A Collection of Some Common Names for Deep Sky Objects
Compiled by Hartmut Frommert
Also look at our List of Common Names for Messier Objects:
http://messier.seds.org/m-names.html
http://files.seds.org/pub/info/messier/m-names.txt
You are invited to email me additional names for deep sky objects !
Deep Sky Objects are often referred to by their entries in catalogs;
see our List of Common Deep Sky Catalogs at
http://messier.seds.org/xtra/supp/cats.html
This list contains only deepsky objects which are not stars, and omits
e.g. galaxy clusters which are named after a constellation such as the
Virgo Cluster of Galaxies or the Coma Cluster of Galaxies.
Popular names for stars are included in Chris Kronberg's
List of Bright Stars:
http://www.maa.mhn.de/StarDate/bright_stars.html
http://maps.seds.org/Stars_en/
This file is also available as html file at
http://www.seds.org/xtra/supp/d-names.html
Common names for deep sky objects are usually assigned for either the
constellation where the object is situated, or to honor the discoverer, or
to desribe the object's appearance in a way easy to remember; but there are
no rules for assigning common names. A notable case is the radioastronomical
names included here, after a constellation and an uppercase letter in the
order of radio brightness, such as Virgo A or Orion B; this scheme was
introduced by J.G. Bolton and G.J. Stanley around 1950.
Name NGC/IC M Notes
____________________________________________________________________________
4-5 Vulpeculae Cluster 19:25.4 +20:11 Collinder 399 open cluster, also Coathanger Cl., Al Sufi's Cl., Brocchi's Cl.
9-12 Geminorum Cluster 06:18.0 +23:38 Cr 89 cluster including 9, 10, 11 and 12 Gem (Archinal/Hynes)
20 Vulpeculae Cluster N6885 (Archinal/Hynes)
30 Doradus N2070 Tarantula Nebula in LMC
47 Tucanae N 104
"37" Cluster N2169 (Goldstein, Archinal/Hynes)
Al Sufi's Cluster 19:25.4 +20:11 Collinder 399 open cluster, also Coathanger Cl., Brocchi's Cl., 4-5 Vul Cl.
Alpha Persei Cluster 03:22 +49 Melotte 20 open cluster
Ambartsumian's Knot N3561
Andromeda A N 224 M31 the Andromeda Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy N 224 M31 also radio source Andromeda A
Andromeda I 00:45.7 +38:00 in Local Group
Andromeda II 01:16.3 +33:27 in Local Group
Andromeda III 00:35.3 +36:31 in Local Group
Andromeda IV 00:42.5 +40:34 former Local Group candidate
Andromeda V 01:10.3 +47:38 in Local Group
Andromeda VI 23:51.7 +24:36 also Pegasus dSph, in Local Group
Andromeda VII 03:27.8 +50:35 also Cassiopeia dSph, in Local Group
Andromeda VIII 00:42.3 +40:37 in Local Group
Anon Platais 21:30.0 +48:59 Open Cluster with Cepheid V1726 Cyg (U II 2000.0)
Anonymous vdB cluster 06:37.1 +03:04 Open Cluster vdB 1 (SIMBAD, Archinal/Hynes), also CV Mon cl
Ant Galaxy 10:56.9 +06:54 UGC 6046 SBcd: galaxy (U II 2000.0)
Ant Nebula 16:17.2 -51:59 PK 331-1.1 bipolar nebula
Antares Cluster 16:26.0 -26:13 Cr 302 open cluster (SC 2000.0)
Antares Nebula 16:29.2 -26:27 Ced 132, IC 4606, near Antares, also Cloud Nebula
Antennae Galaxies N4038-9 also Ring Tail Galaxies, VV 245
Antlia Dwarf 10:04.1 -27:20 in Local Group
Apple Core Nebula N 650-1 M76 (Mike Frazier); also Little Dumbbell, Cork, or Butterfly Nebula
Apple Core Nebula N6853 M27 (J.R. Freeman); also the Dumbbell Nebula
Aquarius Dwarf, AqrDIG 20:46.9 -12:51 DDO 210, MCG -2-53-3, in Local Group
Argo Dwarf 07:04.5 -58:27 nearby LSB dwarf galaxy, also Carina II
Arp's Galaxy 11:19.6 +51:30
Atom For Peace Galaxy N7252 Arp 226
Auriga Salt-and-Pepper N2099 M37 (H. Frommert and Jeff Bondono)
BL Lacertae 22:02.7 +42:17
BW Tauri 04:33.2 +05:21 UGC 3087, 3C 120. S0 Seyfert Galaxy
Baade's Galaxies A & B 00:49.9 +42:35 MCG+07-02-018/19
Barbell Nebula N 650-1 M76 also Little Dumbbell, Butterfly, or Cork Nebula; Apple Core Nebula (Mike Frazier)
Barbon's Galaxy 23:37.7 +30:08 Markarian 328, Zwicky 497.042
Barnard's Galaxy N6822
Barnard's Loop 05:35 -03: Sharpless 2-276, H V.35 ?
