Crab Nebula
A rapidly expanding cloud of gas and dust left over from a supernova observed in 1054 AD.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Catalog progress
A 110-object imaging project.
The Messier Catalog is a collection of 110 galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. This page tracks the long-term goal of imaging every object.
11Completed
5In progress
15Redo list
110Catalog objects
Globular Cluster
A dense globular cluster with a bright central concentration.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
One of the richest globular clusters in the sky.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Globular Cluster
The closest globular cluster to Earth.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A very old and massive cluster containing more than 100,000 stars.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Butterfly Cluster
A bright open cluster whose star pattern loosely resembles butterfly wings.
Not startedPtolemy's Cluster
A large, bright naked-eye cluster made up of young stars.
Not startedLagoon Nebula
A vast stellar nursery containing glowing hydrogen gas and dark dust.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A compact globular cluster near the galactic center.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A bright globular cluster with a dense core and slightly elongated shape from tidal effects.
Not startedWild Duck Cluster
One of the richest and most compact open clusters in the sky.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A loosely concentrated globular cluster with stars more evenly distributed than most similar clusters.
Not startedHercules Globular Cluster
One of the brightest and best-known globular clusters in the northern sky.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Globular Cluster
A dense cluster rich in variable stars and showing a relatively low metallicity population.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
An extremely compact globular cluster with a dense core and a rare embedded planetary nebula.
Not started
M16Eagle Nebula
A vast star-forming region famous for the Pillars of Creation.
CompletedOmega Nebula
A bright emission nebula shaped like a swan or checkmark.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A small and loose open cluster embedded in a dense star field in Sagittarius.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
An unusually elongated globular cluster distorted by gravitational forces near the galactic center.
Not startedTrifid Nebula
A complex nebula with dark dust lanes that divide it into three sections mixing glowing and reflective regions.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A young cluster of hot blue stars located near the Trifid Nebula.
Not startedSagittarius Globular Cluster
A bright and nearby globular cluster containing hundreds of thousands of stars and planetary nebulae.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A large and bright open cluster with widely spaced young stars.
Not startedSagittarius Star Cloud
A dense region of the Milky Way filled with stars and dark dust lanes.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A loose naked-eye cluster containing several bright giant stars.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A faint and compact open cluster located in a dense galactic field.
Not startedDumbbell Nebula
A shell of glowing gas expelled by a dying Sun-like star.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A dense globular cluster containing several millisecond pulsars near the galactic center.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A small and sparse grouping of bright stars in the constellation Cygnus.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A very compact globular cluster with a collapsed core in Capricornus.
Not started
M31Andromeda Galaxy
The nearest major spiral galaxy to the Milky Way.
CompletedM32Elliptical Galaxy
A compact satellite galaxy of Andromeda with a very dense stellar core.
Completed
M33Triangulum Galaxy
A face-on spiral galaxy and one of the most distant objects visible to the naked eye.
CompletedOpen Cluster
A relatively young open cluster composed of many bright blue-white stars.
Redo - OverexposedOpen Cluster
A large, bright open cluster near the foot of Gemini.
In progress - Awaiting StackingOpen Cluster
A compact cluster in Auriga made up of young stars.
In progress - ImagingOpen Cluster
The richest open cluster in Auriga, with a densely populated center.
In progress - ImagingOpen Cluster
A loose cluster whose pattern resembles a cross or the Greek letter Pi.
In progress - ImagingOpen Cluster
A large but sparse cluster of bright stars easily visible with binoculars.
Not startedWinnecke 4
A pair of unrelated stars appearing close together that were misidentified as a nebula.
In progress - Awaiting StackingOpen Cluster
A bright cluster south of Sirius containing a mix of young and evolved stars.
Not started
M42Orion Nebula
The closest massive star-forming region to Earth.
CompletedDe Mairan's Nebula
A bright region of gas separated from the Orion Nebula by a dark dust lane.
Not startedBeehive Cluster
A bright and ancient naked-eye cluster known since classical antiquity.
Redo with RedCat
M45Pleiades
A very young and nearby cluster famous for its bright blue stars and surrounding reflection nebulosity.
Completed
M46Open Cluster
A rich open cluster that contains the planetary nebula NGC 2438.
Completed
M47Open Cluster
A sparse but bright cluster of young stars.
CompletedOpen Cluster
A wide and loose cluster visible with binoculars.
Not startedElliptical Galaxy
A giant elliptical galaxy in the Virgo Cluster surrounded by numerous satellite systems.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Open Cluster
A heart-shaped open cluster containing dozens of young stars.
Not started
M51Whirlpool Galaxy
A grand-design spiral galaxy interacting with its companion, NGC 5195.
Completed - Apr 13, 2026Open Cluster
A compact cluster rich in faint stars near the Bubble Nebula.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A dense globular cluster located near NGC 5053 in Coma Berenices.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Globular Cluster
A globular cluster belonging to the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy as it merges with the Milky Way.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A nearby, loosely concentrated globular cluster in Sagittarius.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A moderately compact cluster of very old stars in Lyra.
