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 | Magnitude | RA | Dec |
1 | M77 | Cetus | 9.6 | 2h 42.7m | -9 2 |
2 | M74 | Pisces | 10 | 1h 36.6m | 15 48 |
3 | M33 | Triangulum | 5.7 | 1h 33.9m | 30 40 |
4 | M31 | Andromeda | 3.4 | 0h 42.8m | 41 16 |
5 | M32 | Andromeda | 8.1 | 0h 42.8m | 40 52 |
6 | M110 | Andromeda | 8.9 | 0h 40.4m | 41 41 |
7 | M52 | Cassiopeia | 6.9 | 23h 24.2m | 61 35 |
8 | M103 | Cassiopeia | 7.4 | 1h 33.2m | 60 42 |
9 | M76 | Perseus | 10.1 | 1h 42.4m | 51 34 |
10 | M34 | Perseus | 5.5 | 2h 42.0m | 42 47 |
11 | M45 | Taurus | 1.6 | 3h 47.0m | 24 07 |
12 | M79 | Lepus | 8.7 | 5h 24.5m | -24 33 |
13 | M42 | Orion | 4 | 5h 35.3m | -5 23 |
14 | M43 | Orion | 9 | 5h 35.5m | -5 16 |
15 | M78 | Orion | 8.3 | 5h 46.8m | 0 4 |
16 | M1 | Taurus | 8.4 | 5h 34.5m | 22 01 |
17 | M35 | Gemini | 5.1 | 6h 8.9m | 24 20 |
18 | M37 | Auriga | 6.2 | 5h 52.4m | 32 33 |
19 | M36 | Auriga | 6.3 | 5h 36.1 | 34 08 |
20 | M38 | Auriga | 7.4 | 5h 28.7m | 35 50 |
21 | M41 | Canis Major | 4.5 | 6h 47.0m | -20 44 |
22 | M93 | Puppis | 6.2 | 7h 44.6m | -23 52 |
23 | M47 | Puppis | 4.2 | 7h 36.6m | -14 30 |
24 | M46 | Puppis | 5.9 | 7h 41.8m | -14 49 |
25 | M50 | Monocerus | 5.9 | 7h 3.2m | -8 20 |
26 | M48 | Hydra | 5.8 | 8h 13.8m | -5 48 |
27 | M44 | Cancer | 3.7 | 8h 40.1m | 19 59 |
28 | M67 | Cancer | 6.1 | 8h 50.4m | 11 49 |
28 | M95 | Leo | 11.4 | 10h 43.9m | 11 42 |
29 | M96 | Leo | 10 | 10h 46.7m | 11 49 |
31 | M105 | Leo | 10.2 | 10h 47.8m | 12 35 |
32 | M65 | Leo | 10.3 | 11h 18.9m | 13 6 |
33 | M66 | Leo | 8.9 | 11h 20.2m | 13 0 |
34 | M81 | Ursa Major | 6.9 | 9h 55.6m | 69 4 |
35 | M82 | Ursa Major | 8.4 | 9h 55.9m | 69 41 |
36 | M97 | Ursa Major | 10 | 11h 14.8m | 55 1 |
37 | M108 | Ursa Major | 10.7 | 11h 11.6m | 55 41 |
38 | M109 | Ursa Major | 10.6 | 11h 57.6m | 53 23 |
39 | M40 | Ursa Major | 9.6 | 10.1 | 12h 20.0m | 58 22 |
40 | M106 | Canes Venatici | 8.4 | 12h 18.9m | 47 19 |
41 | M94 | Canes Venatici | 9 | 12h 50.9m | 41 8 |
42 | M63 | Canes Venatici | 9.3 | 13h 15.8m | 42 2 |
43 | M51 | Canes Venatici | 8.4 | 13h 30.0m | 47 11 |
44 | M101 | Ursa Major | 7.9 | 14h 3.3m | 54 22 |
45 | M102 | Draco | 10.7 | 15h 6.5m | 55 45 |
46 | M53 | Coma Berenices | 8.3 | 13h 12.9m | 18 10 |
47 | M64 | Coma Berenices | 8.5 | 12h 56.7m | 21 41 |
48 | M3 | Canes Venatici | 6.2 | 13h 42.2m | 28 23 |
49 | M98 | Coma Berenices | 11 | 12h 13.9m | 14 55 |
50 | M99 | Coma Berenices | 10.5 | 12h 18.9m | 14 26 |
51 | M100 | Coma Berenices | 9.5 | 12h 23.0m | 15 50 |
52 | M85 | Coma Berenices | 10 | 12h 25.5m | 18 12 |
53 | M84 | Virgo | 10.1 | 12h 25.1m | 12 54 |
54 | M86 | Virgo | 9.8 | 12h 26.3m | 12 57 |
55 | M87 | Virgo | 8.8 | 12h 30.9m | 12 24 |