Baxendall's Nebula N7088 Baxendall's unphotographable Nebula
Bear Paw (Claw) Galaxy N2537 Arp 6
Beehive Cluster N2632 M44 also Praesepe
Black Eye Galaxy N4826 M64 also "Sleeping Beauty Galaxy"
Black Hole 18:15.6 -18:14 Barnard 92 dark nebula, in M24
Blinking Planetary N6826
Blue Flash Nebula N6905 (Deep Sky List)
Blue Planetary N3918
Blue Racquetball PN N6572
Blue Snowball N7662
Bode's Galaxies (Nebulae) N3031/4 M81/M82
Bode's Galaxy, Bode's Nebula N3031 M81 (Murdin/Allen/Malin 1979)
Boomerang Nebula 12:44.8 -54:31 Bipolar Nebula
Bow Tie Nebula N 40
Box N4169/73-5
Box Nebula N6309
Brocchi's Cluster 19:25.4 +20:11 Collinder 399 open cluster, also Coathanger Cl., Al Sufi's Cl., 4-5 Vul Cl.
Bubble Nebula N7635
Bug Nebula N6302
Burbidge Chain 00:47.5 -20:26 MCG-04-03-010..3 galaxies
Burnham's Nebula 04:22.0 +19:32 T Tauri Nebula
Butterfly Cluster N2447 M93 (Jeff Bondono)
Butterfly Cluster N6405 M6 (`Splendors of the Heavens', Phillips/Steaphenson 1923)
Butterfly Nebula N 650-1 M76 also Little Dumbbell, Cork, or Barbell Nebula; Apple Core Nebula (Mike Frazier)
Butterfly Nebula N2346 also Hourglass PN
Butterfly Nebula I2220
Butterfly Nebula 17:05.6 -10:08 M2-9 (PK 010+18.2) bipolar nebula, also Siamese Squid Nebula, Twinjet Nebula
CM Tauri SN 1054, Crab supernova which generated M1, the Crab Nebula; Crab Pulsar
Calabash Nebula 07:42.3 -14:42 OH 231.8+4.2, planetary nebula in Pup (around QX Pup), also Rotten Egg Nebula
California Nebula N1499
Camel Eye Nebula N1501
Camelopardalis A 04:37.2 +71:31 nearby dwarf galaxy
Campbell's Star 19:34.8 +30:31 central star HD 184738 (BD+30 3639) of planetary nebula PK 064-05.1 (PN G064.7+05.0)
Canali 12:35.7 -12:02 open cluster or asterism (Canali 1997, U II 2000.0)
Canis Major Dwarf 07:20 -30 dwarf galaxy in Local Group; closest statellite to our Milky Way
Capricorn Dwarf 21:46.5 -21:14 UGCA 421, A 2144; Globular Cluster Palomar 12 (former Local Group galaxy suspect)
Carafe Galaxy, Cannon's 04:28.0 -47:54 near NGC 1595/98
Carafe Group N1595/8 + Carafe Galaxy
Carina Dwarf 06:41.6 -50:58 ESO 206-A20 in Local Group
Carina II Dwarf 07:04.5 -58:27 nearby LSB dwarf galaxy, also Argo Dwarf
Cartwheel Galaxy 00:37.4 -33:44 MCG-06-02-022a
Cassiopeia A 23:23.4 +58:50 3C 461. SNR and strongest radio source in sky
Cassiopeia Salt-and-Pepper N7654 M52 (H. Frommert and Jeff Bondono)
Cassiopeia dSph 03:27.8 +50:35 also Andromeda VII, in Local Group
Cat Eye Nebula N6543
Cat's Paw Nebula N6334 (Jerry Lodriguss, S&T 8/98)
Cave Nebula 22:56.8 +62:37 Sh2-155 Diffuse Nebula
CBS Eye N3242 (Deep Sky List)
Centaurus A N5128 Arp 153
Centaurus Chain N4616/22/50/61 galaxy chain, also NGC 4603D, 4622A/B, 4650A (U II 2000.0)
Cetus A N1068 M77
Cetus Dwarf 00:26.1 -11:02 in Local Group
Checkmark Nebula N6618 M17 also Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Lobster Nebula
Cheerio Nebula N6337
Chi Persei N 884 Double Cluster with NGC 869 (h Persei)
Christmas Tree Cluster N2264 associated with the Cone Nebula
Cigar Galaxy N3034 M82 (Tom Polakis)
Circinus Galaxy 14:13.2 -65:20 Highly obscured spiral galaxy
Cirrus Nebula N6960,92,95 Cygnus SNR, Cygnus Loop, Veil Nebula
Cleopatra's Eye Nebula N1535 (Alicia Tristan)
Cloud Nebula 16:29.2 -26:27 Antares Nebula, Ced 132
Clown Nebula, Clown Face N. N2392 also Eskimo Nebula
Coalsack 12:53 -63 7-by-5 deg dark nebula near Alpha Crucis
Coathanger Cluster 19:25.4 +20:11 Collinder 399 open cluster, also Brocchi's Cl., Al Sufi's Cl., 4-5 Vul Cl.
