# 2.2 Exploring the Messier catalogue

The catalogue of Charles Messier provides an ideal starting point for exploring the variety of extended objects visible in the sky. More than 250 years after publication of the first part of his catalogue, it remains a treasure trove for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers looking to observe and make images of some of the most beautiful, complex and interesting deep-sky objects that can be observed without access to professional observatories.

In the following activity you will explore the range of objects that Messier found.

## Activity 1 Exploring the Messier catalogue

Allow around 15 minutes

### Task 1

Visit the Wikipedia page for ‘Messier object’ to find a full list of deep-sky, extended astronomical objects. (Make sure to open the link in a new tab/window so you can easily return here.)

Choose an object that sounds interesting, then look around online for a few different images of it, and some background information about what type of object it is. In most cases you should be able to find pictures from both professional observatories and amateur astronomers/astrophotographers. Indeed, if you are familiar with Messier objects (or even have your own collection of photographs), you may already have a favourite to select.

### Task 2

Write a short paragraph (50–150 words) describing the appearance of your chosen Messier object, what type of astronomical object it is, and any facts you found interesting.

(A text entry box would appear here, but your browser does not support it.)

OpenLearn - Astronomy: images of the Universe
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