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Messier object

Astronomical objects catalogued by Charles Messier

Entityastronomical catalogue Enumeration of 110Q14530

Also known as Messier Catalogue

Instance of: astronomical catalogue
, Enumeration of 110

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

The Messier objects are a set of 110 astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier in his Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles. Because Messier was interested only in finding comets, he created a list of those non-comet objects that frustrated his hunt for them. This list, which Messier created in collaboration with his assistant Pierre Méchain, is now known as the Messier 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. The catalogue includes most of the astronomical deep-sky objects that can be easily observed from Earth's Northern Hemisphere; many Messier objects are popular targets for amateur astronomers.

Overview

All data

35 statements · 3% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Named after: Charles Messier
Author: Charles Messier
Released: 1774
Astronomical filter: visual perception
Main subject: nebula
planetary nebula
open cluster
globular cluster
galaxy
Short name: M
M
M
Has list: list of Messier objects
Country of origin: France
Copyright status: public domain applies to jurisdiction: United States
public domain applies to jurisdiction: countries with 100 years pma or shorter
Collection or exhibition size: 110 astronomical object
Different from: Messier
Native label: Catalogue de Messier
Language: French
Genre: catalog

On other databases

14 identifiers linking Messier object across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

externally sourced

Source last edited August 31, 2026. AIDB refreshes this page daily.

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AIDB. (2026). Messier object (Q14530). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/messier-object-Q14530