56 | M89 | Virgo | 9.8 | 12h 35.7m | 12 34 |
57 | M90 | Virgo | 10.3 | 12h 36.9m | 13 10 |
58 | M88 | Coma Berenices | 10.4 | 12h 32.1m | 14 26 |
59 | M91 | Coma Berenices | 11 | 12h 35.5m | 14 30 |
60 | M58 | Virgo | 10.5 | 12h 37.8m | 11 50 |
61 | M59 | Virgo | 10.6 | 12h 42.1m | 11 39 |
62 | M60 | Virgo | 9.8 | 12h 43.7m | 11 34 |
63 | M49 | Virgo | 9.4 | 12h 29.8m | 8 1 |
64 | M61 | Virgo | 10.2 | 12h 22.0m | 4 29 |
65 | M104 | Virgo | 8.9 | 12h 39.9m | -11 37 |
66 | M68 | Hydra | 9.7 | 12h 39.5m | -26 45 |
67 | M83 | Hydra | 7.5 | 13h 37.1m | -29 52 |
68 | M5 | Serpens Caput | 6.5 | 15h 18.6m | 2 5 |
69 | M13 | Hercules | 5.8 | 16h 41.7m | 36 28 |
70 | M92 | Hercules | 6.3 | 17h 17.1m | 43 8 |
71 | M57 | Lyra | 8.8 | 18h 53.6m | 33 2 |
72 | M56 | Lyra | 8.3 | 19h 16.6m | 30 11 |
73 | M29 | Cygnus | 6.6 | 20h 23.9m | 38 32 |
74 | M39 | Cygnus | 5.5 | 21h 32.2m | 48 26 |
75 | M27 | Vulpecula | 7.5 | 19h 59.6m | 22 43 |
76 | M71 | Sagitta | 6.1 | 19h 53.8m | 18 47 |
77 | M107 | Ophiucus | 8.9 | 16h 32.5m | -13 3 |
78 | M12 | Ophiucus | 7.7 | 16h 47.2m | -1 57 |
79 | M10 | Ophiucus | 6.4 | 16h 57.1m | -4 6 |
80 | M14 | Ophiucus | 8.3 | 17h 37.6m | -3 15 |
81 | M9 | Ophiucus | 8 | 17h 19.2m | -18 31 |
82 | M4 | Scorpius | 5.9 | 16h 23.6m | -26 32 |
83 | M80 | Scorpius | 7.9 | 16h 17.0m | -22 59 |
84 | M19 | Ophiucus | 7.5 | 17h 2.6m | -26 16 |
85 | M62 | Ophiucus | 6.5 | 17h 1.2m | -30 7 |
86 | M6 | Scorpius | 4.2 | 17h 40.1m | -32 13 |
87 | M7 | Scorpius | 3.3 | 17h 53.9m | -34 49 |
88 | M11 | Scutum | 5.8 | 18h 51.1m | -6 16 |
89 | M26 | Scutum | 8 | 18h 45.2m | -9 24 |
90 | M16 | Serpens Claudia | 6 | 18h 18.8m | -13 47 |
91 | M17 | Sagittarius | 6 | 18h 20.8m | -16 11 |
92 | M18 | Sagittarius | 7.5 | 18h 19.9m | -17 8 |
93 | M24 | Sagittarius | 2.5 | 18h 17m | -18 29 |
94 | M25 | Sagittarius | 4.9 | 18h 28.8m | -19 17 |
95 | M23 | Sagittarius | 5.5 | 17h 56.8m | -19 1 |
96 | M21 | Sagittarius | 6.5 | 18h 4.6m | -22 30 |
97 | M20 | Sagittarius | 6.3 | 18h 2.3m | -23 2 |
98 | M8 | Sagittarius | 6 | 18h 3.1m | -24 23 |
99 | M28 | Sagittarius | 7.7 | 18h 24.5m | -24 52 |
100 | M22 | Sagittarius | 5.1 | 18h 36.4m | -29 54 |
101 | M69 | Sagittarius | 8.3 | 18h 34.4m | -32 21 |
102 | M70 | Sagittarius | 9 | 18h 43.2m | -32 18 |
103 | M54 | Sagittarius | 8.4 | 18h 55.1m | -30 29 |
104 | M55 | Sagittarius | 7.4 | 19h 40.0m | -30 58 |
105 | M75 | Sagittarius | 9.2 | 20h 6.1m | -21 55 |
106 | M15 | Pegasus | 6.4 | 21h 30m | 12 10 |
107 | M2 | Aquarius | 6.3 | 21h 33.5m | -0 49 |
108 | M72 | Aquarius | 9.4 | 20h 53.5m | -12 32 |
109 | M73 | Aquarius | 9 | 20h 59.0m | -12 3 |
110 | M30 | Capricornus | 7.7 | 21h 40.4m | -23 11 |