As the Earth orbits the Sun, every object in the sky once comes into the position opposite from the Sun, as seen from Earth (so-called opposition); then its daily meridian transit (culmination) occurs at midnight. More acurately, the date given is the only day in the year when there occur two culminations: One shortly (within 4 minutes) after 0:00 midnight, and the second shortly (again, within 4 minutes) before 24:00, or the next day's 0:00 midnight (this reflects the fact that there are about 366.25 siderial days in an about 365.25 solar days year, i.e. exactly one day more).

M#   NGC# Con Type  RA    Dec    m      D      MC

  M1  1952 Tau 9 05:34.5 +22:01  8.4    6x4    Dec 14 
  M2  7089 Aqr 2 21:33.5 -00:49  6.5   12.9    Aug 14 
  M3  5272 CVn 2 13:42.2 +28:23  6.2   16.2    Apr 17 
  M4  6121 Sco 2 16:23.6 -26:32  5.6   26.3    May 28 
  M5  5904 Ser 2 15:18.6 +02:05  5.6   17.4    May 11 
  M6  6405 Sco 1 17:40.1 -32:13  5.3   15.0    Jun 16 
  M7  6475 Sco 1 17:53.9 -34:49  4.1   80.0    Jun 20 
  M8  6523 Sgr 4 18:03.8 -24:23  6.0   60x35   Jun 22 
  M9  6333 Oph 2 17:19.2 -18:31  7.7    9.3    Jun 11 
 M10  6254 Oph 2 16:57.1 -04:06  6.6   15.1    Jun  5 
 M11  6705 Sct 1 18:51.1 -06:16  6.3   14.0    Jul  4 
 M12  6218 Oph 2 16:47.2 -01:57  6.7   14.5    Jun  3 
 M13  6205 Her 2 16:41.7 +36:28  5.8   16.6    Jun  1 
 M14  6402 Oph 2 17:37.6 -03:15  7.6   11.7    Jun 16 
 M15  7078 Peg 2 21:30.0 +12:10  6.2   12.3    Aug 14 
 M16  6611 Ser 1 18:18.8 -13:47  6.4    7.0    Jun 26 
 M17  6618 Sgr 4 18:20.8 -16:11  7.0   11.0    Jun 27 
 M18  6613 Sgr 1 18:19.9 -17:08  7.5    9.0    Jun 26 
 M19  6273 Oph 2 17:02.6 -26:16  6.8   13.5    Jun  7 
 M20  6514 Sgr 4 18:02.6 -23:02  9.0   28.0    Jun 22 
 M21  6531 Sgr 1 18:04.6 -22:30  6.5   13.0    Jun 22 
 M22  6656 Sgr 2 18:36.4 -23:54  5.1   24.0    Jun 30 
 M23  6494 Sgr 1 17:56.8 -19:01  6.9   27.0    Jun 20 
 M24 >6603 Sgr B 18:16.9 -18:29  4.6   90      Jun 26
 M25 I4725 Sgr 1 18:31.6 -19:15  6.5   40.0    Jun 29 
 M26  6694 Sct 1 18:45.2 -09:24  8.0   15.0    Jul  3 
 M27  6853 Vul 3 19:59.6 +22:43  7.4  8.0x5.7  Jul 22 
 M28  6626 Sgr 2 18:24.5 -24:52  6.8   11.2    Jun 27 
 M29  6913 Cyg 1 20:23.9 +38:32  7.1    7.0    Jul 28 
 M30  7099 Cap 2 21:40.4 -23:11  7.2   11.0    Aug 16 
 M31   224 And 5 00:42.7 +41:16  3.4  178x63   Oct  1 
 M32   221 And 6 00:42.7 +40:52  8.1    8x6    Oct  1 
 M33   598 Tri 5 01:33.9 +30:39  5.7   73x45   Oct 14 
