In the March issue, “Take a deep-sky treasure hunt” discusses an annual pursuit for most astronomy clubs — the Messier marathon. This event involves observing all 109 deep-sky objects in Charles Messier’s catalog on a single night.
If a marathon is in your future, read the story, then use the list below (and a good star chart) to try this fun event, preferably in the company of some good astronomical friends. The list order is best for a mid-northern-latitude site. People in more southerly locations will have an easier time viewing some objects.
Start as soon as twilight fades enough for you to identify more than just the bright stars. Locate spiral galaxies M77 and M74 before you move on because they’ll set soon after it gets dark. In the morning, M30 will be your challenge object. Good luck!
| Messier marathon | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Messier Number | NGC Number | Constellation | Type | Magnitude |
| M77 | 1068 | Cetus | Gal | 8.9 |
| M74 | 628 | Pisces | Gal | 8.5 |
| M33 | 598 | Triangulum | Gal | 5.7 |
| M31 | 224 | Andromeda | Gal | 3.4 |
| M32 | 221 | Andromeda | Gal | 8.2 |
| M110 | 205 | Andromeda | Gal | 8.0 |
| M52 | 7654 | Cassiopeia | OC | 6.9 |
| M103 | 581 | Cassiopeia | OC | 7.4 |
| M76 | 650 | Perseus | PN | 10.1 |
| M34 | 1039 | Perseus | OC | 5.2 |
| M45 | – | Taurus | OC | 1.5 |
| M79 | 1904 | Lepus | GC | 7.7 |
| M42 | 1976 | Orion | N | 3.7 |
| M43 | 1982 | Orion | N | 6.8 |
| M78 | 2068 | Orion | N | 8.0 |
| M1 | 1952 | Taurus | SNR | 8.0 |
| M35 | 2168 | Gemini | OC | 5.1 |
| M37 | 2099 | Auriga | OC | 5.6 |
| M36 | 1960 | Auriga | OC | 6.0 |
| M38 | 1922 | Auriga | OC | 6.4 |
| M41 | 2287 | Canis Major | OC | 4.5 |
| M93 | 2447 | Puppis | OC | 6.2 |
| M47 | 2422 | Puppis | OC | 5.7 |
| M46 | 2437 | Puppis | OC | 6.1 |
| M50 | 2323 | Monoceros | OC | 5.9 |
| M48 | 2548 | Hydra | OC | 5.8 |
| M44 | 2632 | Cancer | OC | 3.1 |
| M67 | 2682 | Cancer | OC | 6.0 |
| M95 | 3351 | Leo | Gal | 9.7 |
| M96 | 3368 | Leo | Gal | 9.2 |
| M105 | 3379 | Leo | Gal | 9.3 |
| M65 | 3623 | Leo | Gal | 8.8 |
| M66 | 3627 | Leo | Gal | 9.0 |
| M81 | 3031 | Ursa Major | Gal | 6.9 |
| M82 | 3034 | Ursa Major | Gal | 8.4 |
| M97 | 3587 | Ursa Major | PN | 9.9 |
| M108 | 3556 | Ursa Major | Gal | 10.0 |
| M109 | 3992 | Ursa Major | Gal | 9.8 |
| M40 | Win4 | Ursa Major | DS | 9.0/9.6 |
| M106 | 4258 | Canes Venatici | Gal | 8.3 |
| M94 | 4736 | Canes Venatici | Gal | 8.2 |
| M63 | 5055 | Canes Venatici | Gal | 8.6 |
| M51 | 5194 | Canes Venatici | Gal | 8.4 |
| M101 | 5457 | Ursa Major | Gal | 7.9 |
| M102 | 5866 | Draco | Gal | 10.0 |
