vB, vL, E 135deg +/-, vglbM, r; = M1

NGC-Beschreibung von Johan Ludvig Emil Dreyer (1888) 

M1 

vB, vL, E 135deg +/-, vglbM, r; = M1 

Very bright, very large, extended along position angle approximately 135 deg; 

very gradually brightening a little toward the middle, mottled. 

M2 

!!, Glob. Cl., B, vL, gpmbM, rrr, st eS; = M2 

Very remarkable, globular cluster, bright, very large, gradually pretty much 

brighter toward the middle, well resolved, stars extremely small [faint]. 

M3 

!!, Glob. Cl., eB, vL, vsmbM, st 11 ...; = M3 

Very remarkable, globular cluster, extremely bright, very large, very suddenly 

much brighter toward the middle, stars of 11th magnitude and fainter. 

M4 

Cl, 8 or 10 B st line, with 5 st, rrr; = M4 

Cluster, 8 or 10 bright stars in a line, with 5 stars, well resolved. 

M5 

!!, Glob. Cl., vB, L, eCM, st 11...15; = M5 

Very remarkable, globular cluster, very bright, large, extremely compressed in 

the middle, stars from 11th to 15th magnitude. 

M6 

Cl, L, iR, lC, st 7, 10...; = M6 

Cluster, large, irregularly round, little compressed, stars of 7th and of 10th 

magnitude and fainter. 

M7 

Cl, vB, pRi, lC, st 7...12; = M7 

Cluster, very bright, pretty rich, little compressed, stars from 7th to 12th 

magnitude. 

M8 

Cl, B, L, pRi, f M8 

Cluster, bright, large, pretty rich, following [east of] M8. 

M9 

Glob. Cl., B, L, R, eCM, rrr, st 14; = M9 

Globular cluster, bright, large, round, extremely compressed in the middle, well 

resolved, stars of 14th magnitude. 

M10 

! Glob. Cl., B, vL, R, gvmbM, rrr, st 10...15; = M10 

Remarkable globular cluster, bright, very large, round, gradually very much 

brighter toward the middle, well resolved, stars from 10th to 15th magnitude. 


!, Cl, vB, L, iR, Ri, *9, st 11...; = M11 

Remarkable, cluster, very bright, large, irregularly round, rich, a star of 9th 

magnitude, stars of 11th magnitude and fainter. 


!! Glob. Cl., vB, vL, iR, gmbM, rrr, st 10...; = M12 

Very remarkable globular cluster, very bright, very large, irregularly round, 

gradually much brighter toward the middle, well resolved, stars of 10th 



!! Glob. Cl., eB, vRi, vgeCM, st 11...; = M13 

Very remarkable globular cluster, extremely bright, very rich, very gradually 

extremely compressed toward the middle, stars of 11th magnitude and fainter.



! Glob. Cl., B, vL, R, eRi, vgmbM, rrr, st 15; = M14 

Remarkable globular cluster, bright, very large, round, extremely rich, very 

gradually much brighter toward the middle, well resolved, stars of 15th 

magnitude. 


!, Glob. Cl., vB, vL, iR, vsmbM, rrr, st vS; = M15 

Remarkable, globular cluster, very bright, very large, irregularly round, very 

suddenly much brighter toward the middle, well resolved, very small [faint] 

stars. 


Cl, at least 100 st L & S; = M16 

Cluster, at least 100 large [bright] & small [faint] stars. 

B, eL, Cl M16 inv 

Bright, extremely large, cluster M16 involved; = IC4703 


!!!, B, eL, eiF, 2 hooked; = M17 

Magnificient, bright, extremely large, of extremely irregular shape, hooked like 

a "2" 


Cl, P, vlC; = M18 

Cluster, poor, very little compressed. 


Glob. Cl., vB, L, R, vCM, rrr, st 16; = M19 

Globular cluster, very bright, large, round, very compressed toward the middle, 

well resolved, stars of 16th magnitude. 

M20 

!!! vB, vL, trifid, D* inv; = M20 

Magnificient, very bright, very large, trifid, a double star involved. 

M21 

Cl, pRi, lC, st 9...12; = M21 

Cluster, pretty rich, little compressed, stars from 9th to 12th magnitude. 

M22 

!!, Glob. Cl., vB, vL, R, vRi, vmC, st 11...15; = M22 

Very remarkable, globular cluster, very bright, very large, round, very rich, 

very much compressed, stars from 11th to 15th magnitude. 