Cocoon Galaxy N4490
Cocoon Nebula I5146
Coddington's Nebula I2574
Coma A 12:54.2 +27:38 3C 277.3, PCG 43882 active galaxy
Coma Pinwheel Galaxy N4254 M99 (prop based on RASC)
Coma Star Cluster 12:26 +26 Melotte 111 open cluster
Cone Nebula (Conus N.) N2264 associated with the Christmas Tree Cluster
Cooling Tower N6913 M29 (Jeff Bondono)
Copeland's Septet N3745-6/8/50-1/3-4
Cork Nebula N 650-1 M76 also Little Dumbbell, Butterfly, or Barbell Nebula; Apple Core Nebula (Mike Frazier)
Crab Nebula N1952 M1 (Rosse 1844)
Crab Pulsar NP0532, central star of the Crab Nebula M1
Crescent Nebula N6445
Crescent Nebula N6888
Crowbar Galaxy N4656 (Chris Schur)
Crystal Ball Nebula N1514
CV Mon cluster 06:37.1 +03:04 Open cl vdB 1 (SIMBAD, Archinal/Hynes), also Anonymous vdB cl
Cygnus A 19:59.4 +40:43 MCG+07-41-003
Cygnus Egg 21:02.3 +36:42 CRL 2688, AFGL 2688 planetary nebula; also Egg N.
Cygnus Loop N6960,92,95 Cygnus SNR, Veil Nebula, Cirrus Nebula
Dandelion Puffball Nebula N6751
Dark Doodad 12:25.0 -71:30 dark nebula 150x15' (U II 2000.0)
De Mairan's Nebula N1982 M43 Part of the Orion Nebula
Delle Caustiche > N6603 M24 (Secchi), also Sagittarius Star Cloud, Milky Way Patch
Delta Lyrae Cluster 18:54.5 +36:54 Stephenson 1 open cluster (SIMBAD, Archinal/Hynes)
Diablo Nebula N6853 M27 (Jeff Bondono, Sky Cat 2000), also the Dumbbell Nebula
Double Cluster N 869/84 h+Chi Persei
Double-Headed Shot N6853 M27 (Jeff Bondono, Sky Cat 2000), also the Dumbbell Nebula
Draco Dwarf 17:20.2 +57:55 DDO 208, UGC 10822; in Local Group
Dragon Nebula < N6523 < M8 Part of the Lagoon Nebula (Sky Cat. 2000)
Dragonfly Cluster N 457 (Sue French; contributed by Akkana Peck), also Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster, Owl Cluster, ET Cluster
Duck Nebula N2359 (Deep Sky List)
Dumbbell Nebula N6853 M27 also Diablo Nebula (Jeff Bondono), Double-Head Shot (Jeff Bondono), Apple Core Nebula (J.R. Freeman)
Dumbbell Nebula, Little N 650-1 M76 (Sky Catalogue 2000) also Cork, Butterfly, or Barbell Nebula; Apple Core Nebula (Mike Frazier)
E Nebula B142-143 Barnard 142-143 (Constellation Aquila Chronicle)
Eagle Nebula I2177 also Seagull Nebula
Eagle Nebula I4703 ~ M16 also Star Queen Nebula; associated with cluster M16=NGC 6611
Egg Nebula 21:02.3 +36:42 CRL 2688, AFGL 2688, PK 80-6.1 planetary nebula; also Cygnus Egg
Eight-burst Planetary Nebula N3132 also Southern Ring
Einstein Cross 22:39.6 +03:21 G 2237+0305 gravitational lens
Elephant Trunk < I1396 21:37.1 +57:29 Nebula in IC 1396 cluster
Epsilon Orionis Nebula N1990
Eridanus Globular Cluster 04:24.8 -21:11 (Sky Catalogue 2000.0)
Eskimo Nebula N2392 also Clown Nebula
ET Cluster N 457 (Rory Barnes) also Owl Cluster, Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster, Dragonfly Cluster
Eta Carinae Nebula N3372
Exclamation Mark Galaxy 00:39.3 -43:06
Eye Nebula N3242 (Michael Ferrio) also Ghost of Jupiter
Eyes N4435/8 in Virgo Cluster
False Comet I4628 (Steve Coe, from Australia)
Fath 703 N5892
Fetus Nebula N7008
Filamentary Nebula N6960 = Lace-work Nebula; part of Veil Nebula
Firefly Party Cluster N3532 (Paulo Oshikawa, Brasil)
Fish mouth < M42 dark nebula in M42
Fish on the platter nebula 19:59 +35 B144 dark nebula
Flame Nebula N2024 also Orion B
Flaming Star Nebula I 405
Fleming's Triangular N. N6979 = Pickering's Triangular N.; part of the Veil Nebula
Footprint Galaxy 12:58.7 +14:13 GR-8, Imprint of Foot Galaxy, in Local Group
Footprint Nebula 19:36.6 +29:33 M1-92 bipolar reflection nebula, also Minkowski's Footprint Nebula
Fornax A N1316 Arp 154
Fornax Dwarf 02:39.9 -34:32 MCG-06-07-001; in Local Group
Fourcade-Figuero 13:34.8 -45:33 MCG-07-28-004
Frosty Leo 09:39.9 +11:59 (R. Jakiel) IRAS 09371+1212, a neat bi-polar nebula
GR 8 (Gibson Reaves) 12:58.7 +14:13 DDO 155, UGC 8091; Footprint Galaxy, Imprint of Foot Galaxy; in Local Group
Gamma Cassiopeiae Nebula I 59,63
Gamma Cygni Nebula I1318
Gamma Leonis Group N3185,87,90,95 (group of galaxies)
Garland 10:04.2 +68:40 S of NGC 3077
Gem Cluster N3293
Ghost Head Nebula N2080 in LMC, near NGC 2070
Ghost of Jupiter N3242 also Eye Nebula
Golf of Mexico < N7000 dark nebula in NGC 7000, the North America Nebula
Gomez's Hamburger 18:09:13.4 -32:10:49 14.5 mag, < 5" bipolar nebula (Rich Jakiel)
Graff's Cluster I4756
Grus Quartet N7552/82/90/99
Gum Nebula 8:30 -45 Gum 12. Also Vela SNR, 20x12 deg extended. Contains Vela pulsar (PSR 0833-45).
