 35,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M66 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Leo | 11h 20.2m | 12°59 | 8.9 | 8x2.5 | 35,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟢 Easy |
M67 |
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Open Cluster | Cancer | 8h 50.4m | 11°49 | 6.1 | 30 | 2,700 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M68 |
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Globular Cluster | Hydra | 12h 39.5m | -26°45 | 7.8 | 12 | 33,300 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | ⛔ Very Hard |
M69 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 31.4m | -32°21 | 7.6 | 7.1 | 26,700 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M70 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 43.2m | -32°18 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 28,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M71 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagitta | 19h 53.8m | 18°47 | 8.3 | 7.2 | 11,700 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M72 |
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Globular Cluster | Aquarius | 20h 53.5m | -12°32 | 9.3 | 5.9 | 52,800 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M73 | Group/Asterism | Aquarius | 20h 59m | -12°38 | 9 | 2.8 | 2,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🔴 Hard | |
M74 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Pisces | 1h 36.7m | 15°47 | 9.4 | 10.2x9.5 | 35,000,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | ⛔ Very Hard |
M75 |
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Globular Cluster | Sagittarius | 20h 6.1m | -21°55 | 8.5 | 6 | 57,700 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟡 Moderate |
M76 | Planetary Nebula | Perseus | 1h 42.3m | 51°34 | 10.1 | 2.7x1.8 | 3,400 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟡 Moderate | |
M77 | Spiral Galaxy | Cetus | 2h 42.7m | 0°1 | 8.9 | 7x6 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟡 Moderate | |
M78 |
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Diffuse Nebula | Orion | 5h 46.7m | 0°3 | 8.3 | 8x6 | 1,600 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟡 Moderate |
M79 |
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Globular Cluster | Lepus | 5h 24.5m | -24°33 | 7.7 | 8.7 | 41,100 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟡 Moderate |
M80 |
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Globular Cluster | Scorpius | 16h 17m | -22°59 | 7.3 | 8.9 | 27,400 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M81 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | 9h 55.6m | 69°4 | 6.9 | 21x10 | 12,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟢 Easy |
M82 |
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Irregular Galaxy | Ursa Major | 9h 55.8m | 69°41 | 8.4 | 9.x4 | 12,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟢 Easy |
M83 | Spiral Galaxy | Hydra | 13h 37m | -29°52 | 7.6 | 11x10 | 15,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard | |
M84 |
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Lenticular (S0) Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 25.1m | 12°53 | 9.1 | 5 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M85 |
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Lenticular (S0) Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 12h 25.4m | 18°11 | 9.1 | 7.1x5.2 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M86 |
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Lenticular (S0) Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 26.2m | 12°57 | 8.9 | 7.5x5.5 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M87 |
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Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 30.8m | 12°24 | 8.6 | 7 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M88 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 12h 32m | 14°25 | 9.6 | 7x4 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M89 |
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Elliptical Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 35.7m | 12°33 | 9.8 | 4 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M90 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 36.8m | 13°10 | 9.5 | 9.5x4.5 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M91 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 12h 35.4m | 14°30 | 10.2 | 5.4x4.4 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | ⛔ Very Hard |
M92 |
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Globular Cluster | Hercules | 17h 17.1m | 43°8 | 6.4 | 11.2 | 26,400 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🟢 Easy |
M93 |
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Open Cluster | Puppis | 7h 44.6m | -23°52 | 6 | 22 | 3,600 L.Y. | ❄ Winter | 🟢 Easy |
M94 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | 12h 50.9m | 41°7 | 8.2 | 7x3 | 14,500,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M95 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Leo | 10h 44m | 11°42 | 9.7 | 4.4x3.3 | 38,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M96 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Leo | 10h 46.8m | 11°49 | 9.2 | 6x4 | 38,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M97 |
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Planetary Nebula | Ursa Major | 11h 14.8m | 55°1 | 9.9 | 3.4x3.3 | 2,600 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | ⛔ Very Hard |
M98 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 12h 13.8m | 14°54 | 10.1 | 9.5x3.2 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | ⛔ Very Hard |
M99 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 12h 18.8m | 14°25 | 9.9 | 5.4x4.8 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M100 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Coma Berenices | 12h 22.9m | 15°49 | 9.3 | 7x6 | 60,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | ⛔ Very Hard |
M101 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | 14h 3.2m | 54°21 | 7.9 | 22 | 27,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | ⛔ Very Hard |
M102 | Lenticular (S0) Galaxy | Draco | 15h 6.5m | 55°46 | 9.9 | 5.2x2.3 | 40,000,000 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🔴 Hard | |
M103 |
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Open Cluster | Cassiopeia | 1h 33.2m | 60°42 | 7.4 | 6 | 8,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🟢 Easy |
M104 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 40m | -11°37 | 8 | 9x4 | 50,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟢 Easy |
M105 |
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Elliptical Galaxy | Leo | 10h 47.8m | 12°35 | 9.3 | 2 | 38,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🟡 Moderate |
M106 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Canes Venatici | 12h 19m | 47°18 | 8.4 | 19x8 | 25,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M107 |
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Globular Cluster | Ophiucus | 16h 32.5m | -13°3 | 7.9 | 10 | 19,600 L.Y. | ☀ Summer | 🔴 Hard |
M108 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | 11h 11.5m | 55°40 | 10 | 8x1 | 45,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M109 |
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Spiral Galaxy | Ursa Major | 11h 57.6m | 53°23 | 9.8 | 7x4 | 55,000,000 L.Y. | 🌼 Spring | 🔴 Hard |
M110 | Elliptical Galaxy | Andromeda | 0h 40.4m | 41°41 | 8.5 | 17x10 | 2,900,000 L.Y. | 🍂 Autumn | 🔴 Hard |