Online Astronomy eText: Appendices
The Messier Catalog: Globular Clusters Link for sharing this page on Facebook
(also see Charles Messier's Catalog: Nebulae / Open Clusters / Galaxies)
Page last updated May 11, 2021

Note: M107 was added to the Catalog in 1947

M2 (=
NGC 7089)
Discovered (Sep 11, 1746) by Jean-Dominique Maraldi
Recorded (Sep 11, 1760) by Charles Messier as M2
Also observed (Sep 22, 1775) by Johann Bode
Also observed (Jul 30, 1783) by Caroline Herschel
Also observed (Jul 30, 1783) by William Herschel
Also observed (Aug 28, 1795) by Joseph Lalande
Also observed (Jul 21, 1827) by John Herschel
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Aquarius (RA 21 33 27, Dec -00 49 22)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credit: D. Williams, N. A. Sharp, AURA, NOAO, NSF, apod010611)


M3 (=
NGC 5272)
Discovered (1764) by Charles Messier
A 6th-magnitude globular cluster in Canes Venatici (RA 13 42 11, Dec +28 22 34)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credit: S. Kafka & K. Honeycutt (Indiana University), WIYN, NOAO, NSF)


M4 (=
NGC 6121)
Discovered (1745) by Philippe de Cheseaux (Recorded by Messier in 1764)
A 5th-magnitude globular cluster in Scorpius (RA 16 23 36, Dec -26 31 29)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
Below, an NOAO image of M4 (Image Credits: T2KA, KPNO 0.9-m Telescope, NOAO, AURA, NSF,)
NOAO image of NGC 6121, also known as M4

M5 (=
NGC 5904)
Discovered (1702) by Gottfried Kirch (Recorded by Messier in 1764)
A 6th-magnitude globular cluster in Serpens Caput (RA 15 18 34, Dec +02 05 00)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: Jim Misti, Misti Mountain Observatory; used by permission)
Misti Mountain Observatory image of NGC 5904, also known as M5

M9 (=
NGC 6333)
Discovered (1764) by Charles Messier
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Ophiuchus (RA 17 19 12, Dec -18 30 57)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M10 (=
NGC 6254)
Discovered (May 29, 1764) by Charles Messier (and recorded as M10)
Also observed (Aug 14, 1774) by Johann Bode
Also observed (May 21, 1825) by John Herschel
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Ophiuchus (RA 16 57 09, Dec -04 05 56)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: N.A.Sharp, Vanessa Harvey/REU program/AURA/NSF/NOAO)


M12 (=
NGC 6218)
Discovered (May 30, 1764) by Charles Messier (and recorded as M12)
Also observed (Aug 14, 1774) by Johann Bode
Also observed (May 21, 1825) by John Herschel
A 6th-magnitude globular cluster in Ophiuchus (RA 16 47 15, Dec -01 56 50)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: REU Program, AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M13 (=
NGC 6205) -- The Globular Cluster in Hercules
Discovered (1714) by Edmund Halley (Recorded by Messier in 1764)
A 6th-magnitude globular cluster in Hercules (RA 16 41 42, Dec +36 27 39)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more images and information
(Image Credits: N.A.Sharp, REU program/AURA/NSF/NOAO)


M14 (=
NGC 6402)
Discovered (1764) by Charles Messier
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Ophiuchus (RA 17 37 36, Dec -03 14 43)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more images and information
(Image Credits: AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M15 (=
NGC 7078)
Discovered (Sep 7, 1746) by Jean-Dominique Maraldi
Recorded (Jun 3, 1764?) by Charles Messier as M15
Also observed (Sep 23, 1774) by Johann Bode
Also observed (1825) by Wilhelm Struve
Also observed (Jul 21, 1794) by Joseph Lalande
Also observed (Nov 23, 1805) by William Herschel
Also observed (Oct 12, 1825) by John Herschel
A 6th-magnitude globular cluster in Pegasus (RA 21 29 58, Dec +12 10 03)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more images and information
Wikimedia Commons cutout of HST image of M15

M19 (=
NGC 6273)
Discovered (1764) by Charles Messier
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Ophiuchus (RA 17 02 38, Dec -26 16 03)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: Doug Williams, REU Program/AURA/NSFNOAO)


M22 (=
NGC 6656)
Discovered (1665) by Abraham Ihle (Recorded by Messier in 1764)
A 5th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius (RA 18 36 24, Dec -23 54 10)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credit & © Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT), Hawaiian Starlight, CFHT; used by permission)