h Persei N 869 Double Cluster with NGC 884 (Chi Persei)
Hamburger Galaxy N5128 (Akkana Peck), also Centaurus A
Hardcastle's Galaxy 13:13.0 -32:41 MCG-05-31-039
Headphones Nebula 07:57.8 +53:25 PN JnEb 1 = VV 47 = PK 164+31.1
Heart Nebula I1805 (Matt BenDaniel)
Heart-Shaped Cluster N2323 M50 (Jeff Bondono)
Helix Galaxy N2685
Helix Nebula N7293
Hercules A 16:51.2 +04:59 3C 348, MCG+01-43-006
Hercules Globular Cluster N6205 M13
Herring Galaxy (Nebula) N4631 also Whale Galaxy
Herschel's Ray N2736
Hind's Variable Nebula N1554/5
Hoag's Object 15:17.2 +21:35 PGC 54559, PRC D-51; Polar Ring Galaxy in Serpens
Hole in a Cluster N6811 (Scott Houston, from Uranometria)
Holmberg I 09:40.5 +71:11 DDO 63, UGC 5139
Holmberg II 08:19.3 +70:43 Arp 268, DDO 50, UGC 4305
Holmberg III 09:14.6 +74:14 UGC 4841
Holmberg IV 13:54.7 +53:54 DDO 185, UGC 8837
Holmberg V 13:40.6 +54:20 UGC 8658
Holmberg VI N1325a 03:24.9 -21:20
Holmberg VII 12:34.7 +06:17 DDO 137, UGC 7739
Holmberg VIII 13:13.3 +36:12 DDO 166, UGC 8303
Holmberg IX 09:57.6 +69:03 DDO 66, UGC 5336
Hooked Galaxy 15:21:33 -07:27 MCG -01-39-003 near NGC 5917 in Libra (ESO PR 22-06)
Horologium Dwarf 03:59.2 -21:20 also Schuster's Spiral
Horsehead Nebula 05:40.9 -02:28 Barnard 33, in front of IC 434
Horseshoe Nebula N6618 M17 also Omega, Swan, Lobster, or Checkmark Nebula
Hourglass Nebula < N6523 < M8 (A.D. Thackeray 1956) brightest part of the Lagoon Nebula
Hourglass Planetary Nebula MyCn 18 (STScI PR 96-07)
Hubble's Double Bubble Hubble 5 PN (Bruce Balick)
Hubble's Variable Nebula N2261
Hyades 04:27 +16 : Melotte 25
Hydra A 09:18.1 -12:06 3C 218, MCG-02-24-007
Imprint of Foot Galaxy 12:58.7 +14:13 GR-8, Footprint Galaxy, in Local Group
Ink Spot Barnard 86 dark nebula
Integral Sign Galaxy 07:11.4 +71:50 UGC 3697
Intergalactic Wanderer/Tramp N2419 globular cluster
January Salt-and-Pepper N2099 M37 (Jeff Bondono and H. Frommert)
Jewel Box N4755
July Salt-and-Pepper N6705 M11 (Jeff Bondono and H. Frommert)
Jupiter's Ghost N3242
Kappa Crucis Cluster N4755 also Jewel Box
[St.] Katherine's Wheel N4254 M99 (Francis Jacob, 1895; communicated by Bob McGown and Dareth Murray)
Keenan's System N5216/6a/8 Arp 104
Kemble's Cascade 03:57.4 +63:04 Asterism Kemble 1 (Houston)
Kepler's supernova/SNR [17h27m41s -21d27m11s (1950)] 3C 358
Keyhole Nebula < N3372 Dark Nebula in the Eta Carinae Nebula
Kidney Bean Galaxy N4774
Kowal's Object 19:29.9 -17:41
Lace-work Nebula N6960 = Filamentary Nebula, part of Veil Nebula
Lagoon Nebula N6523 M8 contains the Hourglass Nebula
Lambda Centauri Nebula I2944/48
Lambda Orionis Cluster 05:35.1 +09:56 Collinder 69
Lambda Orionis Nebula 05:35 +10: Sharpless 2-264, also North Orion Bubble (M. Covington)