 M34  1039 Per 1 02:42.0 +42:47  5.5   35.0    Nov  1 
 M35  2168 Gem 1 06:08.9 +24:20  5.3   28.0    Dec 23 
 M36  1960 Aur 1 05:36.1 +34:08  6.3   12.0    Dec 15 
 M37  2099 Aur 1 05:52.4 +32:33  6.2   24.0    Dec 19 
 M38  1922 Aur 1 05:28.4 +35:50  7.4   21.0    Dec 13 
 M39  7092 Cyg 1 21:32.2 +48:26  4.6   32.0    Aug 14 
 M40  Win4 UMa C 12:22.4 +58:05  8.4    0.8    Mar 28 
 M41  2287 CMa 1 06:46.0 -20:44  4.6   38.0    Jan  1 
 M42  1976 Ori 4 05:35.4 -05:27  4.0   85x60   Dec 15 
 M43  1982 Ori 4 05:35.6 -05:16  9.0   20x15   Dec 15 
 M44  2632 Cnc 1 08:40.1 +19:59  3.7   95.0    Jan 30 
 M45     - Tau 1 03:47.0 +24:07  1.6  110.0    Nov 17 
 M46  2437 Pup 1 07:41.8 -14:49  6.0   27.0    Jan 15 
 M47  2422 Pup 1 07:36.6 -14:30  5.2   30.0    Jan 14 
 M48  2548 Hya 1 08:13.8 -05:48  5.5   54.0    Jan 24 
 M49  4472 Vir 6 12:29.8 +08:00  8.4    9x7.5  Mar 30 
 M50  2323 Mon 1 07:03.2 -08:20  6.3   16.0    Jan  6 
 M51  5194 CVn 5 13:29.9 +47:12  8.4   11x7    Apr 14 
 M51B 5195 CVn 5 13 30.0 +47 16  9.6  6.4x4.6  Apr 14
 M52  7654 Cas 1 23:24.2 +61:35  7.3   13.0    Sep 11 
 M53  5024 Com 2 13:12.9 +18:10  7.6   12.6    Apr  9 
 M54  6715 Sgr 2 18:55.1 -30:29  7.6    9.1    Jul  5 
 M55  6809 Sgr 2 19:40.0 -30:58  6.3   19.0    Jul 17 
 M56  6779 Lyr 2 19:16.6 +30:11  8.3    7.1    Jul 11 
 M57  6720 Lyr 3 18:53.6 +33:02  8.8  1.4x1.0  Jul  5 
 M58  4579 Vir 5 12:37.7 +11:49  9.7  5.5x4.5  Apr  1 
 M59  4621 Vir 6 12:42.0 +11:39  9.6    5x3.5  Apr  2 
 M60  4649 Vir 6 12:43.7 +11:33  8.8    7x6    Apr  2 
 M61  4303 Vir 5 12:21.9 +04:28  9.7    6x5.5  Mar 28 
 M62  6266 Oph 2 17:01.2 -30:07  6.5   14.1    Jun  6 
 M63  5055 CVn 5 13:15.8 +42:02  8.6   10x6    Apr 10 
 M64  4826 Com 5 12:56.7 +21:41  8.5  9.3x5.4  Apr  5 
 M65  3623 Leo 5 11:18.9 +13:05  9.3    8x1.5  Mar 12 
 M66  3627 Leo 5 11:20.2 +12:59  8.9    8x2.5  Mar 12 
 M67  2682 Cnc 1 08:50.4 +11:49  6.1   30.0    Feb  2 
 M68  4590 Hya 2 12:39.5 -26:45  7.8   12.0    Apr  1 
 M69  6637 Sgr 2 18:31.4 -32:21  7.6    7.1    Jun 29 
 M70  6681 Sgr 2 18:43.2 -32:18  7.9    7.8    Jul  2 
 M71  6838 Sge 2 19:53.8 +18:47  8.2    7.2    Jul 20 
 M72  6981 Aqr 2 20:53.5 -12:32  9.3    5.9    Aug  4 
 M73  6994 Aqr A 20:58.9 -12:38  9.0    2.8    Aug  6 
 M74   628 Psc 5 01:36.7 +15:47  9.4 10.2x9.5  Oct 15 
 M75  6864 Sgr 2 20:06.1 -21:55  8.5    6.0    Jul 23 
 M76   650 Per 3 01:42.4 +51:34 10.1  2.7x1.8  Oct 17 