M23 

Cl, B, vL, pRi, lC, st 10...; = M23 

Cluster, bright, very large, pretty rich, little compressed, stars of 10th 


M24 

eeL cloud of st and neb; = M24 

Extremely excessively large cloud of stars and nebulosity. 

M25 

Cl, pC; = M25 

Cluster, pretty compressed. 

M26 

Cl, cL, pRi, pC, st 12...15; = M26 

Cluster, considerably large, pretty rich, pretty compressed, stars from 12th to 

15th magnitude.


M27 

!!!, vB, vL, biN, iE (Dumbbell); = M27 

Magnificient, very bright, very large, binuclear, irregularly extended 

(Dumbbell). 

M28 

!, Glob. Cl., vB, L, R, geCM, rrr, st 14...16; = M28 

Remarkable, globular cluster, very bright, large, round, gradually extremely 

compressed toward the middle [gradually increasing to an extreme compression], 

well resolved, stars of 14th to 16th magnitude. 

M29 

Cl, P, lC, st L and S; = M29 

Cluster, poor, little compressed, large [bright] and small [faint] stars. 

M30 

!, Glob. Cl., B, L, lE, gpmbM, st 12...16; = M30 

Remarkable, globular cluster, bright, large, slightly extended [oval], gradually 

pretty much brighter toward the middle [i.e., from its edge, it gradually 

brightens to a much more intense middle], stars from 12th to 16th magnitude. 

M31 

!!! eeB, eL, vm E (Andromeda); = M31 

Magnificient, excessively extremely bright, extremely large, very much extended 

(Andromeda nebula). 

M32 

! vvB, L, R, psmbMN; = M32 

Remarkable, very very bright, large, round, pretty suddenly much brighter toward 

the middle where there is a nucleus. 

M33 

! eB, eL, R, vgbMN; = M33 

Remarkable, extremely bright, extremely large, round, very gradually brighter 

toward the middle where there is a nucleus. 

M34 

Cl, B, vL, lC, sc st 9; = M34 

Cluster, bright, very large, little compressed, scattered stars of 9th 

magnitude. 

M35 

Cl, vL, cRi, pC, st 9...16; = M35 

Cluster, very large, considerably rich, pretty compressed, stars from 9th to 

16th magnitude. 

M36 

Cl, B, vL, vRi, lC, st 9...11 sc; = M36 

Cluster, bright, very large, very rich, little compressed, stars from 9th to 

11th magnitude scattered. 

M37 

Cl, Ri, pCM, st L & S; = M37 

Cluster, rich, pretty compressed toward the middle, large & small [bright and 

faint] stars. 

M38 

Cl, B, vL, vRi, iF, st L & S; = M38 

Cluster, bright, very large, very rich, irregular figure [shape], large & small 

[bright and faint] stars.


M39 

Cl, vL, vP, vlC, st 7...10; = M39 

Cluster, very large, very poor, very little compressed, stars between 7th and 

10th magnitude. 

M40 

-----; M40 

M41 

Cl, vL, B, lC, st 8...; = M41 

Cluster, very large, bright, little compressed, stars of 8th magnitude and 

fainter. 

M42 

!!! Theta1 Ori and the great neb; = M42 

Magnificient, Theta1 Orionis and the Great Nebula. 

M43 

! vB, vL, R with tail, mbM *8-9; = M43 

Remarkable, very bright, very large, round with a tail, much brighter toward the 

middle where there is a star of 8th or 9th magnitude. 

M44 

Praesepe Cancri; = M44 

M45 

eF, vL, dif (Maia Pleiadum); = M45 

Extremely faint, very large, diffuse (around Maia, in the Pleiades). 

vF, vL, dif (Merope); = M45 

Very faint, very large, diffuse (around Merope). 

M46 

!, Cl, vB, vRi, vL, inv PN ; = M46 

Remarkable, cluster, very bright, very rich, very large, involving a planetary 

nebula [NGC 2438: PN, pB, pS, vlE, r, 3s.75 d 

Planetary Nebula, pretty bright, pretty small, very little extended [elongated], 

round, 3s.75 diameter] 

M47 

Cl, B, vL, pRi, st L and S; = M47 

Cluster, bright, very large, pretty rich, large and small [bright and faint] 

stars. 

M48 

Cl, vL, pRi, pmC, st 9...13; = M48 

Cluster, very large, pretty rich, pretty much compressed, stars from 9th to 13th 

magnitude. 

M49 

vB, L, R, mbM, r; = M49 

Very bright, large, round, much brighter toward the middle, mottled. 