Large Magellanic Cloud, LMC 05:23.6 -69:45 "Nubecula Major"; in Local Group
"LE" Cluster N2169 (McNeil, Archinal/Hynes), also "37" cluster
Leo I 10:08.5 +12:18 Regulus dwarf, DDO 74, UGC 5470, Harrington-Wilson #1; in Local Group
Leo II, Leo B 11:13.4 +22:10 DDO 93, UGC 6253, Harrington-Wilson #2; in Local Group
Leo III, Leo A 09:59.3 +30:45 DDO 69, UGC 5364; in Local Group
Leo Triplet N3623/7/8 M65/M66/NGC 3628
LGS 3 01:03.8 +21:53 in Local Group; also Pisces Dwarf
Lindsay-Shapley Ring 06:42.8 -74:15 Graham A
Little Dumbbell Nebula N 650-1 M76 (Sky Catalogue 2000) also Cork, Butterfly, or Barbell Nebula; Apple Core Nebula (Mike Frazier)
Little Gem N6445
Little Gem N6818 (Hartung)
Little Ghost Nebula N6369 (Steve Gottlieb)
Little Ring Nebula N6894
LMC, Large Magellanic Cloud 05:23.6 -69:45 "Nubecula Major"; in Local Group
Lobster Nebula N6618 M17 (Steve Mencinsky) also Omega, Swan, Horseshoe, or Checkmark Nebula
Lobster Nebula N6357 (Ray Palmer) also War and Peace Nebula
Looped Nebula N2070 (Mark A. Chantrand III) Tarantula Nebula, 30 Doradus in LMC, also True Lovers' Knot
Lord Rosse's Nebula (Galaxy) N5194 M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
Lost Galaxy N4526 (RASC Finest NGC, Jeff Bondono, L.S. Copeland) in Virgo Cluster
Lost Galaxy N4535 (RASC Galaxy Names, Jim Shields, SAC db) in Virgo Cluster
Lower's nebula 06:08.9 +15:49 Sh2-261 (Arnaldo Arnal, Uranometria)
Maffei I 02:36.4 +59:39 UGCA 34
Maffei II 02:42.0 +59:37 UGCA 39
Maia Nebula N1432 < M45 in the Pleiades
Malin 1 12:37.0 +14:20 low surface brightness galaxy behind Virgo Cluster
Malin 2 low surface brightness galaxy
Manger (Praesepe) N2632 M44 also Beehive Cluster
Markarian's Chain N4374-4501 M84/M86/M88 + several fainter galaxies in Virgo Cluster
Mayall's Object 11:03.9 +40:50 Arp 148, MCG+07-23-019
McLeish's Object 20:09.7 -66:13 ESO 105-026
McLeish's Object N4535
McNeil's Nebula 05:46.2 -00:06 DN EQ J054614-00058, a variable relfection nebula near M78
Medusa Nebula 07:29.0 +13:15 PN Abell 21, PK 205+14.1
Merope Nebula N1435 < M45 in the Pleiades; also Tempel's Nebula
Merope Nebula Part I 349 < M45 Part of Merope Nebula in the Pleiades
Mexican Jumping Star N2362 (Bill Arnett) = Tau CMa cluster
Mice N4676
Milky Way Patch > N6603 M24 also "Delle Caustiche"
Mini Cassiopeia 18:35.0 +72:23 Asterism Kemble 2
Miniature Spiral N3928
Minkowski's Footprint Nebula 19:36.6 +29:33 M1-92 bipolar reflection nebula
Minkowski's Object 01:25.8 -01:21 Arp 133, NE of NGC 541
Mirach's Ghost N 404 (Deep Sky Corner)
Mu Normae Cluster N6169 (Sky Catalogue 2000.0)
Muscle Man Cluster 02:15.0 +59:16 Stock 2 (Deep Sky List)
Network Nebula N6992/5 part of Veil Neb.
