What is a Messier Object?
Let’s start with what Messier objects are. The Messier Catalog, also known as the “Catalog of Nebulae and Star Clusters”, is a list of 110 astronomical objects that was first compiled by the French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century.
What is the Messier Catalog?
The catalog contains a variety of celestial objects visible from the Earth’s northern hemisphere, including galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and other deep-sky objects. Messier originally created the catalog to help fellow astronomers distinguish between these objects and comets, which at the time were often mistaken for new discoveries.
Each object in the Messier Catalog is assigned a unique number, from M1 to M110, and is accompanied by a brief description of its location and appearance. One thing to remember is that the objects are not ordered by location in the sky. Rather, they are ordered in the order of the cataloguing by Messier. The catalog has become an important tool for amateur and professional astronomers alike, and many Messier objects are popular targets for observation and astrophotography.
What is a Messier Marathon?
A Messier Marathon is an astronomical event where stargazers attempt to observe all 110 objects in the Messier catalog in a single night. Because the catalog consists of objects that span the entire circumference of the celestial sky, observers must start in the western sky near sunset and end in the eastern sky near sunrise, essentially completing a full 360 degree rotation of the sky. Naturally this means that an observer must be up all night.
What is the best time of year to do this?
The best (and only) time that this is possible is in early spring. Mid March to early April in the northern hemisphere, when the moon is new or crescent, is the most favorable window of opportunity. Objects need to be observed in the order of right ascension (similar to longitude on earth’s surface), since the rotation of earth will, in turn, rotate the position of the objects in the sky during the course of the night.
The easiest way to complete the marathon is to use a go-to-telescope, since it can automatically point to the selected object. Those who might consider themselves purists will opt for an additional level of difficulty and will attempt to find each object based on their knowledge of how to point the telescope manually, also called star-hopping. The Messier Marathon is considered a challenging and rewarding event for amateur astronomers and is a test of their observing skills and endurance.
There are so many objects? How do I know which ones to see first?
The order in which the objects are observed during the marathon can vary depending on the observer’s location and time of year, but a typical order is as follows:
- Start with the objects that are low in the west just after sunset: M74, M77, M33, M31
- Move to objects in the constellation Cassiopeia: M52, M103, M76, M34
- Observe objects in Perseus: M31, M32, M110, M33, M34, M76
- Observe objects in Taurus and Orion: M1, M45, M42, M43
- Move to objects in Auriga: M38, M36, M37
- Observe objects in Gemini: M35
- Move to objects in Canis Minor: M41
- Observe objects in Cancer: M44
- Observe objects in Leo: M95, M96, M105, M65, M66, M105
- Move to objects in Coma Berenices: M64, M85, M88, M91, M98, M99, M100
- Observe objects in Virgo: M60, M59, M58, M89, M90, M87, M91
- Observe objects in Hydra: M68, M83, M48
- Observe objects in Canes Venatici: M51, M63
- Finish with objects in Ursa Major: M109, M108, M97, M101, M51, M40, M81
Below is a table of the Messier objects along with their NGC (New General Catalog) number.
