Messier catalog

The Messier catalog is a listing of 110 stationary astronomical objects (mainly galaxies , star clusters, and nebulae ) that appear foggy and are not comets. It is the first in a long series of fog catalogs .

The French astronomer Charles Messier published this catalog for the first time in 1771. It contained 45 objects. After mediation by Jérôme Lalande , there was a collaboration with Pierre Méchain , with whose help the catalog grew to 103 objects in two further publications by 1784. It was later "filled" up to 110 objects by science historians. Most of the catalog items had not been known before.

The Messier catalog was and is of great practical importance. It was one of the starting points for the systematic exploration of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. The numbers given by him are still the usual designation for many important celestial objects.

History of origin

Charles Messier's research interest was “comet hunting”. By 1801 he had discovered the impressive number of 20 new comets . In his search for comets he repeatedly came across diffuse “spots” that looked similar to comets, but in contrast to comets did not noticeably change their position in the sky. This non-existent proper motion indicated that these are objects far outside the solar system.

In order to avoid confusion and in order not to waste time on these objects in the further search for a comet, Messier created a catalog of foggy objects, whose position and visible properties he recorded. Catalog number 1, in today's parlance "Messier 1" or M1 , was given to the Crab Nebula (Crab Nebula) in the constellation Taurus . The other objects were numbered in the order in which they were added to the catalog. The Andromeda galaxy , a galaxy in the constellation Andromeda , for example, is called M31 .

The actual catalog ultimately contained the objects M1 to M103 and was published in three parts:

• in 1774: M1 to M45 in Mémoires de l'Academie 1771 ,
• in 1780: M1 to M70 in Connaissance des temps 1783 and
• in 1781: M1 to M103 in Connaissance des temps 1784 .

Today the Messier catalog also includes objects M104 to M110:

• M104 was handwritten by Messier in his own copy of his catalog.
• In 1781 and 1782 Méchain discovered the objects M105 to M109 and were mentioned in a letter to Johann III Bernoulli . Messier himself mentioned M108 and M109 in his description of the M97 object , but for unknown reasons did not include them as independent objects in his catalog.

All of these objects were only added to the Messier catalog retrospectively, between 1921 and 1966, by science historians on the grounds that they would most likely have found their way into the planned but never published fourth version of Messier's catalog. In particular the last objects never published by Messier, but also some objects in the published catalog, were later rediscovered by various astronomers (such as Wilhelm Herschel ) independently of Messier's observations.

meaning

The Messier catalog was not the first of its kind, but it was the first of its kind that was largely complete and error-free so that it could be used for practical observations. Even today, most of the objects in the catalog are mainly known by their Messier numbers.

At the time the Messier catalog was drawn up, the nature of the objects listed there was unclear. The research that clarified what galaxies , nebulae and star clusters were all about started from the Messier Catalog, the New General Catalog and the Index Catalog .

The Messier catalog is particularly popular among amateur astronomers and in public observatories , as the objects listed in it can already be observed with smaller telescopes or powerful binoculars . The Messier marathons represent a special observation task , during which each participant has to observe all Messier objects over the course of a single night.

Faults and limits

The catalog has at most one incorrect entry: There is no consensus among science historians whether Messier 102 is an incorrect second performance of the Messier 101 object or an observation of the spindle galaxy NGC 5866, which functions as M102 in modern versions of the catalog.

Furthermore, the Messier catalog has two entries that do not designate two-dimensional objects, namely Messier 40 , actually the double star Winnecke 4 , and Messier 73 , a group of stars that are a random fluctuation in star density on this line of sight.

A number of nebulae known today cannot be found in the Messier catalog because they are too faint. These include the Horsehead Nebula and some brighter galaxies that were later listed in the New General Catalog (1888) and in the Index Catalog (first version 1895, second version 1908). Also some lighter objects like the double star cluster h + Chi in Perseus and the Hyades do not have a catalog entry.

In the Messier catalog only objects visible from the northern hemisphere were taken into account, it only contains objects north of the −35 ° declination .

Overview map

Star map with the location of the 110 Messier objects

List of Messier objects

Abbreviations
Object type		Object type		Object type
Gal.	Galaxy in general	SpiG	Spiral galaxy	BaSpiG	Barred spiral galaxy
EllG	Elliptical galaxy	Ling	Lenticular galaxy	SeyG	Seyfert Galaxy
RaG	Radio galaxy	ZwG	Dwarf galaxy	IrrG	Irregular galaxy
OfSH	Open star cluster	KuSH	Globular clusters	SH	Star clusters in general
St.	star	DS	Double star	Branch.	Asterism
VrS	Variable star	VrDS	Changeable Double star	You where	Dark cloud
GNb	Gas mist in general	PlNb	Planetary nebula	EmNb	Emission nebula
ReNb	Reflection fog	DiNb	Diffuse fog	SuNo	Supernova remnant

Galaxies star clusters stars nebulae________  ____ 

Everything green are galaxies. The remaining objects are part of our Milky Way.

