Additions and comments to this list are always welcome.
Please email me.
Messier Goodies
Version 0.73, compiled by
Thanks to Chris Lewicki,
this file has now found a very good place on the famous ftp server
ftp.seds.org, as
/pub/info/messier/m-goodie.txt.
It may be accessed as follows:
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including FTP-Mail, e.g. to
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to www.seds.org, go to
“SEDS ANONYMOUS FTP SITE (FTP.SEDS.ORG) | info | messier | m-goodie”
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On a WWW client, the URL is
It is also posted to the mailing list [email protected] and various
newsgroups including sci.astro and sci.astro.amateur when modifications
justify this.
Internet
- Images of all Messier objects, and information on Messier and the M objects:
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http://www.seds.org/messier/Messier.html
In addition to the image collection, these pages contain descriptions,
historic and observational materials, as well as a discussion of the
last possibly missing object, M102. Also, there are sections treating the
Messier Marathon, similar and historic catalogs, the history of deepsky
discovery, and a Twelve Month Tour of the Messier catalog, among others.
It is planned to enlarge (and hopefully enrich) these pages with all
Messier-related stuff suited for the Web;
email any contributions to me.
Thanks to all contributers !
The Messier pages have now several mirrors
around the world, and there are translations into the
German language by co-author
Italian language by
- ftp:
ftp.seds.org: /pub/images/deepspace/messier/
Here, M92 is still missing, but images are contained in
and
“/html/messier/{large,small}/”
(here you find the collection on the HTTP server).
M102 is also missing, but again
“/pub/images/deepspace/”
contains an image of the candidate
NGC 5866.
The M102 discussion and NGC 5866 images are also available
in various file formats in “/pub/info/messier/”.
- ftp:
ftp.seds.org: /pub/info/messier/
Contains the test version of LFK’s Messier Observers Guide, an ascii
version of the Messier catalog, my article on M102, an image of the M102
candidate NGC 5866, my List of Messier Goodies (this file), the List of
Common Names for Messier Objects, and a collection of OS/2 icons of all
Messier objects. Descriptions are at other places in this doc.
The SEDS server can also be reached via gopher:
gopher: www.seds.org: 1/.ftp/pub/images/deepspace/messier and
gopher: www.seds.org: 1/.ftp/html/messier/{large,
Thanks to Chris Lewicki, Guy McArthur, and the other UA SEDS staff for
providing this service !
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Images and descriptions of some objects, planned to contain all:
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Images of the Messier objects from the Digital Sky Survey were posted to
the newsgroup alt.binaries.pictures.astro by R. Bright, and are collected
by Bill Arnett on SEDS’ internet server, accessible at
ftp://ftp.seds.org/html/billa/dssm/
or
http://www.seds.org/billa/dssm/
(actually the same directory, which may also be accessed by gopher as
can be figured out from above description)
- Messier images from the Catania Astrophysical Observatory, Italy:
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Images of several to many Messier and other objects are also on
(thanks to Bill Keel, Frank Roussel, and Steven Williams for info)
- FTP-Servers:
crux.astr.ua.edu: /web/{gifimages,images/*}/
(better access by http)
ftp.zlin.vutbr.cz: /pub/sci/astro/messier/
(small image collection)
ftp.cribx1.u-bordeaux.fr/astro/ccd/
(fine collection. Mirrored at seds and several other sites)
- HTTP-Servers:
http://crux.astr.ua.edu/AstroHome.html
(~ 1/4 Messier now)
(M’s make up a big part of the NGCs there)
http://alpha.univ-lille1.fr:28080/~gi200/index.e.html
http://graffiti.u-bordeaux.fr/MAPBX/roussel/astro.english.html
- FTP-Servers:
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Twelve Month Tour of The Messier Catalog by Tony Cecce, Corning, NY
is posted monthly 🙂 to the mailing list [email protected].
Archived at
ftp://ftp.seds.org/pub/info/messier/12months.zip,
and accessible online at
http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/12months/12months.html
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Astronomical League’s Messier object binocular observing info
http://www.astronomical.org/alnotes/albinom.html
- Jeff Bondono (URL:
http://www.eaglequest.com/~bondono/
) provides a steadily growing file ofMessier Object references in magazines and books:
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Robert Casey ([email protected])
has made a composit gif “poster” of all
Messier objects, which also appeared on alt.binaries.pictures.astro.
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List of Common Names for Messier Objects, compiled by me (Hartmut Frommert).
Lists all Common Names I could find, in various “official” sources and
as propositions. Residing on
ftp.seds.org: /pub/info/messier/m-names.txt;
a html version is at
http://www.seds.org/messier/m-names.html.