| M53 | 5024 | Coma Berenices | GC | 7.7 |
| M64 | 4826 | Coma Berenices | Gal | 8.5 |
| M3 | 5272 | Canes Venatici | GC | 5.9 |
| M98 | 4192 | Coma Berenices | Gal | 10.1 |
| M99 | 4254 | Coma Berenices | Gal | 9.9 |
| M100 | 4321 | Coma Berenices | Gal | 9.3 |
| M85 | 4382 | Coma Berenices | Gal | 9.1 |
| M84 | 4374 | Virgo | Gal | 9.1 |
| M86 | 4406 | Virgo | Gal | 8.9 |
| M87 | 4486 | Virgo | Gal | 8.6 |
| M89 | 4552 | Virgo | Gal | 9.7 |
| M90 | 4569 | Virgo | Gal | 9.5 |
| M88 | 4501 | Coma Berenices | Gal | 9.6 |
| M91 | 4548 | Coma Berenices | Gal | 10.1 |
| M58 | 4579 | Virgo | Gal | 9.6 |
| M59 | 4621 | Virgo | Gal | 9.6 |
| M60 | 4649 | Virgo | Gal | 8.8 |
| M49 | 4472 | Virgo | Gal | 8.4 |
| M61 | 4303 | Virgo | Gal | 9.6 |
| M104 | 4594 | Virgo | Gal | 8.0 |
| M68 | 4590 | Hydra | GC | 7.6 |
| M83 | 5236 | Hydra | Gal | 7.5 |
| M5 | 5904 | Serpens | GC | 5.7 |
| M13 | 6205 | Hercules | GC | 5.3 |
| M92 | 6341 | Hercules | GC | 6.5 |
| M57 | 6720 | Lyra | PN | 8.8 |
| M56 | 6779 | Lyra | GC | 8.4 |
| M29 | 6913 | Cygnus | OC | 6.6 |
| M39 | 7092 | Cygnus | OC | 4.6 |
| M27 | 6853 | Vulpecula | PN | 7.3 |
| M71 | 6838 | Sagitta | GC | 8.0 |
| M107 | 6171 | Ophiuchus | GC | 7.8 |
| M12 | 6218 | Ophiuchus | GC | 6.8 |
| M10 | 6254 | Ophiuchus | GC | 6.6 |
| M14 | 6402 | Ophiuchus | GC | 7.6 |
| M9 | 6333 | Ophiuchus | GC | 7.8 |
| M4 | 6121 | Scorpius | GC | 5.4 |
| M80 | 6093 | Scorpius | GC | 7.3 |
| M19 | 6273 | Ophiuchus | GC | 6.8 |
| M62 | 6266 | Ophiuchus | GC | 6.7 |
| M6 | 6405 | Scorpius | OC | 4.2 |
| M7 | 6475 | Scorpius | OC | 2.8 |
| M11 | 6705 | Scutum | OC | 5.3 |
| M26 | 6694 | Scutum | OC | 8.0 |
| M16 | 6611 | Serpens | N | 6.0 |
| M17 | 6618 | Sagittarius | N | 6.0 |
| M18 | 6613 | Sagittarius | OC | 6.9 |
| M24 | 6603 | Sagittarius | SC | 2.5 |
| M25 | IC 4725 | Sagittarius | OC | 4.6 |
| M23 | 6494 | Sagittarius | OC | 5.5 |
| M21 | 6531 | Sagittarius | OC | 5.9 |
| M20 | 6514 | Sagittarius | N | 6.3 |
| M8 | 6523 | Sagittarius | N | 3.0 |
| M28 | 6626 | Sagittarius | GC | 6.9 |
| M22 | 6656 | Sagittarius | GC | 5.2 |
| M69 | 6637 | Sagittarius | GC | 7.4 |
| M70 | 6681 | Sagittarius | GC | 7.8 |
| M54 | 6715 | Sagittarius | GC | 7.2 |
| M55 | 6809 | Sagittarius | GC | 6.3 |
| M75 | 6864 | Sagittarius | GC | 8.6 |
| M15 | 7078 | Pegasus | GC | 6.0 |
| M2 | 7089 | Aquarius | GC | 6.3 |
| M72 | 6981 | Aquarius | GC | 9.2 |
| M73 | 6994 | Aquarius | OC | 8.9 |
| M30 | 7099 | Capricornus | GC | 6.9 |
| Key | |
| DS = Double star | SC = Star cloud |
| GC = Globular cluster | OC = Open cluster |
| Gal = Galaxy | PN = Planetary nebula |
| N = Nebula | SNR = Supernova remnant |
