Constellations Containing Messier Objects

constellation constellations largest constellations
Courtesy of NASA

As we move through the review of each Messier object, we thought it would be fun to start doing the same for constellations. Therefore, to tie the two series and resources together, it made sense to detail which constellations have Messier objects, which objects are in them, and when they are visible all in 1 chart.

There are 88 IAU constellations, but there are only 34 that contain Messier objects. This means that there are 54 constellations that do not contain Messier objects, some of which are too far south to be visible from France.

ConstellationNumber Of Messier ObjectsWhich Messier Objects?When Visible From PNW?Best Visibility
Andromeda3Messiers 31, 32, and 110August To FebruarySeptember, to November
Aquarius3Messiers 2, 72, and 73June to DecemberSeptember
Auriga3Messiers 36, 37, and 38July to AprilMarch
Cancer2Messiers 44, and 67September to MayFebruary To May
Canes Venatici5Messier 3, 51, 63, 94, and 106November to AugustMay
Canis Major1Messier 41October to MarchFebruary
Capricornus1Messier 30April to DecemberSeptember
Cassiopeia2Messier 52 and 103Year RoundNovember
Cetus1Messier 77July to MarchNovember
Coma Berenices8Messier 53, 64, 85, 88, 91, 98, 99, 100December to AugustMay
Cygnus2Messier 29, and 39June to OctoberSeptember
Draco1Messier 102Always VisibleJuly
Gemini1Messier 35September to AprilFebruary
Hercules2Messier 13 and 92March To NovemberJully
Hydra3Messier 48, 68, 83October to AprilApril
Leo5Messier 65, 66, 95, 96, 105October to JuneApril
Lepus1Messier 79October to MarchJanuary
Lyra2Messier 56, and 57March to NovemberAugust
Monoceros1Messier 50October to MarchFebruary
Ophiuchus7Messier 9, 10, 12, 14, 19, 62, and 107March to OctoberJuly and August
Orion3Messier 42, 43, and 78October to MarchJanuary
Pegasus2Messier 34, and 76June to JanuaryJuly and August
Pisces1Messier 74July to JanuaryAugust to October
Puppis3Messier 46, 47, and 93November to MarchFebruary
Sagitta1Messier 71April to OctoberAugust
Sagittarius15Messier 8, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 54, 55, 69, 70, and 75May To AugustJun
Scorpius4Messier 4, 6, 7, and 80May to AugustJune and July
Scutum2Messier 11 and 26May to OctoberAugust
Serpens2Messier 5 and 16April to SeptemberJune and July
Taurus2Messier 1 and 45September to MarchDecember and January
Triangulum1Messier 33July To FebruaryDecember
Ursa Major7Messier 40, 81, 82, 97, 101, 108, and 109December to JuneApril
Virgo11Messier 49, 58, 59, 60, 61, 84, 86, 87, 89, 90, and 104December to JuneMay
Vulpecula1Messier 27April to NovemberAugust and September

Check back in later for more detailed write-ups on each constellation! An introduction to Messier objects can be found here. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments.

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