Remember, the goal is to help beginners walk through all 110 Messier objects within a year. And help them acquire the deep sky observing skills.

Tony

Twelve Month Tour of The Messier Catalog
February Messier Objects
rev 1.0

M1

The Crab nebula is a supernova remnant in Taurus. It is a hazy patch in small telescopes, large scopes can resolve some detail. It is difficult but possible to see in binoculars.

M45

The Pleides are a large open cluster in Taurus. Easy to resolve six stars naked eye. Binoculars provide the best view. Large telescopes can show some nebulosity.

M35, M37, M36, M38

A series of open clusters in the winter milky way. M35 is in Gemini, the others are in Auriga. All can be seen naked eye as faint fuzzy stars, binoculars reveal fuzzy patches, low power telescopes can resolve these rich clusters.

M42, M43

M42 is the great Orion Nebula. It can be seen as small fuzzy patch naked eye. Binoculars show some detail, and the view is superb in most any scope. M43 is a small region of nebulosity next to M42, and probably requires the use of a telescope to view. Use low to moderate powers for the best view of this pair.

M78

A small emission nebula in Orion, a tough binocular object. Best viewed in a telescope at moderate powers.

M79

One of the smallest and dimmest globular clusters in the catalog. A tough binocular object in Lepus, best viewed in a telescope at moderate powers.

Last Modification: 6 Apr 1998