M28 (=
NGC 6626)
Discovered (1764) by Charles Messier
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius (RA 18 24 33, Dec -24 52 10)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M30 (=
NGC 7099)
Discovered (1764) by Charles Messier
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Capricornus (RA 21 40 22, Dec -23 10 43)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: REU program, AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M53 (=
NGC 5024)
Discovered (Feb 3, 1775) by Johann Bode
Observed (Feb 26, 1777) by Charles Messier and listed as M53
Also observed (1825) by Wilhelm Struve
Also observed (May 6, 1826) by John Herschel
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Coma Berenices (RA 13 12 55, Dec +18 10 11)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
SDSS image of NGC 5024, also known as M53

M54 (=
NGC 6715)
Discovered (1778) by Charles Messier
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius (RA 18 55 03, Dec -30 28 40)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: REU Program, AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M55 (=
NGC 6809)
Discovered (1751) by Nicolas Lacaille (Recorded by Messier in 1778)
A 6th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius (RA 19 39 59, Dec -30 57 42)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: B.J. Mochejska, J. Kaluzny (CAMK), 1m Swope Telescope, apod000922)


M56 (=
NGC 6779)
Discovered (1779) by Charles Messier
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Lyra (RA 19 16 36, Dec +30 11 07)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M62 (=
NGC 6266)
Discovered (1771) by Charles Messier
A 6th-magnitude globular cluster in Ophiuchus (RA 17 01 13, Dec -30 06 42)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
Below, a 24 arcmin wide view of the cluster
Wikisky image of M62

M68 (=
NGC 4590)
Discovered (1780) by Charles Messier
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Hydra (RA 12 39 28, Dec -26 44 32)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
Below, a 12 arcmin wide view of M68
Wikisky image of M68

M69 (=
NGC 6637)
Discovered (1780) by Charles Messier
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius (RA 18 31 23, Dec -32 20 51)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: REU program, AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M70 (=
NGC 6681)
Discovered (1780) by Charles Messier
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius (RA 18 43 13, Dec -32 17 29)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: REU program, AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M71 (=
NGC 6838)
Discovered (1745) by Philippe de Cheseaux
Observed (between 1772 and 1778?) and recorded (1779) by Johann Koehler
Recorded (Jun 28, 1780) by Messier as M71
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagitta (RA 19 53 46, Dec +18 46 44)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: REU program/AURA/NSF/NOAO)


M72 (=
NGC 6981)
Discovered (1780) by Pierre Méchain (Recorded by Messier in 1780)
A 9th-magnitude globular cluster in Aquarius (RA 20 53 28, Dec -12 32 11)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: NASA, ESA, HPOW, Hubble)


M75 (=
NGC 6864)
Discovered (1780) by Pierre Méchain (Recorded by Messier in 1780)
A 9th-magnitude globular cluster in Sagittarius (RA 20 06 05, Dec -21 55 15)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: WIYN, AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M79 (=
NGC 1904)
Discovered (1780) by Pierre Méchain (Recorded by Messier in 1780)
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster in Lepus (RA 05 24 11, Dec -24 31 25)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: AURA, NSF, NOAO)


M80 (=
NGC 6093)
Discovered (1781) by Charles Messier
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Scorpius (RA 16 17 03, Dec -22 58 28)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credit and Copyright: Jim Misti, Misti Mountain Observatory; used by permission)
Misti Mountain Observatory image of region near NGC 6093, also known as M80

M92 (=
NGC 6341)
Discovered (Dec 27, 1777) by Johann Bode
Recorded (Mar 18, 1781) by Charles Messier as M92
Recorded (May 25, 1795) by Joseph Lalande
A 7th-magnitude globular cluster in Hercules (RA 17 17 07, Dec +43 08 13)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: Hillary Mathis, REU program/AURA/NSF/NOAO)


M107 (=
NGC 6171 = GCL 44)
Discovered (April, 1782) by Pierre Méchain
Added to Charles Messier's catalog as M107 by Helen Sawyer Hogg in 1947
An 8th-magnitude globular cluster (type X) in Ophiuchus (RA 16 32 31.9, Dec -13 03 11)
Click on the image (below) or the NGC link (above) for more information
(Image Credits: HST/NASA/ScSTI, from Wikimedia Commons)

Online Astronomy eText: Appendices
The Messier Catalog: Globular Clusters
(also see Charles Messier's Catalog: Nebulae / Open Clusters / Galaxies)