North America Nebula N7000
North Orion Bubble 05:35 +10: (M. Covington); Sharpless 2-264, also Lambda Orionis Nebula
Northern Coalsack 20:40 +42: dark nebula
Nubecula Major 05:23.6 -69:45 Large Magellanic Cloud, LMC, in Local Group
Nubecula Minor 00:52.7 -72:50 Small Magellanic Cloud, SMC, in Local Group
October Salt-and-Pepper N7654 M52 (Jeff Bondono and H. Frommert)
Omega Centauri N5139
Omega Nebula N6618 M17 also Swan, Horseshoe, Lobster, or Checkmark Nebula
Omicron Canis Minorum Cl. 06:56.3 -24:44 Open Cluster Cr 121
Omicron Velorum Cluster I2391
Orion A N1976 M42 Orion Nebula
Orion B N2024 also Flame Nebula
Orion Nebula N1976 M42 (de Mairan's Nebula M43 is a part of it)
Orion's Belt 05:35.6 -01:05 Cr 70 cluster
Owl Cluster N 457 (D.J. Eicher, Deep Sky mag.), also Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster, Dragonfly Cluster, ET Cluster
Owl Nebula N3587 M97
PacMan Nebula N 281 (Lars Helgeland, Jason Ware)
Pancake N2685 Arp 336
Papillon I 708
Parrot's Head Nebula 18:04.3 -32:30 Barnard 87 dark nebula (named by Barnard)
Pavo Globular N6752
Pazimo's Cluster 03:16.2 +60:07 Stock 23 Open Cluster (U II 2000.0, W.S. Houston)
Peanut Nebula N2371-2
Pegasus Dwarf 23:28.5 +14:44 DDO 216, UGC 12613; in Local Group
Pegasus dSph 23:51.7 +24:36 also Andromeda VI, in Local Group
Pelican Nebula I5067/70
Pencil N2736
Perseus A N1275/6
Perseus Double Cluster N 869/84 h+Chi Persei
Phantom Galaxy M74
Phantom Streak Nebula N6741 (Deep Sky List)
Phi Cassiopeiae Cluster N 457 also Owl Cluster, Dragonfly Cluster, ET Cluster
Phoenix Dwarf Irregular G. 01:51.1 -44:26 in Local Group
Pickering's Triangular N. N6979 = Fleming's Triangular N.; part of the Veil Nebula
Pictor A 05:19.9 -45:47 MSH 05-43, galaxy 15.8 m_v
Pinwheel Cluster N1960 M36 (Jeff Bondono)
Pinwheel Galaxy N 598 M33 (Burnham, RASC), also Triangulum Galaxy, prop: "Triangulum Pinwheel"
Pinwheel Galaxy N4254 M99 (RASC) prop: "Coma Pinwheel" or "Virgo Cluster Pinwheel"
Pinwheel Galaxy N5457 M101 (Murdin/Allen/Malin 1979, Sky Catalogue 2000, RASC Observer's Handbook)
Pipe Nebula 17:33 -26 Barnard 59, 56-7, 65; dark nebula
Pipe Nebula 17:21.1 -26:47 LDN 1773, also Stem of the Pipe Nebula
Pisces Cloud N 379/80/82-5 Arp 331
Pisces Dwarf 00:03.8 +21:54 LGS 3; in Local Group
Pleiades M45 also Subaru or the Seven Sisters
Polarissima Australis N2573
Polarissima Borealis N3172
Praesepe (Manger) N2632 M44 also Beehive Cluster
Prawn Nebula I4628 (Ray Palmer)
Ptolemy's Cluster N6475 M7 (Ptolemy mentioned it 138 AD)
Puppis A 08:24.1 -43:00 SNR, radio source
Question Mark N5194 M51 (Lord Rosse), also Whirlpool Galaxy
Red Rectangle Nebula 06:20.0 -10:38 AFGL 915, bipolar N near mag 8.8 SAO 151362 = HD 44179 (double)
Red Spider Nebula N6537 (Bruce Balick)
Reinmuth 80 N4517a 12:32.5 +00:23 UGC 7685
Reticulum Cluster 04:36.2 -58:52 Glob. Cl. Candidate, diam 5.9, bst 14 (U II 2000.0)
Reticulum Dwarf 04:36.2 -58:50 Sersic 040.03
Retina Nebula I4406 (STScI PRC02-14)
Rho Ophiuchi Complex I4603-4 + dark nebulae; interstellar cloud
Rho Ophiuchi Dark Cloud 16:38: -24:06 dark lanes in Rho Oph complex
Rho Ophiuchi Nebula I4604
Ring Galaxy Peculiar ring galaxy in Volans (National Audobon Society Pocket Guide p 70)
Ring Nebula N6720 M57
Ring Tail Galaxies N4038-9 also Antennae Galaxies
Rosette Nebula N2237-9/46
Rosse's Galaxy N5194 M51 also Whirlpool Galaxy, Lord Rosse's Question Mark
Rotten Egg Nebula 07:42.3 -14:42 OH 231.8+4.2, planetary nebula in Pup (around QX Pup), also Calabash Nebula (STScI PRC99-39)
Running Chicken Nebula I2944/8 Vehrenberg's Atlas of Deep-Sky Splendors (contributed by Michael Ferrio)
S Nebula 17:23.5 -23:38 Barnard 72 dark nebula; also Snake Nebula
SagDEG 18:55 -30..31 Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy; in Local Group
