This challenge is to sketch or photograph all 110 Messier Objects during 2023. It is open to all Swindon Stargazers Club members.
Click on any image to open a full size version in another tab. Hover over any thumbnail to see who contributed the image.
To submit a sketch or photograph please email it to ssmessier@cog2.com. To learn more about Charles Messier click here
| Messier Number NGC | Type | Magnitude & Size | Season | Difficulty | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1 NGC1952 Crab Nebula | Supernova Remnant | Magnitude 8.4 Size 6.0x4.0 | Winter | Moderate |  |
| M2 NGC 7089 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.5 Size 12.9 | Autumn | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M3 NGC 5272 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.2 Size 16.2 | Spring | Easy |  |
| M4 NGC 6121 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 5.6 Size 26.3 | Summer | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M5 NGC 5904 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 5.6 Size 17.4 | Summer | Very Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M6 NGC 6405 Butterfly Cluster | Open Cluster | Magnitude 5.3 Size 25 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M7 NGC 6475 Ptolemys Cluster | Open Cluster | Magnitude 4.1 Size 80 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M8 NGC 6523 Lagoon Nebula | Diffuse Nebula | Magnitude 6 Size 90x40 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M9 NGC 6333 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.7 Size 9.3 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M10 NGC 6254 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.6 Size 15.1 | Summer | Moderate |  |
| M11 NGC 6705 Wild Duck Cluster | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.3 Size 14 | Summer | Very Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M12 NGC 6218 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.7 Size 14.5 | Summer | Moderate |  |
| M13 NGC 6205 Hercules Globular Cluster | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 5.8 Size 16.6 | Summer | Very Easy |   |
| M14 NGC 6402 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.6 Size 11.7 | Summer | Moderate |  |
| M15 NGC 7078 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.2 Size 12.3 | Autumn | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M16 NGC 6611 Eagle Nebula Cluster | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.4 Size 7 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M17 NGC 6618 Omega, Swan, Horseshoe Nebula | Diffuse Nebula | Magnitude 7 Size 11 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M18 NGC 6613 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 7.5 Size 9 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M19 NGC 6273 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.8 Size 13.5 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M20 NGC 6514 Trifid Nebula | Diffuse Nebula | Magnitude 9 Size 28 | Summer | Very Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M21 NGC 6531 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.5 Size 13 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M22 NGC 6656 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 5.1 Size 24 | Summer | Very Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M23 NGC 6494 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.9 Size 27 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M24 NGC 6603 Milky Way Patch | Star Cloud | Magnitude 4.6 Size 90 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M25 IC 4725 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.5 Size 40 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M26 NGC 6694 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 8 Size 15 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M27 NGC 6853 Dumbbell Nebula | Planetary Nebula | Magnitude 7.4 Size 8.0x5.7 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M28 NGC 6626 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.8 Size 11.2 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M29 NGC 6913 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 7.1 Size 7 | Summer | Easy |  |
| M30 NGC 7099 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.2 Size 11 | Autumn | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M31 NGC 224 Andromeda Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 3.4 Size 178x63 | Autumn | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M32 NGC 221 Satellite of M31 | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 8.1 Size 8x6 | Autumn | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M33 NGC 598 Triangulum Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 5.7 Size 73x45 | Autumn | Hard |  |
| M34 NGC 1039 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 5.5 Size 35 | Autumn | Easy |  |
| M35 NGC 2168 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 5.3 Size 28 | Winter | Very Easy |  |
| M36 NGC 1960 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.3 Size 12 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M37 NGC 2099 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.2 Size 24 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M38 NGC 1912 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 7.4 Size 21 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M39 NGC 7092 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 5.2 Size 32 | Autumn | Easy |  |
| M40 Winecke 4 | Double Star | Magnitude 9.3 Size 49 | Spring | Easy |  |
| M41 NGC 2287 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 4.6 Size 38 | Winter | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M42 NGC 1976 Great Orion Nebula | Diffuse Nebula | Magnitude 4 Size 85x60 | Winter | Very Easy |  |
| M43 NGC 1982 de Mairan Nebula | Diffuse Nebula | Magnitude 9 Size 20x15 | Winter | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M44 NGC 2632 Beehive Cluster (Praesepe) | Open Cluster | Magnitude 3.7 Size 95 | Winter | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M45 Pleiades, Seven Sisters | Open Cluster | Magnitude 1.6 Size 110 | Winter | Very Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M46 NGC 2437 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6 Size 27 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M47 NGC 2422 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 5.2 Size 30 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M48 NGC 2548 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 5.5 Size 54 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M49 NGC 4472 | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 8.4 Size 9x7.5 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M50 NGC 2323 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.3 Size 16 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M51 NGC 5194 Whirlpool Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8.4 Size 11x7 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M52 NGC 7654 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 7.3 Size 13 | Autumn | Easy |  |
