This file presents the Messier objects in the order of the Marathon Search
Sequence given by Don Machholz in his
Messier Marathon Observer’s Guide.
The Messier Marathon Search Sequence
compiled online by Hartmut Frommert, using work of Don Machholz.
Depending on geographic location, it may be impossible to find them all, and may
be better to slightly modify this list. In case of doubt consult Don Machholz’s
book. This list should be good for northern latitudes 20 to 40.
M33 The Triangulum Galaxy (also Pinwheel) spiral galaxy in Triangulum
M31 The Andromeda Galaxy spiral galaxy in Andromeda
M32 Satellite galaxy of M31 elliptical galaxy in Andromeda
M110 Satellite galaxy of M31 elliptical galaxy in Andromeda
M52 open cluster in Cassiopeia
M103 open cluster in Casseopeia
M76 The Little Dumbell, Cork, or Butterfly planetary nebula in Perseus
M34 open cluster in Perseus
M45 Subaru, the Pleiades–the Seven Sisters open cluster in Taurus
M42 The Great Orion Nebula diffuse nebula in Orion
M43 part of the Orion Nebula (de Mairan’s Nebula) diffuse nebula in Orion
M78 diffuse reflection nebula in Orion
M1 The Crab Nebula supernova remnant in Taurus
M41 open cluster in Canis Major
M50 open cluster in Monoceros
M44 Praesepe, the Beehive Cluster open cluster in Cancer
M81 Bode’s Galaxy (nebula) spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
M82 Cigar Galaxy irregular galaxy in Ursa Major
M97 The Owl Nebula planetary nebula in Ursa Major
M108 spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
M109 spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
M40 Double Star WNC4 in Ursa Major
M106 spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
M94 spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
M63 Sunflower galaxy spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici
M51 The Whirlpool Galaxy in Canes Venatici
M101 The Pinwheel Galaxy spiral galaxy in Ursa Major
(M102 may be a duplication of M101)
M102? Spindle Galaxy (NGC 5866) lenticular (S0) Galaxy in Draco
M53 globular cluster in Coma Berenices
M64 Blackeye galaxy spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
M3 globular cluster in Canes Venatici
M98 spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
M99 spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
M100 spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
M85 lenticular (S0) Galaxy in Coma Berenices
M84 lenticular (S0) Galaxy in Virgo
M86 lenticular (S0) Galaxy in Virgo
M87 Virgo A elliptical galaxy in Virgo
M89 elliptical galaxy in Virgo
M88 spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
M91 spiral galaxy in Coma Berenices
M59 elliptical galaxy in Virgo
M60 elliptical galaxy in Virgo
M49 elliptical galaxy in Virgo
M104 The Sombrero Galaxy spiral galaxy in Virgo
M83 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy spiral galaxy in Hydra
M5 globular cluster in Serpens Caput
M13 Great Hercules Globular Cluster globular cluster in Hercules
M92 globular cluster in Hercules
M57 The Ring Nebula planetary nebula in Lyra
M27 The Dumbbell Nebula planetary nebula in Vulpecula
M71 globular cluster in Sagitta
M107 globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M10 globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M12 globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M14 globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M9 globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M4 globular cluster in Scorpius
M80 globular cluster in Scorpius
M19 globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M62 globular cluster in Ophiuchus
M6 The Butterfly Cluster open cluster in Scorpius
M7 Ptolemy’s Cluster open cluster in Scorpius
M11 The Wild Duck Cluster open cluster in Scutum
M16 open cluster associated with the Eagle Nebula or Star Queen Nebula IC 4703 in Serpens Cauda
M17 The Omega or Swan or Horseshoe or Lobster Nebula diffuse nebula in Sagittarius
M18 open cluster in Sagittarius
M24 Milky Way Patch star cloud with open cluster NGC 6603 in Sagittarius
M25 open cluster in Sagittarius
M23 open cluster in Sagittarius
M21 open cluster in Sagittarius
M20 The Trifid Nebula diffuse nebula in Sagittarius
M8 The Lagoon Nebula diffuse nebula in Sagittarius
M28 globular cluster in Sagittarius
M22 globular cluster in Sagittarius
M69 globular cluster in Sagittarius
M70 globular cluster in Sagittarius
M54 globular cluster in Sagittarius
M55 globular cluster in Sagittarius
M75 globular cluster in Sagittarius
M15 globular cluster in Pegasus
M2 globular cluster in Aquarius
M72 globular cluster in Aquarius
M73 open cluster in Aquarius
M30 globular cluster in Capricornus
Last Modification: 4 Feb 1998, 22:40 MET