Table 1 Messier Objects
| MESSIER # | DESCRIPTION | NGC OBJECT # |
| M1 | Crab Nebula | 1952 |
| M2 | Globular Cluster in Aquarius | 7089 |
| M3 | Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici | 5272 |
| M4 | Globular Cluster in Scorpius | 6121 |
| M5 | Globular Cluster in Serpens | 5904 |
| M6 | Butterfly Cluster in Scorpius | 6405 |
| M7 | Ptolemy Cluster in Scorpius | 6475 |
| M8 | Lagoon Nebula in Sagittarius | 6523 |
| M9 | Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus | 6333 |
| M10 | Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus | 6254 |
| M11 | Wild Duck Cluster in Scutum | 6705 |
| M12 | Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus | 6218 |
| M13 | Hercules Globular Cluster in Hercules | 6205 |
| M14 | Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus | 6402 |
| M15 | Globular Cluster in Pegasus | 7078 |
| M16 | Eagle Nebula in Serpens | 6611 |
| M17 | Omega Nebula in Sagittarius | 6618 |
| M18 | Open Cluster in Sagittarius | 6613 |
| M19 | Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus | 6273 |
| M20 | Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius | 6514 |
| M21 | Open Cluster in Sagittarius | 6531 |
| M22 | Globular Cluster in Sagittarius | 6656 |
| M23 | Open Cluster in Sagittarius | 6494 |
| M24 | Milky Way Star Cloud in Sagittarius | 4715 |
| M25 | Open Cluster in Sagittarius | 4725 |
| M26 | Open Cluster in Scutum | 6694 |
| M27 | Dumbbell Nebula in Vulpecula | 6853 |
| M28 | Globular Cluster in Sagittarius | 6626 |
| M29 | Open Cluster in Cygnus | 6913 |
| M30 | Globular Cluster in Capricornus | 7099 |
| M31 | Andromeda Galaxy in Andromeda | 224 |
| M32 | Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda | 221 |
| M33 | Triangulum Galaxy in Triangulum | 598 |
| M34 | Open Cluster in Perseus | 1039 |
| M35 | Open Cluster in Gemini | 2168 |
| M36 | Open Cluster in Auriga | 1960 |
| M37 | Open Cluster in Auriga | 2099 |
| M38 | Open Cluster in Auriga | 1912 |
| M39 | Open Cluster in Cygnus | 7092 |
| M40 | Double Star in Ursa Major | |
| M41 | Little Beehive Cluster in Canis Major | 2287 |
| M42 | Orion Nebula in Orion | 1976 |
| M43 | De Mairan’s Nebula in Orion | 1982 |
| M44 | Beehive Cluster in Cancer | 2632 |
| M45 | Pleiades or Seven Sisters in Taurus | |
| M46 | Open Cluster in Puppis | 2437 |
| M47 | Open Cluster in Puppis | 2422 |
| M48 | Open Cluster in Hydra | 2548 |
| M49 | Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo | 4472 |
| M50 | Open Cluster in Monoceros | 2323 |
| M51 | Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici | 5194 |
| M52 | Open Cluster in Cassiopeia | 7654 |
| M53 | Globular Cluster in Coma Berenices | 5024 |
| M54 | Globular Cluster in Sagittarius | 6715 |
| M55 | Globular Cluster in Sagittarius | 6809 |
| M56 | Globular Cluster in Lyra | 6779 |
| M57 | Ring Nebula in Lyra | 6720 |
| M58 | Spiral Galaxy in Virgo | 4579 |
| M59 | Elliptical | 4621 |
| M60 | Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo | 4649 |
| M61 | Spiral Galaxy in Virgo | 4303 |
| M62 | Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus | 6266 |
| M63 | Sunflower Galaxy in Canes Venatici | 5055 |
| M64 | Black Eye Galaxy in Coma Berenices | 4826 |
| M65 | Spiral Galaxy in Leo | 3623 |
| M66 | Spiral Galaxy in Leo | 3627 |
| M67 | Open Cluster in Cancer | 2682 |
| M68 | Globular Cluster in Hydra | 4590 |
| M69 | Globular Cluster in Sagittarius | 6637 |
| M70 | Globular Cluster in Sagittarius | 6681 |
| M71 | Globular Cluster in Sagitta | 6838 |
| M72 | Globular Cluster in Aquarius | 6981 |
| M73 | Asterism in Aquarius | 6994 |
| M74 | Spiral Galaxy in Pisces | 628 |
| M75 | Globular Cluster in Sagittarius | 6864 |
| M76 | Little Dumbbell Nebula in Perseus | 650, 651 |
| M77 | Spiral Galaxy in Cetus | 1068 |
| M78 | Reflection Nebula in Orion | 2068 |
| M79 | Globular Cluster in Lepus | 1904 |
| M80 | Globular Cluster in Scorpius | 6093 |
| M81 | Bode’s Galaxy in Ursa Major | 3031 |
| M82 | Cigar Galaxy in Ursa Major | 3034 |
| M83 | Spiral Galaxy in Hydra | 5236 |