| M53 NGC 5024 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.6 Size 12.6 | Spring | Easy |  |
| M54 NGC 6715 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.6 Size 9.1 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M55 NGC 6809 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.3 Size 19 | Summer | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M56 NGC 6779 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 8.3 Size 7.1 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M57 NGC 6720 Ring Nebula | Planetary Nebula | Magnitude 8.8 Size 1.4x1 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M58 NGC 4579 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.7 Size 5.5x4.5 | Spring | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M59 NGC 4621 | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 9.6 Size 5x3.5 | Spring | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M60 NGC 4649 | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 8.8 Size 7x6 | Spring | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M61 NGC 4303 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.7 Size 6x5.5 | Spring | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M62 NGC 6266 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.5 Size 14.1 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M63 NGC 5055 Sunflower Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8.6 Size 10x6 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M64 NGC 4826 Blackeye Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8.5 Size 9.3x5.4 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M65 NGC 3623 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.3 Size 8x1.5 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M66 NGC 3627 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8.9 Size 8x2.5 | Spring | Easy | |
| M67 NGC 2682 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6.1 Size 30 | Winter | Easy |  |
| M68 NGC 4590 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.8 Size 12 | Spring | Very Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M69 NGC 6637 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.6 Size 7.1 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M70 NGC 6681 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.9 Size 7.8 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M71 NGC 6838 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 8.3 Size 7.2 | Summer | Moderate |  |
| M72 NGC 6981 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 9.3 Size 5.9 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M73 NGC 6994 Group of 4 stars | Group or Asterism | Magnitude 9 Size 2.8 | Summer | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M74 NGC 628 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.4 Size 10.2x9.5 | Autumn | Very Hard |  |
| M75 NGC 6864 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 8.5 Size 6 | Summer | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M76 NGC 650 Little Dumbell, Buttefly Nebula | Planetary Nebula | Magnitude 10.1 Size 2.7x1.8 | Autumn | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M77 NGC 1068 Cetus A | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8.9 Size 7x6 | Autumn | Moderate |  |
| M78 NGC 2068 | Diffuse Nebula | Magnitude 8.3 Size 8x6 | Winter | Moderate |  |
| M79 NGC 1904 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.7 Size 8.7 | Winter | Moderate |  |
| M80 NGC 6093 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.3 Size 8.9 | Summer | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M81 NGC 3031 Bodes Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 6.9 Size 21x10 | Spring | Easy |   |
| M82 NGC 3034 Cigar Galaxy | Irregular Galaxy | Magnitude 8.4 Size 9.x4 | Spring | Easy |  |
| M83 NGC 5236 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 7.6 Size 11x10 | Spring | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M84 NGC 4374 | Lenticular Galaxy | Magnitude 9.1 Size 5 | Spring | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M85 NGC 4382 | Lenticular Galaxy | Magnitude 9.1 Size 7.1x5.2 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M86 NGC 4406 | Lenticular Galaxy | Magnitude 8.9 Size 7.5x5.5 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M87 NGC 4486 Virgo A | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 8.6 Size 7 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M88 NGC 4501 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.6 Size 7x4 | Spring | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M89 NGC 4552 | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 9.8 Size 4 | Spring | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M90 NGC 4569 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.5 Size 9.5x4.5 | Spring | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M91 NGC 4548 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 10.2 Size 5.4x4.4 | Spring | Very Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M92 NGC 6341 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 6.4 Size 11.2 | Summer | Easy |  |
| M93 NGC 2447 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 6 Size 22 | Winter | Easy | Awaiting Images |
| M94 NGC 4736 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8.2 Size 7x3 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M95 NGC 3351 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.7 Size 4.4x3.3 | Spring | Hard |  |
| M96 NGC 3368 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.2 Size 6x4 | Spring | Moderate |  |
| M97 NGC 3587 Owl Nebula | Planetary Nebula | Magnitude 9.9 Size 3.4x3.3 | Spring | Very Hard |  |
| M98 NGC 4192 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 10.1 Size 9.5x3.2 | Spring | Very Hard |  |
| M99 NGC 4254 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.9 Size 5.4x4.8 | Spring | Hard |  |
| M100 NGC 4321 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.3 Size 7x6 | Spring | Very Hard |  |
| M101 NGC 4321 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 7.6 Size 22 | Spring | Very Hard |  |
| M102 NGC 5866 Spindle Galaxy | Lenticular Galaxy | Magnitude 9.9 Size 5.2x2.3 | Summer | Hard |  |
| M103 NGC 581 | Open Cluster | Magnitude 7.4 Size 6 | Autumn | Easy |  |
| M104 NGC 4594 Sombrero Galaxy | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8 Size 9x4 | Spring | Easy |  |
| M105 NGC 3379 | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 9.3 Size 2 | Spring | Moderate | Awaiting Images |
| M106 NGC 4258 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 8.4 Size 19x8 | Spring | Hard |  |
| M107 NGC 6171 | Globular Cluster | Magnitude 7.9 Size 10 | Summer | Hard | Awaiting Images |
| M108 NGC 3556 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 10 Size 8x1 | Spring | Hard |  |
| M109 NGC 3992 | Spiral Galaxy | Magnitude 9.8 Size 7x4 | Spring | Hard |  |
| M110 NGC 205 Satellite of M31 | Elliptical Galaxy | Magnitude 8.5 Size 17x10 | Autumn | Hard | Awaiting Images |
Current completion = 54/110 or 49%