Open cluster M21 (NGC 2287)
Visual magnitude ~ 4.5
Dimensions ~ 39'
Distance ~ 2,100 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
...
Emission nebula and cluster M42 (The Great Orion Nebula NGC 1976)
Visual magnitude ~ 3.7
Dimensions ~ 1.5° x 1.0°
Distance ~ 1,500 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
Date & Time: August 22, 2025, 4:32 am
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temperature: Clear, light breeze, 18°C
Sunset: 8:11 pm
Sunrise: 6:24 am (August 23)
Moonset: 8:08 pm
Moon Phase: New moon (0%)
Technical: ~ 1-hr & 4-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, home wifi, minor post-processing using Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra editing tools
Emission nebula M43 (NGC 1982)
Visual magnitude ~ 6.8
Dimensions ~ 20' x 15'
Distance ~ 1,500 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Date & Time: September 13, 2025, 3:20 am
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temperature: Clear, calm, 7°C
Sunset: 7:33 pm (September 12)
Moon Phase: Waning gibbous (66%)
Moonrise: 9:49 pm (September 12)
Technical: 1-hour Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, home wifi, enhanced using the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra photo editing tools
Open cluster M44 (Beehive Cluster NGC 2632)
Visual magnitude ~ 3.1
Dimensions ~ 70'
Distance ~ 577 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
...
Open cluster M45 (Pleiades)
Visual magnitude ~ 1.5
Diameter ~ 2°
Distance ~ 440 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
Date & Time: August 3, 2025, 4:05 am
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temperature: Clear, calm, 9°C
Sunset: 8:42 pm
Moonset: 12:19 am
Moon Phase: First quarter (64%)
Moonrise: 3:37 pm
Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery & power tank, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing
Open cluster M46 (NGC 2437)
Visual magnitude ~ 6.1
Diameter ~ 20°
Distance ~ 5,300 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
...
Open cluster M47 (NGC 2422, NGC 2478)
Visual magnitude ~ 4.4
Diameter ~ 25'
Distance ~ 1,500 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
...
Open cluster M48 (NGC 2548)
Visual magnitude ~ 5.8
Diameter ~ 30'
Distance ~ 2,400 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
...
Elliptical galaxy M49 (NGC 4472)
Visual magnitude ~ 8.4
Dimensions ~ 8.1' x 7.1'
Distance ~ 52.5 million light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
Date & Time: June 26, 2025, 10:08 pm
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temp: Clear, calm, humid, 15°C
Sunset: 9:08 pm
Moonset: 10:46 pm
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (3%)
Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing
Open cluster M50 (NGC 2323)
Visual magnitude ~ 5.9
Diameter ~ 15'
Distance ~ 3,300 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
...
Spiral galaxy M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy NGC 5194)
Visual magnitude ~ 8.4
Dimensions~ 11.2' x 6.9'
Distance ~ 27 million light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
Date & Time: July 18, 2025, 9:52 pm
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 22°C
Sunset: 8:59 pm
Moon Phase: Last quarter (39%)
Technical: 1-hr Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing
Open cluster M52 (The Scorpion NGC 7654)
Visual magnitude ~ 6.9
Diameter ~ 16'
Distance ~ 5,100 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
Date & Time: July 19, 2025, 2:43 am
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temp: Clear, light breeze, 22°C
Sunset: 8:59 pm
Moon Phase: Last quarter (39%)
Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, battery power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing
Globular cluster M53 (NGC 5024)
Visual magnitude ~ 7.7
Diameter ~ 13'
Distance ~ 58,400 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
...
Globular cluster M54 (NGC 6715)
Visual magnitude ~ 7.2
Diameter ~ 12'
Distance ~ 86,400 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
...
Globular cluster M55 (NGC 6809)
Visual magnitude ~ 6.3
Diameter ~ 19'
Distance ~ 17,600 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
...
Globular cluster M56 (NGC 6779)
Visual magnitude ~ 8.3
Diameter ~ 7'
Distance ~ 30,600 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Date & Time: June 24, 2025, 11:10 pm
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temp: Partly cloudy, calm, humid, 24°C
Sunset: 9:08 pm
Moonset: 9:04 pm
Moon Phase: New Moon (0%)
Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, home wifi, no post-processing
Planetary nebula M57 (Ring Nebula NGC 6720)
Visual magnitude ~ 8.8
Diameter ~ 65"
Distance ~ 2,000 light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Image Comparison References
Date & Time: June 24, 2025, 11:43 pm
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temp: Partly cloudy, calm, humid, 24°C
Sunset: 9:08 pm
Moonset: 9:04 pm
Moon Phase: New Moon (0%)
Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, home wifi, no post-processing
Spiral galaxy M58 (NGC 4579)
Visual magnitude ~ 9.6
Diameter ~ 5.9' x 4.7'
Distance ~ 63 million light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Date & Time: June 26, 2025, 10:41 pm
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temp: Clear, calm, humid, 15°C
Sunset: 9:08 pm
Moonset: 10:46 pm
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (3%)
Technical: 30-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing
Elliptical galaxies M59 and M60 (NGC 4621 and NGC 4649)
Visual magnitude ~ 9.6 (M59) and 8.8 (M60)
Dimensions ~ 5.4' x 3.7' (M59) and 7.1' x 6.1' (M60)
Distance ~ 51 (M59) and 55 (M60) million light-years
Data Reference
The Messier Objects: 2nd Edition, Stephen James O'Meara, Cambridge University Press, New York, 2014.
Date & Time: June 26, 2025, 11:26 pm
Location: Kempt Shore, Nova Scotia, 45°N
Sky & Temp: Clear, calm, humid, 15°C
Sunset: 9:08 pm
Moonset: 10:46 pm
Moon Phase: Waxing crescent (3%)
Technical: 1 hr 10-min Integration, 10-sec exposures, line power, no filter, direct wifi, no post-processing