We’ll be tracking the progress of the objects viewed and imaged. Here’s a downloadable Messier Marathon Checklist if you wish to follow along. We will update our list below with viewing details during the event. Objects are listed in the order they are most efficiently observed. Based on a sequence devised by Don Macholz, with a few minor adjustments for more northern observing.
I. Early Evening Objects. Gotta start quick after sundown…
Messier
Constellation
Type
Rating
Viewed/Imaged
M74
Pisces
Galaxy
Difficult
M77
Cetus
Galaxy
Difficult
M33
Triangulum
Galaxy
Difficult
M31
Andromeda
Galaxy
Easy
M32
Andromeda
Galaxy
Difficult
M110
Andromeda
Galaxy
Difficult
M52
Cassiopeia
Open Cluster
Moderate
M103
Cassiopeia
Open Cluster
Moderate
M76
Perseus
Planetary Nebula
Moderate
M34
Perseus
Open Cluster
Easy
M45
Taurus
Open Cluster
Easy
M79
Lepus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M42
Orion
Diffuse Nebula
Easy
M43
Orion
Diffuse Nebula
Easy
M78
Orion
Diffuse Nebula
Moderate
M1
Taurus
Supernova Remnant
Difficult
M35
Gemini
Open Cluster
Easy
M37
Auriga
Open Cluster
Moderate
M36
Auriga
Open Cluster
Moderate
M38
Auriga
Open Cluster
Moderate
M41
Canis Major
Open Cluster
Easy
M93
Puppis
Open Cluster
Moderate
M47
Puppis
Open Cluster
Moderate
M46
Puppis
Open Cluster
Moderate
M50
Monoceros
Open Cluster
Moderate
M48
Hydra
Open Cluster
Moderate
M44
Cancer
Open Cluster
Easy
M67
Cancer
Open Cluster
Moderate
II. Leo, the Big Dipper Region and a few to the south, late evening…
Messier
Constellation
Type
Rating
Viewed/Imaged
M95
Leo
Galaxy
Difficult
M96
Leo
Galaxy
Difficult
M105
Leo
Galaxy
Difficult
M65
Leo
Galaxy
Difficult
M66
Leo
Galaxy
Difficult
M81
Ursa Major
Galaxy
Moderate
M82
Ursa Major
Galaxy
Moderate
M97
Ursa Major
Planetary Nebula
Difficult
M108
Ursa Major
Galaxy
Difficult
M109
Ursa Major
Galaxy
Difficult
M40
Ursa Major
Double Star
Difficult
M106
Canes Venatici
Galaxy
Moderate
M94
Canes Venatici
Galaxy
Moderate
M63
Canes Venatici
Galaxy
Moderate
M51
Canes Venatici
Galaxy
Moderate
M101
Ursa Major
Galaxy
Moderate
M102
Draco
Galaxy
Difficult
M53
Coma Berenices
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M64
Coma Berenices
Galaxy
Moderate
M3
Canes Venatici
Globular Cluster
Moderate
III. Virgo Cluster Region, galaxy’s galore…
Messier
Constellation
Type
Rating
Viewed/Imaged
M98
Coma Berenices
Galaxy
Moderate
M99
Coma Berenices
Galaxy
Moderate
M100
Coma Berenices
Galaxy
Moderate
M85
Coma Berenices
Galaxy
Moderate
M84
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M86
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M87
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M89
Virgo
Galaxy
Difficult
M90
Virgo
Galaxy
Difficult
M88
Coma Berenices
Galaxy
Difficult
M91
Coma Berenices
Galaxy
Difficult
M58
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M59
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M60
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M49
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M61
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M104
Virgo
Galaxy
Moderate
M68
Hydra
Globular Cluster
Difficult
M83
Hydra
Galaxy
Difficult
IV. After Midnight, clusters and a couple planetaries…
Messier
Constellation
Type
Rating
Viewed/Imaged
M5
Serpens
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M13
Hercules
Globular Cluster
Easy
M92
Hercules
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M57
Lyra
Planetary Nebula
Moderate
M56
Lyra
Globular Cluster
Difficult
M29
Cygnus
Open Cluster
Moderate
M39
Cygnus
Open Cluster
Moderate
M27
Vulpecula
Planetary Nebula
Easy
M71
Sagitta
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M107
Ophiuchus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M12
Ophiuchus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M10
Ophiuchus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M14
Ophiuchus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M9
Ophiuchus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
V. Scorpius and Sagittarius Region…
Messier
Constellation
Type
Rating
Viewed/Imaged
M4
Scorpius
Globular Cluster
Easy
M80
Scorpius
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M19
Ophiuchus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M62
Ophiuchus
Globular Cluster
Moderate
M6
Scorpius
Open Cluster
Moderate
M7
Scorpius
Open Cluster
Easy
M11
Scutum
Open Cluster
Easy
M26
Scutum
Open Cluster
Difficult
M16
Serpens
Diffuse Nebula and Open Cluster
Easy
M17
Sagittarius
Diffuse Nebula
Easy
M18
Sagittarius
Open Cluster
Easy
M24
Sagittarius
Star Cloud
Easy
M25
Sagittarius
Open Cluster
Easy
M23
Sagittarius
Open Cluster
Easy
M21
Sagittarius
Open Cluster
Easy
M20
Sagittarius
Diffuse Nebula
Easy
M8
Sagittarius
Diffuse Nebula
Easy
M28
Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Easy
M22
Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Easy
M69
Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Difficult
M70
Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Difficult
M54
Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Difficult
M55
Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Difficult
M75
Sagittarius
Globular Cluster
Difficult
VI. Early Dawn, and very hard to get in upper latitudes…