M50 

! Cl, vL, Ri, pC, E, st 12...16; = M50 

Remarkable cluster, very large, rich, pretty compressed, extended, stars from 

12th to 16th magnitude. 

M51 

!!!, Great Spiral neb; = M51 

Magnificient, great spiral nebula [NGC 5194]. B, pS, lE, vgbM, inv in M51. 

Bright, pretty small, little extended [elongated], very gradually brighter 

toward the middle, involved in M51. [NGC 5195]


M52 

Cl, L, Ri, mCM, R, st 9...13; = M52 

Cluster, large, rich, much compressed toward the middle, round, stars from 9th 

to 13th magnitude. 

M53 

!, Glob. Cl., B, vC, iR, vvmbM, st 12; = M53 

Remarkable, globular cluster, bright, very compressed, irregularly round, very 

very much brighter toward the middle, stars of 12th magnitude. 

M54 

Glob. Cl., vB, L, R, g, smbM, rrr, st 15; = M54 

Globular cluster, very bright, large, round, gradually, then suddenly much 

brighter toward the middle, well resolved, stars of 15th magnitude. 

M55 

Glob. Cl., pB, L, R, vRi, vgbM, st 12...15; = M55 

Globular cluster, pretty bright, large, round, very rich, very gradually 

brighter toward the middle, stars from 12th to 15th magnitude. 

M56 

Glob. Cl., B, L, iR, gvmCM, rrr, st 11...14; = M 56 

Globular cluster, bright, large, irregularly round, gradually very much 

compressed toward the middle, well resolved, stars from 11th to 14th magnitude. 

M57 

!!!, ring, B, pL, cE (in Lyra); = M57 

Magnificient, ring shaped, bright, pretty large, considerably extended 

[elongated] (in Lyra). 

M58 

B, L, iR, vmbM, r; = M58 

Bright, large, irregularly round, very much brighter toward the middle, mottled. 

M59 

B, pL, lE, vsvmbM, 2 st p; = M59 

Bright, pretty large, little extended, very suddenly very much brighter toward 

the middle, 2 stars preceding [westward]. 

M60 

vB, pL, R, f of Dneb; = M60 

Very bright, pretty large, round, the following [eastward] member of a double 

nebula [the other, preceding one is NGC 4647]. 

M61 

vB, vL, vsbM*, biN; = M61 

Very bright, very large, very suddenly much brighter toward the middle which is 

starlike, binuclear. 

M62 

! Glob. Cl., vB, L, gmbM, rrr, st 14...16; = M62 

Remarkable, globular cluster, very bright, large, gradually much brighter toward 

the middle, well resolved, stars from 14th to 16th magnitude. 

M63 

vB, L, pmE 120deg +/- , vsmbMBN; = M63 

Very bright, large, pretty much extended in position angle about 120 degrees +/- 

, very suddenly much brighter toward the middle where there is a bright nucleus. 

M64 

! vB, vL, vmE 120deg +/- , bMSBN; = M64 

Remarkable, very bright, very large, very much extended in position angle of


about 120 degrees +/-, brighter toward the middle where there is a small bright 

nucleus. 

M65 

B, vL, mE 165deg +/-, gbMBN; = M65 

Bright, very large, much extended in position angle about 165 degrees +/-, 

gradually brighter toward the middle where there is a bright nucleus. 

M66 

B, vL, mE 150deg, mbM, 2 st np; = M66 

Bright, very large, much extended in position angle 150 degrees, much brighter 

toward the middle, 2 stars north preceding [NW]. 

M67 

! Cl, vB, vL, eRi, lC, st 10...15; = M67 

Remarkable cluster, very bright, very large, extremely rich, little compressed, 

stars from the 10th to the 15th magnitude. 

M68 

Glob. Cl., L, eRi, vC, iR, rrr, st 12; = M68 

Globular cluster, large, extremely rich, very compressed, irregularly round, 

well resolved, stars of 12th magnitude. 

M69 

Glob. Cl., B, L, R, rrr, st 14..16; = M69 

Globular Cluster, bright, large, round, well resolved, stars of 14th to 16th 

magnitude. 

M70 

Glob. Cl., B, pL, R, gbM, st 14...17; = M70 

Globular cluster, bright, pretty large, round, gradually brighter toward the 

middle, stars from 14th to 17th magnitude. 

M71 

Cl, vL, vRi, pmC, st 11...16; = M71 

Cluster, very large, very rich, pretty much compressed, stars from 11th to 14th 

magnitude. 

M72 

Glob. Cl., pB, pL, R, gmCM, rrr; = M72 

Globular cluster, pretty bright, pretty large, round, gradually much compressed 

toward the middle, well resolved. 