| M84 | Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo | 4374 |
| M85 | Elliptical Galaxy in Coma Berenices | 4382 |
| M86 | Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo | 4406 |
| M87 | Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo | 4486 |
| M88 | Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices | 4501 |
| M89 | Elliptical Galaxy in Virgo | 4552 |
| M90 | Spiral Galaxy in Virgo | 4569 |
| M91 | Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices | 4548 |
| M92 | Globular Cluster in Hercules | 6341 |
| M93 | Open Cluster in Puppis | 2447 |
| M94 | Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici | 4736 |
| M95 | Barred Spiral Galaxy in Leo | 3351 |
| M96 | Spiral Galaxy in Leo | 3368 |
| M97 | Owl Nebula in Ursa Major | 3587 |
| M98 | Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices | 4192 |
| M99 | Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices | 4254 |
| M100 | Spiral Galaxy in Coma Berenices | 4321 |
| M101 | Pinwheel Galaxy in Ursa Major | 5457 |
| M102 | Spindle Galaxy in Draco | 5866 |
| M103 | Open Cluster in Cassiopeia | 581 |
| M104 | Sombrero Galaxy in Virgo | 4594 |
| M105 | Elliptical Galaxy in Leo | 3379 |
| M106 | Spiral Galaxy in Canes Venatici | 4258 |
| M107 | Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus | 6171 |
| M108 | Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major | 3556 |
| M109 | Barred Spiral Galaxy in Ursa Major | 3992 |
| M110 | Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy in Andromeda | 205 |
Hi Patrick,
Thank you for sharing your experience with the Messier Marathon. As someone who is new to astronomy and astrophotography, I had never heard of this challenge. It’s fascinating to think about attempting to observe and photograph all 110 Messier objects in a single night.
My question for you is, what are some of your favorite Messier objects to observe or photograph? Are there any that are particularly challenging to capture, and how do you approach those?
Thank you for sharing your passion and knowledge of astronomy and astrophotography. I look forward to potentially attempting the Messier Marathon in the future.
Thanks for your interest. Astrophotography can be challenging but very rewarding when you get some good results. Two of my favorite Messier objects are M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) and M42 (the Great Orion Nebula). They are not only beautiful and full of detail, but also very bright and can be seen with the naked eye. This makes them good targets for both beginner and experienced astrophotographers. As far as challenging objects, I love the Horsehead Nebula. It is not a Messier object. Rather it is catalogued as IC434. It is dim, but can be found in the Orion constellation near the great nebula. In my urban sky, a filter is a necessity to block city lights. A go-to telescope makes it much easier to locate. The object is fascinating, as it looks like a horse’s head. All three of those objects can be seen on my Images page.
This is the first time that I have read about a Messier Marathon, and I see you don’t need to be particularly fit for this one. Sounds like you can potentially see some pretty interesting sights. I think you would have to know a lot about Astronomy to partake in this event.
What is the most difficult sighting to see on the list?
Michel,
Most, but not all, do require a telescope to see. A dark sky is also helpful. A few of the objects are bright enough to see with the naked eye, so you don’t even need a telescope. The Andromeda Galaxy and Orion Nebula are worth looking at with binoculars! Go-to telescopes make this challenge easier, but some who have a lot of astronomy knowledge can do this just with their knowledge of the night sky. It’s hard to pick one really tough object since many require a telescope. My favorite “toughie” would have to be the Horsehead Nebula. It is not on Messier’s list, but can be found near the Orion Nebula. I have an image on the “Image Gallery” page. Thanks for your comment!