 M77  1068 Cet 5 02:42.7 -00:01  8.9    7x6    Nov  1 
 M78  2068 Ori 4 05:46.7 +00:03  8.3    8x6    Dec 18 
 M79  1904 Lep 2 05:24.5 -24:33  7.7    8.7    Dec 12 
 M80  6093 Sco 2 16:17.0 -22:59  7.3    8.9    May 26 
 M81  3031 UMa 5 09:55.6 +69:04  6.9   21x10   Feb 18 
 M82  3034 UMa 7 09:55.8 +69:41  8.4    9x4    Feb 18 
 M83  5236 Hya 5 13:37.0 -29:52  7.6   11x10   Apr 16 
 M84  4374 Vir 8 12:25.1 +12:53  9.1    5.0    Mar 28 
 M85  4382 Com 8 12:25.4 +18:11  9.1  7.1x5.2  Mar 28 
 M86  4406 Vir 8 12:26.2 +12:57  8.9  7.5x5.5  Mar 29 
 M87  4486 Vir 6 12:30.8 +12:24  8.6    7.0    Mar 30 
 M88  4501 Com 5 12:32.0 +14:25  9.6    7x4    Mar 30 
 M89  4552 Vir 6 12:35.7 +12:33  9.8    4.0    Mar 31 
 M90  4569 Vir 5 12:36.8 +13:10  9.5  9.5x4.5  Mar 31 
 M91  4548 Com 5 12:35.4 +14:30 10.2  5.4x4.4  Mar 31 
 M92  6341 Her 2 17:17.1 +43:08  6.4   11.2    Jun 10 
 M93  2447 Pup 1 07:44.6 -23:52  6.0   22.0    Jan 16 
 M94  4736 CVn 5 12:50.9 +41:07  8.2    7x3    Apr  4 
 M95  3351 Leo 5 10:44.0 +11:42  9.7  4.4x3.3  Mar  3 
 M96  3368 Leo 5 10:46.8 +11:49  9.2    6x4    Mar  3 
 M97  3587 UMa 3 11:14.8 +55:01  9.9  3.4x3.3  Mar 10 
 M98  4192 Com 5 12:13.8 +14:54 10.1  9.5x3.2  Mar 25 
 M99  4254 Com 5 12:18.8 +14:25  9.9  5.4x4.8  Mar 27 
M100  4321 Com 5 12:22.9 +15:49  9.3    7x6    Mar 28 
M101  5457 UMa 5 14:03.2 +54:21  7.9   22.0    Apr 22 
M102  5866 Dra 8 15:06.5 +55:46  9.9  5.2x2.3  May  8
M103   581 Cas 1 01:33.2 +60:42  7.4    6.0    Oct 14 
M104  4594 Vir 5 12:40.0 -11:37  8.0    9x4    Apr  1 
M105  3379 Leo 6 10:47.8 +12:35  9.3    2.0    Mar  4 
M106  4258 CVn 5 12:19.0 +47:18  8.4   19x8    Mar 27 
M107  6171 Oph 2 16:32.5 -13:03  7.9   10.0    May 30 
M108  3556 UMa 5 11:11.5 +55:40 10.0    8x1    Mar 10 
M109  3992 UMa 5 11:57.6 +53:23  9.8    7x4    Mar 21 
M109B 3953 UMa 5 11:53.8 +52:20 10.1    7x4    Mar 21
M110   205 And 6 00:40.4 +41:41  8.5   17x10   Oct  1 

Type:

1=Open Cluster, 2=Globular Cluster, 3=Planetary Nebula, 4=Diffuse Nebula, 5=Spiral Galaxy, 6=Elliptical Galaxy, 7=Irregular Galaxy, 8=Lenticular (S0) Galaxy, 9=Supernova Remnant, A=System of 4 stars or Asterism, B=Milky Way Patch, C=Binary star.

RA, Dec:

Right Ascension in hours:minutes and Declination in degrees:minutes. Epoch 2000.0

m:

apparent visual magnitude, value in our database

D:

apparent (angular) diameter in arc minutes, value in our database

MC:

Midnight Culmination Date

Last Modification: February 14, 1998