Messier Menu   |  M11 - M20

M1   Supernova Remnant in Taurus Common Names:  Crab Nebula NGC Number:  1952 Visual Magnitude:  8.4 ra:  5h 34.5m dec:  +22° 01'

The Crab Nebula, M1, was the first nebulous object observed by Charles Messier. It is a cloud of expanding gas left over from a supernova explosion. In the center of this nebula is a 16th magnitude star that is the collapsed core of the supernova. It is a pulsar, perhaps even a rotating neutron star. M1 can be seen easily with a pair of binoculars. A telescope will bring out more of the nebula's fine details.

M2   Globular Cluster in Aquarius Common Names:  None NGC Number:  7089 Visual Magnitude:  6.5 ra:  21h 33.5m dec:  -0° 49'

M2 is a globular cluster of stars located in the constellation of Aquarius. This cluster is located about 50,000 light-years from Earth. It is believed to be about 175 light-years in diameter. M2 is one of the brightest and largest globular clusters in the sky. This cluster's visual magnitude of 6.5 means it can easily be found with a pair of binoculars. A telescope will be required to resolve the cluster's individual stars.

M3   Globular Cluster Canes Venatici Common Names:  None NGC Number:  5272 Visual Magnitude:  6.2 ra:  13h 42.2m dec:  +28°  23'

Located in the constellation Canes Venatici, M3 is a tight cluster of almost 500,000 stars. This cluster is located approximately 30,000 light-years from Earth. It contains about 170 faint variable stars, which is more than any other globular cluster. A visual magnitude of 6.2 makes this bright cluster an easy target for binoculars and telescopes alike.

M4   Globular Cluster in Scorpius Common Names:  None NGC Number:  6121 Visual Magnitude:  5.6 ra:  16h 23.6m dec:  -26° 32'

M4 is a globular cluster that lies in the constellation of Scorpius. It is located about 7,000 light-years from the Earth. This makes M4 one of the closest of the globular clusters. It is also one of the most open, or loose globular clusters. M4 is receding from us at a rate of 65 km/sec. With a visual magnitude of 5.6, this cluster can easily be seen with the naked eye on a dark, clear night.  With the aid of a small telescope, it displays a central band of bright stars in a linear formation.

M5   Globular Cluster in Serpens Common Names:  None NGC Number:  5904 Visual Magnitude:  5.6 ra:  15h 18.6m dec:  +2° 05'

Located in the constellation Serpens, globular cluster M5 is one of the few to show an elliptical shape. It is believed to be one of the oldest of the globular clusters, at an age of about 13 billion years. M5 is located about 23,000 light-years from Earth, and has a diameter of about 130 light-years. This cluster's visual magnitude of 5.6 males it easy to spot on a clear night with dark skies and a pair of binoculars. A telescope will resolve the cluster's individual stars.

M6   Galactic Cluster in Scorpius Common Names:  Butterfly Cluster NGC Number:  6405 Visual Magnitude:  5.3 ra:  17h 40.1m dec:  -32° 13'

M6 is a galactic, or open cluster of stars found in the constellation of Scorpius. It has a diameter of about 20 light-years and lies about 2,000 light-years from Earth. This cluster is composed mainly of blue and white stars with the brightest being a yellow or orange giant. The shape of this cluster somewhat resembles that of a butterfly, giving rise to its more common name, the butterfly cluster. At magnitude 5.3 it is an easy find with binoculars.

M7   Galactic Cluster in Scorpius Common Names:  Ptolemy's Cluster NGC Number:  6475 Visual Magnitude:  4.1 ra:  17h 53.9m dec:  -34° 49'

Another galactic cluster to be found in the rich hunting grounds of the constellation of Scorpius is M7, also known as Ptolemy's cluster. It is a large group of about 80 stars set against the background of fainter and more distant Milky Way stars. M7 is about 18 light-years in diameter and lies about 800 light-years from us. The brightest star of the cluster is a yellow giant with a magnitude of 5.6. This bright cluster makes a sine target for the binocular observer.

M8   Diffuse Nebula in Sagittarius Common Names:  Lagoon Nebula NGC Number:  6523 Visual Magnitude:  6 ra:  18h 03.8m dec:  -24° 23'

Known more commonly as the Lagoon Nebula, M8 is a beautiful cloud of gas illuminated by a 5.9 magnitude star inside. The nebula is about 150 light-years in diameter and lies about 5,200 light-years from Earth. M8 is a stellar nursery where many new stars are being formed from the great clouds of gas. With a visual magnitude of 6, this nebula can be easily seen in the constellation of Sagittarius with the naked eye on a dark, clear night.  A telescope will reveal some of the more complex patterns of bright and dark areas within the nebula.

M9   Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus Common Names:  None NGC Number:  6333 Visual Magnitude:  7.7 ra:  17h 19.2m dec:  -18° 31'

M9 is a globular cluster of stars located within the constellation of Ophiuchus. It is located at the edge of a dark patch of dark nebulosity. This cluster is about 26,000 light-years from us and has a diameter of about 70 light-years. The central region of the cluster has a distinct oval shape. M9's visual magnitude of 7.7 makes it a bit more challenging to find than some of the other globular clusters.  It can be found with binoculars, and can be quite impressive in a 4-inch telescope.

M10   Globular Cluster in Ophiuchus Common Names:  None NGC Number:  6254 Visual Magnitude:  6.6 ra:  16h 57.1m dec:  -4° 06'

Globular cluster M10 lies in the constellation of Ophiuchus. This is a very bright cluster with a central region that appears slightly pear-shaped. It is about 70 light-years in diameter and lies about 16,000 light-years from Earth. With a visual magnitude of 6.6 and an apparent diameter of 15 arc minutes, this is one of the best clusters to be viewed with both binoculars and small telescopes.

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