TheMessier objects are a set of 110astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomerCharles Messier in hisCatalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles [fr] (Catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters). Because Messier was interested only in findingcomets, he created a list of those non-comet objects that frustrated his hunt for them. This list, which Messier created in collaboration with his assistantPierre Méchain, is now known as theMessier catalogue. The Messier catalogue is one of the most famous lists of astronomical objects, and many objects on the list are still referenced by their Messier numbers.^[1] The catalogue includes most of the astronomicaldeep-sky objects that can be easily observed from Earth'sNorthern Hemisphere; many Messier objects are popular targets for amateur astronomers.^[2]

Messier Catalog

All Messier objects
Alternative names	Messier Catalogue
Survey type	Astronomical catalogue
Named after	Charles Messier
Published	1774 (preliminary version)
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A preliminary version of the catalogue first appeared in 1774 in theMemoirs of theFrench Academy of Sciences for the year 1771.^[3][4][5]The first version of Messier's catalogue contained 45 objects, which were not numbered. Eighteen of the objects were discovered by Messier; the rest had been previously observed by other astronomers.^[6]By 1780 the catalogue had increased to 70 objects.^[7] The final version of the catalogue containing 103 objects was published in 1781 in theConnaissance des Temps for the year 1784.^[8][4]However, due to what was thought for a long time to be the incorrect addition ofMessier 102, the total number remained 102. Other astronomers, using side notes in Messier's texts, eventually filled out the list up to 110 objects.^[9]

The catalogue consists of a diverse range of astronomical objects, fromstar clusters andnebulae togalaxies. For example, Messier 1 is asupernova remnant, known as theCrab Nebula, and the greatspiralAndromeda Galaxy is M31. Further inclusions followed; the first addition came fromNicolas Camille Flammarion in 1921, who addedMessier 104 after finding Messier's side note in his 1781 edition exemplar of the catalogue.M105 toM107 were added byHelen Sawyer Hogg in 1947,M108 andM109 byOwen Gingerich in 1960, andM110 by Kenneth Glyn Jones in 1967.^[10]

The first edition of 1774 covered 45 objects (M1 toM45). The total list published by Messier in 1781 contained 103 objects, but the list was expanded through successive additions by other astronomers, motivated by notes in Messier's and Méchain's texts indicating that at least one of them knew of the additional objects. The first such addition came fromNicolas Camille Flammarion in 1921, who addedMessier 104 after finding a note Messier made in a copy of the 1781 edition of the catalogue.M105 toM107 were added byHelen Sawyer Hogg in 1947,M108 andM109 byOwen Gingerich in 1960, andM110 by Kenneth Glyn Jones in 1967.^[11]M102 was observed by Méchain, who communicated his notes to Messier. Méchain later concluded that this object was simply a re-observation of M101, though some sources suggest that the object Méchain observed was the galaxyNGC 5866 and identify that as M102.^[12]

Messier's final catalogue was included in theConnaissance des Temps pour l'Année 1784 [Knowledge of the Times for the Year 1784], the French official yearly publication of astronomicalephemerides.^[8][4]

Messier lived and did his astronomical work at the Hôtel de Cluny (now theMusée national du Moyen Âge), inParis, France. The list he compiled contains only objects found in the sky area he could observe: from the northcelestial pole to a celestial latitude of about −35.7° . He did not observe or list objects visible only from farther south, such as theLarge andSmall Magellanic Clouds.^[13]

The Messier catalogue comprises nearly all of the most spectacular examples of the five types ofdeep-sky object –diffuse nebulae,planetary nebulae,open clusters,globular clusters, andgalaxies – visible from European latitudes. Furthermore, almost all of the Messier objects are among the closest to Earth in their respective classes, which makes them heavily studied with professional class instruments that today can resolve very small and visually significant details in them. A summary of the astrophysics of each Messier object can be found in theConcise Catalog of Deep-sky Objects.^[14]

Since these objects could be observed visually with the relatively small-aperturerefracting telescope (approximately 100 mm ≈ 4 inches) used by Messier to study the sky from downtownParis, they are among the brightest and thus most attractiveastronomical objects (popularly calleddeep-sky objects) observable from Earth, and are popular targets for visual study andastrophotography available to modernamateur astronomers using larger aperture equipment. In early spring, astronomers sometimes gather for "Messier marathons", when all of the objects can be viewed over a single night.^[15][16]

• Lists of astronomical objects
• Caldwell catalogue
• Deep-sky object
• Herschel 400 Catalogue
• New General Catalogue

• "SEDS Messier Database".Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS). — includes images
• "Messier gallery".Messier Objects 101.
• "Messier objects".Deep Sky Videos.
• "Messier Objects Ranked By Viewing Difficulty".Starlust.