SagDIG 19:30.0 -17:41 Sagittarius Dwarf Irregular Galaxy, Sagittarius Dwarf; in Local Group
Sagittarius A 17:45.7 -29:00 Milky Way Center
Sagittarius Dwarf 19:30.0 -17:41 SagDIG; in Local Group
Sagittarius Star Cloud > N6603 M24 also "Delle Caustiche", Milky Way Patch
Sailboat Cluster N 225 (Rod Pommier in an upcoming article in Astronomy)
Salt-and-Pepper Clusters M11,M37,M52 (Jeff Bondono and Hartmut Frommert)
Saturn Nebula N7009
Schuster's Spiral 03:59.2 -21:20 also Horologium Dwarf
Sculptor Dwarf 01:00.2 -33:42 MCG-06-03-015; in Local Group
Sculptor Dwarf Irregular 00:08.1 -34:34 SDIG, in the South Polar (NGC 253) group
Sculptor Galaxy N 253 also Silver Coin Galaxy
Scutum Salt-and-Pepper N6705 M11 (H. Frommert and Jeff Bondono)
SDIG 00:08.1 -34:34 Sculptor Dwarf Irregular, in the South Polar (NGC 253) group
Seagull Nebula I2177 (R. Jakiel) also Eagle Nebula
Seashell Galaxy 13:47.4 -30:23 Companion to NGC 5291
Serpens Dwarf 15:16.1 -00:08 UGC 9792, A 1513; Globular Cluster Palomar 5 (former Local Group galaxy suspect)
Seven Sisters M45 also Subaru, the Pleiades
Sextans A 10:11.0 -04:41 DDO 75, UGCA 205; in Local Group
Sextans B 10:00.0 +05:19 DDO 70, UGC 5373
Sextans C 10:05.6 +00:04 UGC 5439, A 1003; Globular Cluster Palomar 3 (former Local Group galaxy suspect)
Sextans Dwarf 10:13.2 -01:37 in Local Group
Seyfert's Sextet N6027/27a-e
Shapley-Ames 1 01:05.1 -06:13
Shapley-Ames 2 N4507
Shapley-Ames 3 12:49.4 -10:07 MCG-02-33-015
Shapley-Ames 4 12:55.2 +00:07 UGC 8041
Shapley-Ames 5 20:24.0 -44:00 MCG-07-42-001
Shapley-Ames 6 21:23.2 +45:46
Siamese Squid Nebula M2-9 bipolar nebula, also Twinjet Nebula, Butterfly Nebula
Siamese Twins N4567-8 in Virgo Cluster
Silver Coin Galaxy N 253 also Sculptor Galaxy
Silver Sliver Galaxy N 891 (Alicia Tristan)
Simeis 147 05:39.1 +28:00 Sh2-240 (Uranometria)
Skull Nebula N 246
Sleeping Beauty Galaxy N4826 M64 also the Blackeye Galaxy
Small Cluster Nebula N7129 (RASC)
Small Magellanic Cloud, SMC 00:52.7 -72:50 "Nubecula Minor"; in Local Group
Smoking Gun < N4486 < M87 (Nasa/STScI) the active center of M87
Snake Nebula 17:23.5 -23:38 Barnard 72 dark nebula; also S Nebula
Snickers 06:28 +15 Possible nearby dwarf galaxy, discovered in radio, (ApJL 201, L103 (1975))
Snowball Nebula N6781
Soap Bubble Nebula PN G75.5+1.7; planetary nebula in Cygnus (NOAO)
Sombrero Galaxy N4594 M104
Soul Nebula I1848 (Matt BenDaniel)
Southern Crab Nebula 14:11.9 - 51:26 Hen 2-104 symbiotic star nebula (STScI PRC99-32)
Southern Integral Sign I5173
Southern Pinwheel Galaxy N5236 M83
Southern Pleiades I2602 Theta Carinae
Southern Ring Galaxy 06:44.4 -74:11 ESO 34-IG 11 (Lautsen e.a.)
Southern Ring Nebula N3132 (John Caldwell's list) also Eight-burst Planetary
Spider 10:42.6 +34:27 DDO 84, UGC 5829
Spindle N2686
Spindle Galaxy N3115
Spindle Galaxy N5866 M102
Spiral Cluster N1039 M34 (Jeff Bondono)
Spiral Planetary Nebula N5189
Spirograph Nebula I 418
Splinter Galaxy N5907 Deep-Sky Wonders column (contributed by Michael Ferrio)
St. Katherine's Wheel N4254 M99 (Francis Jacob, 1895; communicated by Bob McGown and Dareth Murray)
Star Queen Nebula I4703 ~ M16 also Eagle Nebula, associated with the star cluster M16=NGC 6611
Starfish Cluster N1922 M38 (Jeff Bondono)
Stem of the Pipe Nebula 17:21.1 -26:47 LDN 1773, also Pipe Nebula
Stephan's Quintet N7317-20 Arp 319
Stingray Nebula Hen-1357 young planetary nebula
Struve's Lost Nebula N1554
Subaru M45 also the Pleiades, Seven Sisters
Sunflower Nebula N7293 (Deep Sky List), also Helix N
Sunflower galaxy N5055 M63
Superwind-Galaxy N4666 (S. Kohle/T. Credner)
Swan Nebula N6618 M17 also Omega, Horseshoe, Lobster, or Checkmark Nebula
Table of Scorpius N6231 (Deep Sky List)
Tadpole Galaxy 16:06.1 +55:25 UGC 10214 (STScI PRC 02-11a)