No.	NGC No.	Surname	Object type	Removal ( lj )	Constellation	Size (mag)	image
M1	NGC 1952	Crab Nebula	SuNo	6,300	bull	8.4
M2	NGC 7089		KuSH	37,500	Aquarius	6.5
M3	NGC 5272		KuSH	30,600	Hunting dogs	6.2
M4	NGC 6121		KuSH	6,800	Scorpio	5.6
M5	NGC 5904		KuSH	22,800	Snake	5.6
M6	NGC 6405	Butterfly cluster	OfSH	2,000	Scorpio	5.3
M7	NGC 6475	Ptolemy's star cluster	OfSH	800	Scorpio	4.1
M8	NGC 6523	Lagoon fog	DiNb	5,200	Sagittarius	6.0
M9	NGC 6333		KuSH	26,400	Snake bearer	7.7
M10	NGC 6254		KuSH	13,400	Snake bearer	6.7
M11	NGC 6705	Wild duck pile	OfSH	6,000	sign	6.3
M12	NGC 6218		KuSH	17,600	Snake bearer	6.6
M13	NGC 6205	Hercules cluster	KuSH	22,200	Hercules	5.7
M14	NGC 6402		KuSH	27,400	Snake bearer	7.7
M15	NGC 7078		KuSH	32,600	Pegasus	6.0
M16	NGC 6611	Eagle Nebula	OfSH + DiNb	7,000	Snake	6.4
M17	NGC 6618	Omega nebula	DiNb	5,000	Sagittarius	7.5
M18	NGC 6613		OfSH	4,900	Sagittarius	7.5
M19	NGC 6273		KuSH	27,100	Snake bearer	6.6
M20	NGC 6514	Trifid nebula	DiNb	5,200	Sagittarius	9.0
M21	NGC 6531		OfSH	4,250	Sagittarius	6.5
M22	NGC 6656		KuSH	10.100	Sagittarius	5.9
M23	NGC 6494		OfSH	2,150	Sagittarius	6.9
M24	IC 4715	Sagittarius cloud / dent caustiche	Branch.	10,000	Sagittarius	4.6
M25	IC 4725		OfSH	2,000	Sagittarius	6.5
M26	NGC 6694		OfSH	5,000	sign	9.3
M27	NGC 6853	Dumbbell nebula	PlNb	1,250	Fox	7.4
M28	NGC 6626		KuSH	15,000	Sagittarius	7.3
M29	NGC 6913		OfSH	7,200	swan	7.1
M30	NGC 7099		KuSH	25,000	Capricorn	8.4
M31	NGC 224	Andromeda Galaxy	SpiG (Sb)	2,900,000	Andromeda	3.4
M32	NGC 221		ZwG	2,900,000	Andromeda	8.1
M33	NGC 598	Triangle nebula	SpiG (Sc)	3,000,000	triangle	5.7
M34	NGC 1039		OfSH	1,400	Perseus	5.5
M35	NGC 2168		OfSH	2,800	Twins	5.3
M36	NGC 1960		OfSH	4,100	Carter	6.3
M37	NGC 2099		OfSH	4,400	Carter	6.2
M38	NGC 1912		OfSH	4,200	Carter	7.4
M39	NGC 7092		OfSH	825	swan	4.6
M40	no	Winnecke 4	DS (Ast.)	510	Big Bear	8.4
M41	NGC 2287		OfSH	2,300	Big dog	4.5
M42	NGC 1976	Orion Nebula	DiNb	1,300	Orion	4.0
M43	NGC 1982	de Mairans nebula seen in the picture above left ; is now considered part of the Orion Nebula M42	DiNb	1,300	Orion	9.0
M44	NGC 2632	Nativity Scene (Praesepe)	OfSH	577	cancer	3.7
M45	NGC 1435	Pleiades	OfSH	440	bull	1.6
M46	NGC 2437		OfSH	5,400	Aft deck of the ship	6.0
M47	NGC 2422		OfSH	1,600	Aft deck of the ship	4.5
M48	NGC 2548		OfSH	1,500	Water snake	5.5
M49	NGC 4472		EllG	60,000,000	Virgin	8.4
M50	NGC 2323		OfSH	3,200	unicorn	5.9
M51	NGC 5194+ NGC 5195	Whirlpool galaxy	SpiG (Sc1)	37,000,000	Hunting dogs	M51: 8.4 M51b: 9.6
M52	NGC 7654		OfSH	5,000	Cassiopeia	7.3
M53	NGC 5024		KuSH	58,000	Berenike's hair	7.6
M54	NGC 6715		KuSH	87,400	Sagittarius	7.6
M55	NGC 6809		KuSH	17,300	Sagittarius	6.3
M56	NGC 6779		KuSH	32,900	lyre	8.3
M57	NGC 6720	Ring nebula	PlNb	4,100	lyre	8.8
M58	NGC 4579		BaSpiG (Sb / SBb)	60,000,000	Virgin	9.7
M59	NGC 4621		EllG	60,000,000	Virgin	9.6
M60	NGC 4649		EllG	60,000,000	Virgin	8.8
M61	NGC 4303		SpiG (Sc)	60,000,000	Virgin	9.7
M62	NGC 6266		KuSH	22,500	Snake bearer	6.5
M63	NGC 5055	Sunflower galaxy	SpiG (Sb)	37,000,000	Hunting dogs	8.6
M64	NGC 4826	Black-eye galaxy	SpiG (Sb)	12,000,000	Berenike's hair	8.5
M65	NGC 3623		SpiG	35,000,000	lion	9.3
M66	NGC 3627		BaSpiG	35,000,000	lion	8.9