Posted to the mailing list [email protected] and various newsgroups
including sci.astro and sci.astro.amateur.
You are invited to supply all additional common names you know for them !
Just email me.
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More links to Messier related sites can be found in
Software
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Messier Observer’s Guide (without M102),
by Larry Kalinowski, 15674 Flanagan, Roseville, MI 48066 (USA). Shareware.
For each object: Map (finder chart), + small scope/bino illustration image.
IBM PC 286 up, Dos 2.11 up. Described e.g. in Astronomy Feb 1995, p.96.
Now, the 50 objects test version is av online:
ftp://ftp.seds.org/pub/info/messier/lfkmes20.zip
(thanks to Jeff Bondono
and Chris Lewicki for uploading)
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Messier Logging System, by Luis Arguelles, Version 1.0.
Gives basic data, descriptions and an image of each object, and
enables logging of own observational data.
Based on Borland Database Engine, running on Windows 95/NT 4.0+ only.
http://members.tripod.com/~whuyss/mls.htm.
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The Ultimate Messier Object Log, by David Green.
Database file for FileMaker Pro 4.0 (av for Mac, Windows; more ?) with descriptions,
icon images, and space fore observing notes. Download from web:
http://www.scvnet.com/~davidgreen/TUMOL.html
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Messier OS/2 icons:
OS/2 icons for all 110 Messier object, including M102 candidate NGC 5866.
Produced by me (Hartmut Frommert). Freeware (but I don’t object donations).
Online from
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Messier GIF icons (from the
ftp://ftp.seds.org/pub/info/messier/m-small.zip
These icons were produced and archived by
Books
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Kenneth Glyn Jones. Messier’s Nebulae and Star Clusters.
Sky Publishing 1968, 2nd ed 19XX. 427p. A great handbook and resource !
Contains introduction
to historical and astronomical background together with data, historic and
newer descriptions with a finder chart, drawing, and photo (in appendix)
for each object, plus biographical and historical material on Messier and
the other discoverers and early researchers of the Messier objects.
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John Mallas and Everitt Kreimer.
The Messier Album. Sky Publishing 1978
Messier biography (by Owen Gingerich), reprint of Messier’s original
catalog (in French), descriptions for each object (but M102) with finder
chart, drawing (from 4″) and b/w photo (12 1/2″). Messier object chart of
the Heavens, check list, color photos of some
(1,4,5,[6-7-8-22-28-54-69-70 field],7,8,8/20/21,10,13,
[8-16-17-18-20-21-22-23-24-25-28 field],16,17,20,27,31/32/110,33,35,37,
38,42/43,45,46,51,57,62,65/66/N3628,80,81/82,97,101,104). viii+248 p.
Sky Publishing # 46042
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Hans Vehrenberg.
Atlas of Deep Sky Splendors. Vehrenberg+Sky Publishing
1st ed 196X, 4th edition 198X. Original title: `Mein Messier-Buch‘
(My Messier Book). Schmidt photo charts of all Messier and many other Deep
Sky objects in same scale, partially color, descriptions, some with photos
from observatories. 242 p.
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Messier Marathon Observer’s Guide — Handbook and Atlas.
Make Wood Products, P.O.Box 1716, Colfax, CA 95713 (USA). Interesting stuff
on Charles Messier, his comets, his catalog including discussion of
“nebulous” (missing, stellar, and the star cloud) and “add-on” objects,
a catalog, finder charts, plus proposed Marathon. 97 p.
Also available from
Sky Publishing # 46050.
Observing Aids
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Astro Cards Set 1, The Messier Objects.
Index card finder charts for all 110
Messier objects; well suited for use at the telescope.
Astro Cards, P.O.Box 35, Natrona Heights, PA 15065;
http://www.rahul.net/resource/regular/products/astro-cards/;
E-Mail: [email protected]
(Phone: +1-412-295-4128)
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Russ Dickman ([email protected])
has published a booklet of convenient Messier finder charts for use at the
telescope. For each Messier object, two charts for finding and some data
are presented. More information is available by email, or
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The Messier Card. Chart + table (on back) of all M’s (but M102) + 20 others.
Sky Publishing # S0001 (unlaminated) or # S001L (Laminated)
Goodies
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The Messier Objects, poster (24×36).
Sky Publishing # S0066
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Messier Mug, 15 1/2-ounce ceramic cup with Messier catalog printed.
MindMatter Publishing, P.O. Box 1599, Soquel, CA 95073-1599.
E-Mail:
(Phone: +1-408-479-7359, Fax: -7180)
Wanted
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35 mm slide set of all 110 Messier objects.
Actually, several such would be fine: professional + amateurs
but I still miss some slides at all yet.