Taffy Galaxies 00:01.6 +23 29 UGC 12914-5 interacting galaxy pair (Rich Jakiel)
Tank tracks N2024 (Bill Arnett), = Orion B
Tarantula Nebula N2070
Tau CMa cluster N2362 (Bill Arnett), = Mexican Jumping Star
Taurus A N1952 M1 Crab Nebula
Taurus Dark Cloud 04:38.7 +26:03 B22 dark nebula (U II 2000.0)
Tempel's Nebula N1435 < M45 Merope Nebula in the Pleiades
Thackeray's Globules < I2948 Bok globules in diffuse nebula
Theta Carinae I2602 Southern Pleiades
Thor's Helmet N2359 (Bill Arnett)
Thumbprint Nebula 12:42.9 -78:16 "bright dark nebula" (Sky Cat 2000 has wrong Dec sign ! - Kenneth Drake)
Toadstool Galaxies ESO B 138+IG 29/30 peculiar galaxies in Ara
Toby Jug Nebula I2220
Tom Thumb Cluster N6451 (Deep Sky List)
Trapezium Cluster < N1976 < M42 Cluster of young stars in the Orion Nebula
Triangulum Galaxy N 598 M33 also Pinwheel, Triangulum Pinwheel
Triangulum Pinwheel Galaxy N 598 M33 also Triangulum Galaxy
Trifid Nebula N6514 M20
True Lovers' Knot N2070 (Mark A. Chantrand III) Tarantula Nebula, 30 Doradus in LMC, also Looped Nebula
Tucana Dwarf 22:41.7 -64:25 dSph Galaxy in Local Group
Tuft in the Tail of the Dog 07:23.9 -32:12 Cr 140 (in CMa)
Turtle Planetary Nebula N6210
Twinjet Nebula M2-9 bipolar nebula, also Siamese Squid Nebula, Butterfly Nebula
Tycho's Supernova/SNR 00 25.3 +64 08 3C 10 (SN 1572)
Ursa Major A N3034 M82
Ursa Major Dwarf 11:29.3 +28:58 UGCA 237, A 1127; Globular Cluster Palomar 4 (former Local Group galaxy suspect)
Ursa Major Moving Cluster Closest open cluster (70 ly), most stars of Big Dipper, and others
Ursa Minor Dwarf 15:08.8 +67:12 DDO 199, UGC 9749; in Local Group
V Man Cluster Stock 2 (Deep Sky List)
Veil Nebula N6960,92,95 Cygnus SNR, Cygnus Loop, Cirrus Nebula
Vela SNR 8:30 -45 Gum 12, the Gum Nebula. 20x12 deg extended. Contains Vela pulsar (PSR 0833-45).
Virgo A N4486 M87 Active center: "The Smoking Gun", in Virgo Cluster
Virgo Cluster Pinwheel Gal. N4254 M99 (prop based on RASC)
War and Peace Nebula N6357 (MSX team) also Lobster Nebula
Whale Galaxy N4631 (Thompson & Bryan Supernova Search Charts series); also Herring Galaxy
Whirlpool Galaxy N5194 M51 also "Question Mark" (Lord Rosse)
White Eyed Pea Nebula I4593 (Deep Sky List)
Wild Duck Cluster N6705 M11 (Smyth)
Wild's Triplett 11:46.8 -03:49 Arp 248, MCG-01-30-032..4
Winnecke 4 (WNC4) M40
Witch Head Nebula I2118
WNC 4 (Winnecke 4) M40
Wolf-Lundmark-Melotte, WLM 00:02.0 -15:28 DDO 221; in Local Group
X-mas Tree Cluster N2264
Zeta Sculptoris Cl. 00:04.2 -29:56 Open Cluster Blanco 1
Zwicky #2 11:58.4 +38:03 DDO 105, UGC 6955
Zwicky's Triplet 16:49.5 +45:30 Arp 103, CGCG 252-003 near UGC 10586
References and Links
* List of Common Names for Messier Objects:
http://messier.seds.org/m-names.html
http://messier.seds.org/m-names.txt
* List of Common Names for NGC and IC Objects from the NGC 2000.0,
edited by R.W. Sinnott, Sky Publishing 1988
* Glossary of Selected Astronomical Names in the Sky Catalog 2000.0
by A. Hirshfeld and R.W. Sinnott, Sky Publishing 1985
* List of Galaxies with proper names (RASC Observer's Handbook 1996)
* The Deep Sky List was published by the Deep Sky Group of the German
Vereinigung der Sternfreunde
* Images of some of the objects listed here are linked in
http://messier.seds.org/xtra/supp/d-n-images.html
Related Stuff
* NGC Catalog Online: Find the NGC 2000.0 data for any NGC or IC
object interactively
http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngc.html
* Images of NGC objects (ASP)
http://www.astrosociety.org/resources/ngc.html
Thanks to all contributors, in particular Bill Arnett for helpful
suggestions and discussion, and to Arnaldo Arnal for numerous
contributions.
______________________________________________________________________
Hartmut Frommert
Christine Kronberg