Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Messier Object Tracking



*** Note:  I have this post set to stay at the top of the blog.  All new posts will come after this.

I want to list which Messier objects I've seen so far this year (2014) and will keep this page at the top of the posts so that if you would like to follow along, it will be easier to locate.  How well or easy to see is based upon observations through my 8" reflector using the highest magnification possible.  Your results will vary of course depending on your equipment.


       Messier #    Apparent Mag.            Name or Type                                  How Viewable

  • M3                     6.4                     Globular cluster                               Dim, moderate
  • M5                     5.8                     Globular cluster                               Dim but easy
  • M10                   6.6                     Globular cluster                               Dim, moderate
  • M12                   6.6                     Globular cluster                               Dim, moderate
  • M13                  5.8                      Great Cluster In Hercules                Dim but easy
  • M29                  6.6                      Cooling Tower O.C.                        Dim, moderate 
  • M31                  3.4                      Andromeda Galaxy                         Dim but easy
  • M39                  4.6                      Open Cluster                                   Easy
  • M42                  4.0                      Orion Nebula                                  Naked eye visible
  • M45                  1.6                      Pleiades                                          Naked eye visible
  • M53                  7.7                      Globular cluster                              Dim, fairly hard
  • M57                  8.8                      The Ring Nebula                             Dim but easy
  • M81                  6.9                      Bode's Galaxy                                 Dim, moderate
  • M82                  8.4                      Cigar Galaxy                                   Dim, moderate
  • M92                  6.3                      Globular cluster                               Dim, but easy
**** NOTE:  This post is closed.