M67	NGC 2682		OfSH	2,700	cancer	6.1
M68	NGC 4590		KuSH	33,300	Water snake	7.8
M69	NGC 6637		KuSH	29,700	Sagittarius	7.6
M70	NGC 6681		KuSH	29,300	Sagittarius	7.9
M71	NGC 6838		KuSH	13,000	arrow	8.2
M72	NGC 6981		KuSH	55,400	Aquarius	9.3
M73	NGC 6994		Branch.	2,500	Aquarius	9.0
M74	NGC 628		SpiG	35,000,000	fishes	9.4
M75	NGC 6864		KuSH	67,500	Sagittarius	8.5
M76	NGC 650+ NGC 651	Small dumbbell nebula	PlNb	3,400	Perseus	10.1
M77	NGC 1068		SpiG	60,000,000	whale	8.9
M78	NGC 2068		ReNb	1,600	Orion	8.3
M79	NGC 1904		KuSH	42,100	Hare	7.7
M80	NGC 6093		KuSH	32,600	Scorpio	7.3
M81	NGC 3031	Bode fog	SpiG (Sb)	12,000,000	Big Bear	6.9
M82	NGC 3034	Cigar galaxy	SpiG (SBc)	11,000,000	Big Bear	8.4
M83	NGC 5236	southern firewheel galaxy	SpiG	15,000,000	Water snake	7.6
M84	NGC 4374		EllG (E0)	60,000,000	Virgin	9.1
M85	NGC 4382		EllG (E0)	60,000,000	Berenike's hair	9.1
M86	NGC 4406		EllG (E0)	60,000,000	Virgin	8.9
M87	NGC 4486	Virgo A galaxy	EllG	60,000,000	Virgin	8.6
M88	NGC 4501		SpiG	60,000,000	Berenike's hair	9.6
M89	NGC 4552		EllG	60,000,000	Virgin	9.8
M90	NGC 4569		SpiG	60,000,000	Virgin	9.5
M91	NGC 4548		SpiG	60,000,000	Berenike's hair	10.2
M92	NGC 6341		KuSH	26,700	Hercules	6.4
M93	NGC 2447		OfSH	3,600	Aft deck of the ship	6.0
M94	NGC 4736		SpiG	14,500,000	Hunting dogs	8.2
M95	NGC 3351		SpiG	38,000,000	lion	9.7
M96	NGC 3368		SpiG	38,000,000	lion	9.2
M97	NGC 3587	Owl Nebula	PlNb	2,600	Big Bear	9.9
M98	NGC 4192		SpiG	60,000,000	Berenike's hair	10.1
M99	NGC 4254		SpiG	60,000,000	Berenike's hair	9.9
M100	NGC 4321		SpiG	60,000,000	Berenike's hair	9.3
M101	NGC 5457	Firewheel galaxy	SpiG	27,000,000	Big Bear	7.9
M102	NGC 5866		EllG (E0)	45,000,000	Dragon	9.9
M103	NGC 581		OfSH	8,500	Cassiopeia	7.4
M104	NGC 4594	Sombrero Galaxy	SpiG (Sa)	50,000,000	Virgin	8.0
M105	NGC 3379		EllG	38,000,000	lion	9.3
M106	NGC 4258		SpiG	25,000,000	Hunting dogs	8.4
M107	NGC 6171		KuSH	20,900	Snake bearer	7.9
M108	NGC 3556		SpiG	45,000,000	Big Bear	10.0
M109	NGC 3992		SpiG	55,000,000	Big Bear	9.8
M110	NGC 205		EllG	2,900,000	Andromeda	8.5

See also

• List of astronomical catalogs
• New General Catalog (NGC)
• Index Catalog (IC)

Web links

Commons : Messier Catalog  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Charles Messier's original catalog
• Videos on (so far) 79 Messier objects at deepskyvideos.
• Messier Catalog Website (SEDS)
• German Messier catalog
• 2MASS Messier catalog
• Visual observations of the Messier objects ( Memento from January 27, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
• German Messier catalog with visual drawings, photos, maps, visibility diagrams and information
• Messier catalog with 20 cm reflector telescope and digital SLR camera (version 2.0)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Michael Odenkirchen, Caroline Soubiran: NGC 6994 - clearly not a physical stellar ensemble. In: Astronomy and Astrophysics . Vol. 383, No. 1, 2002, pp. 163-170, doi: 10.1051 / 0004-6361: 20011730 .
2. ↑ Daniela B. Pavani, Eduardo Bica: Characterization of open cluster remnants. In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. Vol. 468, No. 1, 2007, pp. 139-150, doi: 10.1051 / 0004-6361: 20066240 .
3. ↑ ^{a b} the messier objects on SEDS