M73 

Cl, eP, vlC, no neb; = M73 

Cluster, extremely poor, very little compressed, no nebulosity. 

M74 

Glob. Cl., F, vL, R, vg, psmbM, rr; = M74 

Globular cluster, faint, very large, round, very gradually, then pretty suddenly 

much brighter to the middle, partially resolved [some stars seen]. 

M75 

Glob. Cl., B, pL, R, vmbMBN, rr; = M75 

Globular cluster, bright, pretty large, round, very much brighter to the middle 

where there is a bright nucleus, partially resolved/some stars seen. 

M76 

vB, p of Dneb; = M76 

Very bright, preceding of double nebula [NGC 650]. 

vB, f of Dneb; = M76 

Very bright, following of double nebula [NGC 651]


M77 

vB, pL, iR, sbMrrN; = M77 

Very bright, pretty large, irregularly round, suddenly brighter toward the 

middle where there is a nucleus which is partially resolved/some stars seen near 

the nucleus. 

M78 

B, L, wisp, gmbN, 3 st inv, r; = M78 

Bright, large, wisp, gradually much brighter nucleus, 3 stars involved, mottled. 

M79 

Glob. Cl., pL, eRi, eC, rrr; = M79 

Globular cluster, pretty large, extremely rich, extremely compressed, well 

resolved. 

M80 

!! Glob. Cl., vB, L, vmbM (var*), rrr, st 14; = M80 

Very remarkable globular cluster, very bright, large, very much brighter toward 

the middle (where there is a variable star [probably the nova]), well resolved, 

stars of 14th magnitude. 

M81 

! eB, eL, E 156deg , gsvmbMBN; = M81 

Remarkable, extremely bright, extremely large, extended in position angle 156 

degrees, gradually, then suddenly very much brighter toward the middle where 

there is a bright nucleus. 

M82 

vB, vL, vmE (ray); = M82 

Very bright, very large, very much extended (ray shaped). 

M83 

!! (H,h) vB, vL, E 55 deg, esbMN, (L) 3-branched spiral; = M83 

Very remarkable (W. & J. Herschel) very bright, very large, extended at position 

angle 55 deg, extremely suddenly brighter toward the middle where there is a 

central nucleus, (Lassell) 3-branched spiral. 

M84 

vB, pL, R, psbM, r; = M84 

Very bright, pretty large, round, pretty suddenly brighter toward the middle, 

mottled. 

M85 

vB, pL, R, bM, * np; = M85 

Very bright, pretty large, round, brighter toward the middle, star north 

preceding [to the NW]. 

M86 

vB, L, R, gbMN, r; = M86 

Very bright, large, round, gradually brighter toward the middle where there is a 

nucleus, mottled. 

M87 

vB, vL, R, mbM, 3rd of 3; = M87 

Very bright, very large, round, much brighter toward the middle, 3rd of 3 

[easternmost]. 

M88 

B, vL, vmE; = M88 

Bright, very large, very much extended (elongated).


M89 

pB, pS, R, gmbM; = M89 

Pretty bright, pretty small, round, gradually much brighter toward the middle. 

M90 

pL, bMN; = M90 

Pretty large, brighter toward the middle where there is a nucleus. 

M91 

B, L, lE, lbM; = M91 

Bright, large, little extended, little brighter toward the middle. 

M92 

Glob. Cl., vB, vL, eCM, rrr, st S; = M92 

Globular cluster, very bright, very large, extremely compressed toward the 

middle, well resolved, small [faint] stars. 

M93 

Cl, L, pRi, lC, st 8...13; = M93 

Cluster, large, pretty rich, little compressed, stars from 8th to 13th 

magnitude. 

M94 

vB, L, iR, vsvmbMBN, r; = M94 

Very bright, large, irregularly round, very suddenly very much brighter toward 

the middle where there is a bright nucleus; mottled. 

M95 

B, L, R, pgmbMN; = M95 

Bright, large, round, pretty gradually much brighter toward the middle where 

there is a nucleus. 

M96 

vB, vL, lE, vsvmbM, r; = M96 

Very bright, very large, little extended, very suddenly very much brighter 

toward the middle, mottled. 

M97 

Very remarkable, planetary nebula, very bright, very large, round, very very 

gradually, then very suddenly brighter toward the middle, 150" diameter; = M97 

M98 

B, vL, vmE 152deg , vsvmbM; = M98 

Bright, very large, very much extended in position angle 152 degrees, very 

suddenly very much brighter toward the middle. 

