Charles Messier (June 26, 1730 – April 12, 1817) was a French astronomer most notable for publishing an astronomical catalogue consisting of deep sky objects such as nebulae and star clusters that came to be known as "Messier objects". The purpose of the catalogue was to help comet hunters, as he was, and to help other astronomical observers to distinguish between permanent and transient objects in the sky. Ironically, he cataloged them as nuisances, but they have become the preferred list of viewable objects for the fledgling amateur astronomer.

The Messier Catalog is a list of 110 celestial objects (a variety of star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies). It was one of the earliest important astronomical catalogues. Messier's final list, published in 1781, includes discoveries by other observers, notably his colleague Pierre Méchain.

On star charts and in atlases, Messier objects now include the letter "M" before each number. Among the best known examples are M13 (Great Hercules Globular Cluster), M31 (Andromeda Galaxy), M42 (Orion Nebula), and M45 (Pleiades).

I think that the first goal of every beginning amateur astronomer is probably to bag the entire Messier list. The objects are mostly big and bright and most are pretty easy to see with a 5-inch or larger telescope. I know that was my first goal. Then, as a beginning astro-photographer, that became my goal once again. I am not finished and may never be, but these are some of the most beautiful objects in the night sky.

An additional note, in an effort to complete this project, I am now including images I have taken using the Slooh remote-controled telescopes located in the Canary Islands, Chile, and Australia. All of the Slooh shots are labeled as such, and have been processed just like the shots taken with my own equipment.

Below you can see how far I have progressed in my quest...

Click thumbnail to see full size image

M1	M2	M3	M4
M5	Empty	Empty	M8
M9	M10	M11	M12
M13	M14	M15	M16
M17	Empty	Empty	M20
M20 & M21	M22	Empty	M24
M25	M26	M27	Empty
M29	M30	M31, M32, M110	M33
M34	M35	M36	M37
M38	Empty	Empty	M42
Empty	M44	M45	M46
M47	M48	Empty	M50
M51	Empty	M53	M57
Empty	M63	M64	M65 & M66
M67	Empty	M69	M70
M71	Empty	Empty	M78
Empty	M80	M81	M82
M83	M88	M89	M90
M92	M93	Empty	M97
M100	M101	Empty	M103
M104	M106	Empty	M108