Messier object
The Messier objects are a set of astronomical objects catalogued by Charles Messier in his catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters, first published in 1774.
The first edition covered 45 objects numbered M1 to M45, the total list consists of 110 objects, numbered M1 to M110; the final catalog was published in 1781 and printed in the Connaissance des Temps in 1784. Many of these are still known by their Messier number.
Some of the most famous Messier objects are:
| Name | Approximate distance (light years) |
|---|---|
| M1: Crab Nebula | 6,300 |
| M13: Hercules Globular Cluster | 22,000 |
| M20: Trifid Nebula | 2,200 |
| M27: Dumbbell Nebula | 1,250 |
| M31: Andromeda Galaxy | 2,200,000 |
| M33: Triangulum Galaxy | 2,300,000 |
| M42: Orion Nebula | 1,600 |
| M45: Pleiades | 400 |
| M51: Whirlpool Galaxy | 37,000,000 |
| M57: Ring Nebula | 4,100 |
| M63: Sunflower Galaxy | 37,000,000 |
| M83: Southern Pinwheel Galaxy | 10,000,000 |
| M87: Virgo A Galaxy | 60,000,000 |
| M97: Owl Nebula | 2,600 |
| M101: Pinwheel Galaxy | 24,000,000 |
| M104: Sombrero Galaxy | 50,000,000 |
| M107: (also known as NGC 6171) | 20,000 |
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