M99 

!! (H,h) B, L, R, gbM, r, (R & L) 3-branched spiral; = M99 

Very remarkable, (W. & J. Herschel) bright, large, round, gradually brighter 

toward the middle, mottled, (Rosse and Lassell) 3-branched spiral. 


!! pF, vL, R, vg, psbMrN, (L) 2-br spir; = M100 

Very remarkable, pretty faint, very large, round, very gradually, then pretty 

suddenly brighter toward the middle where there is a mottled nucleus, (Lassell) 

2-branched spiral. 


pB, vL, iR, g, vsmbMBSN; = M101 

Pretty bright, very large, irregularly round, gradually, then very suddenly, 

much brighter toward the middle, where there is a bright small nucleus.



vB, cL, pmE 146deg, gbM; = M102 

Very bright, considerably large, pretty much extended along position angle 146 

deg, gradually brighter toward the middle. 


Cl, pL, B, R, Ri, st 10...11; = M103 

Cluster, pretty large, bright, round, rich, stars of 10th and 11th magnitude. 


!, vB, vL, eE 92deg, vsmbMN; = M104 

Remarkable, very bright, very large, extremely extended toward position angle 92 

deg, very suddenly much brighter toward the middle where there is a nucleus. 


vB, cL, R, psbM, r; = M105 

Very bright, considerably large, round, pretty suddenly brighter toward the 

middle, mottled. 


vB, vL, vmE 0deg, sbMBN; = M106 

Very bright, very large, very much extended in position angle 0 degrees, 

suddenly much brighter toward the middle where there is a nucleus. 


Glob. Cl., L, vRi, vmC, R, rrr; = M107 

Globular cluster, large, very rich, very much compressed, round, well resolved. 


cB, vL, vmE 79deg, pbM, r; = M108 

Considerably bright, very large, very much extended in position angle 79 deg, 

pretty bright toward the middle, mottled. 


cB, vL, pmE, sbMBrN; = M109 

Considerably bright, very large, pretty much extended, suddenly brighter to the 

middle where there is a bright mottled nucleus. 


vB, vL, mE 165deg, vgvmbM; = M110 

Very bright, very large, much extended in position angle 165 deg, very gradually 

very much brighter toward the middle. 

Explanation: 

ab about 

alm almost 

am among 

annul annular or ring nebula 

att attached 

b brighter 

bet between 

biN binuclear 

bn brightest to n side 

bs brightest to s side 

bp brightest to p side 

bf brightest to f side 

B bright 

c considerably 

chev chevelure 

co coarse, coarsely 

com cometic (cometary form) 

comp companion


conn connected 

cont in contact 

C compressed 

Cl cluster 

d diameter 

def defined 

dif diffused 

diffic difficult 

dist distance, or distant 

D double 

e extremely, excessively 

ee most extremely 

er easily resolvable 

exc excentric 

E extended 

f following (eastward) 

F faint 

g gradually 

glob. globular 

gr group 

i irregular 

iF irregular figure 

inv involved, involving 

l little (adv.); long (adj.) 

L large 

m much 

m magnitude 

M middle, or in the middle 

n north 

neb nebula 

nebs nebulous 

neby nebulosity 

nf north following 

np north preceding 

ns north-south 

nr near 

N nucleus, or to a nucleus 

p preceding (westward) 

pf preceding-following 

p pretty (adv., before F. B. L, S) 

pg pretty gradually 

pm pretty much 

ps pretty suddenly 

plan planetary nebula (same as PN) 

prob probably 

P poor (sparse) in stars 

PN planetary nebula 

r resolvable (mottled, not resolved) 

rr partially resolved, some stars seen 

rrr well resolved, clearly consisting of stars 

R round 

RR exactly round 

Ri rich in stars 

s suddenly (abruptly) 

s south 

sf south following 

sp south preceding 

sc scattered 

sev several 

st stars (pl.) 

st 9... stars of 9th magnitude and fainter 

st 9..13 stars of mag. 9 to 13 

stell stellar, pointlike


susp suspected 

S small in angular size 

S* small (faint) star 

trap trapezium 

triangle triangle, forms a triangle with 

triN trinuclear 

v very 

vv _very_ 

var variable 

* a single star 

*10 a star of 10th magnitude 

*7-8 star of mag. 7 or 8 

** double star (same as D*) 

*** triple star 

! remarkable 

!! very much so 

!!! a magnificent or otherwise interesting object

vB, vL, E 135deg +/-, vglbM, r; = M1

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