Messier marathon sequence

If you are participating in a Messier Marathon for your astronomy club or class, the following list shows the recommended sequence for viewing the Messier objects. The goal is to locate all 110 objects in a single night. This sequence is accurate for mid-Northern latitudes in the U.S. All that is needed is a good set of binoculars or a modest telescope, a keen eye, patience, and lots of stamina.

Sequence Messier Constellation Mag Difficulty
1 M77 Cetus 9.6 Hard
2 M74 Pisces 10 Hardest
3 M33 Triangulum 5.7 Hard
4 M31 Andromeda 3.4 Easiest
5 M32 Andromeda 8.1 Intermediate
6 M110 Andromeda 8.9 Hard
7 M52 Cassiopeia 6.9 Intermediate
8 M103 Cassiopeia 7.4 Easy
9 M76 Perseus 10.1 Intermediate
10 M34 Perseus 5.5 Easy
11 M45 Taurus 1.6 Easy
12 M79 Lepus 8.7 Intermediate
13 M42 Orion 4 Easiest
14 M43 Orion 9 Intermediate
15 M78 Orion 8.3 Intermediate
16 M1 Taurus 8.4 Intermediate
17 M35 Gemini 5.1 Easy
18 M37 Auriga 6.2 Easy
19 M36 Auriga 6.3 Easy
20 M38 Auriga 7.4 Easy
21 M41 Canis Major 4.5 Easy
22 M93 Puppis 6.2 Intermediate
23 M47 Puppis 4.2 Easy
24 M46 Puppis 5.9 Intermediate
25 M50 Monocerus 5.9 Easy
26 M48 Hydra 5.8 Intermediate
27 M44 Cancer 3.7 Easy
28 M67 Cancer 6.1 Intermediate
28 M95 Leo 11.4 Hard
29 M96 Leo 10 Hard
31 M105 Leo 10.2 Hard
32 M65 Leo 10.3 Intermediate
33 M66 Leo 8.9 Easy
34 M81 Ursa Major 6.9 Easy
35 M82 Ursa Major 8.4 Easy
36 M97 Ursa Major 10 Intermediate
37 M108 Ursa Major 10.7 Hard
38 M109 Ursa Major 10.6 Hard
39 M40 Ursa Major 9.6 | 10.1 Easy
40 M106 Canes Venatici 8.4 Hard
41 M94 Canes Venatici 9 Intermediate
42 M63 Canes Venatici 9.3 Intermediate
43 M51 Canes Venatici 8.4 Intermediate
44 M101 Ursa Major 7.9 Hardest
45 M102 Draco 10.7 Intermediate
46 M53 Coma Berenices 8.3 Intermediate
47 M64 Coma Berenices 8.5 Intermediate
48 M3 Canes Venatici 6.2 Easy
49 M98 Coma Berenices 11 Hard
50 M99 Coma Berenices 10.5 Hard
51 M100 Coma Berenices 9.5 Hard
52 M85 Coma Berenices 10 Hard
53 M84 Virgo 10.1 Hard
54 M86 Virgo 9.8 Hard
55 M87 Virgo 8.8 Hard
56 M89 Virgo 9.8 Hard
57 M90 Virgo 10.3 Hard
58 M88 Coma Berenices 10.4 Hard
59 M91 Coma Berenices 11 Hard
60 M58 Virgo 10.5 Hard
61 M59 Virgo 10.6 Intermediate
62 M60 Virgo 9.8 Hard
63 M49 Virgo 9.4 Hard
64 M61 Virgo 10.2 Intermediate
65 M104 Virgo 8.9 Intermediate
66 M68 Hydra 9.7 Hard
67 M83 Hydra 7.5 Intermediate
68 M5 Serpens Caput 6.5 Easy
69 M13 Hercules 5.8 Easiest
70 M92 Hercules 6.3 Easy
71 M57 Lyra 8.8 Easy
72 M56 Lyra 8.3 Intermediate
73 M29 Cygnus 6.6 Easy
74 M39 Cygnus 5.5 Easy
75 M27 Vulpecula 7.5 Intermediate
76 M71 Sagitta 6.1 Hard
77 M107 Ophiucus 8.9 Intermediate
78 M12 Ophiucus 7.7 Intermediate
79 M10 Ophiucus 6.4 Intermediate
80 M14 Ophiucus 8.3 Intermediate
81 M9 Ophiucus 8 Intermediate
82 M4 Scorpius 5.9 Intermediate
83 M80 Scorpius 7.9 Intermediate
84 M19 Ophiucus 7.5 Easy
85 M62 Ophiucus 6.5 Hard
86 M6 Scorpius 4.2 Easy
87 M7 Scorpius 3.3 Easy
88 M11 Scutum 5.8 Easy
89 M26 Scutum 8 Easy
90 M16 Serpens Claudia 6 Easy
91 M17 Sagittarius 6 Intermediate
92 M18 Sagittarius 7.5 Easy
93 M24 Sagittarius 2.5 Easy
94 M25 Sagittarius 4.9 Easy
95 M23 Sagittarius 5.5 Easy
96 M21 Sagittarius 6.5 Easy
97 M20 Sagittarius 6.3 Easy
98 M8 Sagittarius 6 Easy
99 M28 Sagittarius 7.7 Intermediate
100 M22 Sagittarius 5.1 Easiest
101 M69 Sagittarius 8.3 Intermediate
102 M70 Sagittarius 9 Intermediate
103 M54 Sagittarius 8.4 Intermediate
104 M55 Sagittarius 7.4 Intermediate
105 M75 Sagittarius 9.2 Intermediate
106 M15 Pegasus 6.4 Easy
107 M2 Aquarius 6.3 Easy
108 M72 Aquarius 9.4 Hard
109 M73 Aquarius 9 Easy
110 M30 Capricornus 7.7 Intermediate