Not startedRing Nebula
A glowing ring formed from shell gas ejected by a dying Sun-like star.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A barred spiral galaxy in Virgo with reduced star formation compared to similar systems.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Elliptical Galaxy
A compact elliptical galaxy with a dense and smooth stellar distribution.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Elliptical Galaxy
A massive elliptical galaxy hosting a supermassive black hole and interacting with nearby galaxies.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A face-on spiral galaxy notable for its high number of observed supernovae.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A bright cluster distorted by strong tidal forces near the galactic center.
Not startedSunflower Galaxy
A spiral galaxy with a patchy, flocculent pattern of short arm segments.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Black Eye Galaxy
A galaxy with a striking dark dust lane creating the look of a black eye near the bright core.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A member of the Leo Triplet with defined spiral structure and ongoing star formation.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A distorted member of the Leo Triplet shaped by gravitational interactions.
Not startedOpen Cluster
One of the oldest known open clusters in the Milky Way.
In progressGlobular Cluster
A metal-poor cluster with an irregular shape due to tidal interactions.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A compact globular cluster near the galactic center.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A dense globular cluster located near M69 in Sagittarius.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A loosely concentrated cluster showing features between open and globular clusters.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A faint and distant globular cluster in Aquarius.
Not startedAsterism
A chance alignment of stars once thought to be a true star cluster.
Not startedPhantom Galaxy
A face-on spiral galaxy with very low surface brightness and delicate spiral structure.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A compact and distant globular cluster with a dense central nucleus.
Not startedLittle Dumbbell Nebula
A bipolar nebula formed by powerful stellar winds from a dying star.
Not startedCetus A
An active galaxy powered by a supermassive black hole producing strong core emissions.
Not startedReflection Nebula
A bright nebula shining by reflected starlight from nearby hot stars embedded in dark dust.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A cluster thought to have been captured by the Milky Way from another galaxy.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
One of the densest known globular clusters with an extremely packed core.
Not started
M81Bode's Galaxy
A bright nearby spiral with well-defined arms and a massive central bulge.
CompletedCigar Galaxy
A highly active galaxy undergoing intense star formation with strong galactic winds.
Not startedSouthern Pinwheel Galaxy
A face-on spiral galaxy rich in star formation and frequent supernova activity.
Not startedLenticular Galaxy
A smooth Virgo Cluster galaxy containing a large central black hole.
Not startedLenticular Galaxy
A transition galaxy showing characteristics of both elliptical and spiral galaxies.
Not startedElliptical Galaxy
A high-velocity galaxy moving through the Virgo Cluster trailing stripped gas.
Not startedVirgo A
A giant galaxy famous for a jet of energized particles driven by a supermassive black hole.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A bright spiral galaxy in Virgo with tightly wound spiral arms.
Not startedElliptical Galaxy
A nearly spherical galaxy with a smooth and featureless form.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A galaxy whose outer gas is being stripped as it travels through the Virgo Cluster.
Not startedBarred Spiral Galaxy
A faint barred spiral galaxy with a distinct central bar.
Not startedGlobular Cluster
A very bright and dense globular cluster nearly rivaling M13.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A bright open cluster with a compact, triangular arrangement of stars.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A galaxy with a brilliant core surrounded by a faint star-forming ring.
Not startedBarred Spiral Galaxy
A barred spiral galaxy showing a ring of star formation near its center.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A dusty spiral galaxy that is a main member of the Leo I Group.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Owl Nebula
A round nebula with dark patches that resemble owl eyes.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A highly inclined spiral galaxy with strong dust absorption features.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
An asymmetric spiral galaxy with one arm more extended from past gravitational encounters.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A grand-design spiral galaxy with intense star formation in arms and core.
Not started
M101Pinwheel Galaxy
A giant spiral galaxy with sprawling arms and hundreds of visible star-forming regions.
Completed - consider EdgeHD 8 redoLenticular Galaxy
A historically uncertain entry, often identified with the Spindle Galaxy, NGC 5866.
Not startedOpen Cluster
A small and compact cluster near the Cassiopeia region of the Milky Way.
Not startedSombrero Galaxy
A bright galaxy with a dark dust lane and prominent central bulge resembling a sombrero.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Elliptical Galaxy
A smooth elliptical galaxy that is part of the Leo I galaxy group.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
A galaxy with an active nucleus and strong water vapor maser emissions.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Globular Cluster
A loose cluster crossed by dark dust lanes.
Not startedSpiral Galaxy
An edge-on spiral galaxy with a chaotic and clumpy internal structure.
Not startedBarred Spiral Galaxy
A faint barred spiral galaxy with subtle arms and a weak outer ring.
Redo with EdgeHD 8Elliptical Galaxy
A diffuse satellite of Andromeda containing both ancient and intermediate-age stars.
Not started