Messier Catalog Archives - Universe Today

Messier 56 – the NGC 6779

11 Sep , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located in the northern constellation of Lyra, roughly 32,900 light years from Earth, is the globular star cluster known as Messier 56

Messier 55 – the NGC 6809 Globular Star Cluster

28 Aug , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located in the Sagittarius Constellation, roughly 17,600 light-years from Earth, is the globular star cluster known as Messier 55

Messier 54 – the NGC 6715 Globular Cluster

14 Aug , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located in the Sagittarius Dwarf Galaxy, some 87,000 light years from Earth, is the globular star cluster known as Messier 54

Messier 52 – the NGC 7654 Open Star Cluster

31 Jul , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located near the northern constellation of Cassiopeia, approximately 5000 light years from Earth, is the open star cluster known as Messier 52.

Messier 51 – the Whirlpool Galaxy

24 Jul , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located between 19 and 27 million light-years away in the Canes Venatici constellation, is the famous Whirlpool Galaxy (aka. Messier 51)

Messier 50 – the NGC 2323 Open Star Cluster

10 Jul , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located between the Monoceros and Canis Major constellations, about 3,200 light years from Earth, is the heart-shaped open star cluster known as Messier 50!

Messier 46 – the NGC 2437 Open Star Cluster

12 Jun , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located in the southern skies, about 5,500 light years from Earth, is the bright and rich open star cluster known as Messier 46 (aka. NGC 2437)

Messier 45 – The Pleiades Cluster

5 Jun , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located in the Taurus Constellation, between 390 and 456 light years from Earth, is the famous and easily-visible Pleiades Constellation.

Messier 42 – The Orion Nebula

15 May , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Located in the Orion Constellation (just below the belt), between 1,324 and 1,364 light years from Earth, is the famous star-forming region known as the Orion Nebula.

Messier 41 – the NGC 2287 Open Star Cluster

8 May , 2017 by Tammy Plotner

Welcome back to Messier Monday! In our ongoing tribute to the great Tammy Plotner, we take a look at the double star known as Messier 41. Enjoy! During the 18th century, famed French astronomer Charles Messier noted the presence of several “nebulous objects” in the night sky. Having originally mistaken them for comets, he began […]

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