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[2] A preliminary version of the catalogue first appeared in 1774 in the Memoirs of the French 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]
Unlike objects in the Messier catalogue, which are listed roughly in the order of discovery by Messier and his colleagues, [5] the Caldwell catalogue is ordered by declination, with C1 being the most northerly and C109 being the most southerly, [1] although two objects (NGC 4244 and the Hyades) are listed out of sequence. [1]
The Butterfly Cluster (cataloged as Messier 6 or M6, and as NGC 6405) is an open cluster of stars in the southern constellation of Scorpius. Its name derives from the resemblance of its shape to a butterfly .
Messier 81 and Messier 82 are considered ideal for viewing using binoculars and small telescopes. [7] [11] The two objects are generally not observable to the unaided eye, although highly experienced amateur astronomers may be able to see Messier 81 under exceptional observing conditions with a very dark sky.
A Messier marathon is an attempt, usually organized by amateur astronomers, to find as many Messier objects as possible during one night. The Messier catalogue was compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier during the late 18th century and consists of 110 relatively bright deep-sky objects ( galaxies , nebulae , and star clusters ).
Messier 7 or M7, also designated NGC 6475 and sometimes known as the Ptolemy Cluster, [4] is an open cluster of stars in the constellation of Scorpius. The cluster is easily detectable with the naked eye, close to the "stinger" of Scorpius. With a declination of −34.8°, it is the southernmost Messier object.
Charles Messier noted it in 1764 and—a studier of comets—cast it as one of his nebulae. William Herschel was the first to resolve individual stars in the cluster in 1791, counting roughly 200. [9] Messier 5 is receding from the Solar System at a speed over 50 km/s. [10]
NGC 6207 is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Hercules.It is designated as SA(s)c in the galaxy morphological classification scheme and was discovered by William Herschel on 16 May 1787.