The Caldwell Catalogue

Messier objects are faint fuzzy objects to be avoided when searching for comets, Caldwell Catalogue is a list of objects you should observe.

By Tim Trott | Celestial Objects | March 28, 2013
2,125 words, estimated reading time 8 minutes.
Astronomical Objects

This article is part of a series of articles. Please use the links below to navigate between the articles.

  1. Constellation Guide and Associated Mythology
  2. What are Asteroids, Meteors and Comets?
  3. What Are Binary Stars and Double Stars
  4. What are Variable Stars and How to Observe Them
  5. What are Supernova and Supernovae?
  6. What Nebula and Nebulae, What are the Types of Nebula?
  7. What Are Black Holes? Black Holes Explained - From Birth to Death
  8. What Are Quasars (QUAsi-Stellar Radio Source)?
  9. Pulsars - Natures Lighthouses Key to Astronomy
  10. What is a Neutron Star and What Are They Made Of?
  11. What Are Gamma Ray Bursts and Where Do They Come From?
  12. What is the Kuiper Belt and Kuiper Belt Objects?
  13. What is an Exoplanet? How Can We Detect Exoplanets?
  14. What is a galaxy? What Types of Galaxy Are There? Where Do They Come From?
  15. The Messier Catalogue of Objects To Observe
  16. The Caldwell Catalogue
  17. 25 Stunning Sights Every Astronomer Should See

Sir Patrick Caldwell-Moore has made a catalogue of beautiful and interesting objects you should observe, whereas Charles Messier made a catalogue of faint fuzzy objects to be avoided when searching for comets.

The idea of the Caldwell Catalogue came to me one night after I had been observing the Moon (my own subject) and had looked casually at the Perseus Sword-Handle. This has no Messier number. (Messier catalogued nebulae as 'objects to avoid' during his comet searches, and in any case limited himself to the northern part of the sky.) There are many Messier clubs. Why not draw up a catalogue of bright nebular objects omitted by Messier?

I did so - and more or less on the spur of the moment, sent it off to Sky and Telescope. To my surprise, it caught on, and by now everyone seems to use the Caldwell numbers. I could not use M numbers because Messier and Moore begin with M - but my proper name is hyphenated (Caldwell-Moore), so I used C.

All the Caldwell Catalogue objects are within range of modest equipment. They are arranged in declinations so that to survey them all means some travel - but that is not a problem nowadays.
Sir Patrick Caldwell-Moore

Patrick More and his 12.5" Newtonian Reflector
Sir Patrick Moore and his 12.5@quot; Newtonian reflector for viewing Caldwell Catalogue objects 

The New General Catalogue (NGC) is the most well-known catalogue of deep-sky objects in amateur astronomy. It contains nearly 8,000 objects, known as the NGC objects. The NGC is one of the largest comprehensive catalogues, as it includes all types of deep sky objects (not specialised to just galaxies for instance). The catalogue was compiled in the 1880s by J. L. E. Dreyer using observations mostly from William Herschel, and then subsequently expanded with two Index Catalogues (IC I & IC II), adding nearly 5,000 objects.

Here is a list of the full 109 Objects in the Caldwell Catalogue and some details about them. It was compiled using information mainly from the Caldwell List Club  and from Wikipedia.

You may also wish to look at the Messier Catalogue.

You can also view my gallery of Deep Space Objects.

Caldwell Catalogue Objects

In this table, the observation month represents the month in which the object reaches its highest point in the sky. It can also be viewed a few months before and after depending on your location. Direction is the compass direction in which the object is located, with Z meaning Zenith or overhead.

# Common Name ConstellationMonthCoords Direction Mag Size (arcmin) Type Star
Chart
C1
NGC 188
Polarissima ClusterCepheusNov00h 44.4m RA
+85° 20m Dec
N8.1015Open Cluster🔍︎
C2
NGC 40
Bow-Tie NebulaCepheusOct00h 13.0m RA
+72° 32m Dec
Z11.000.38*0.35Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C3
NGC 4236
DracoApr12h 16.7m RA
+69° 28m Dec
Z9.7021.9x7.2Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C4
NGC 7023
Iris NebulaCepheusOct21h 01.8m RA
+68° 12m Dec
NW7.0018Bright Nebula🔍︎
C5
IC 342
Maffei 1 GroupCamelopardalisNov03h 46.8m RA
+68° 06m Dec
N/NE9.0021.4x20.9Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C6
NGC 6543
Cats Eye NebulaDracoAug17h 58.6m RA
+66° 38m Dec
N9.0020Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C7
NGC 2403
CamelopardalisFeb07h 36.9m RA
+65° 36m Dec
Z8.4021.9x12.3Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C8
NGC 559
CassiopeiaOct01h 29.5m RA
+63° 18m Dec
Z9.507Open Cluster🔍︎
C9
Cave NebulaCepheusOct22h 56.8m RA
+62° 37m Dec
Z7.7050*30Nebula🔍︎
C10
NGC 663
Lawnmower ClusterCassiopeiaOct01h 46.0m RA
+61° 15m Dec
Z71.0016Open Cluster🔍︎
C11
NGC 7635
The Bubble NebulaCassiopeiaOct23h 20.7m RA
+61° 12m Dec
Z10.0015x8Bright Nebula🔍︎
C12
NGC 6946
Fireworks GalaxyCepheusJul20h 34.8m RA
+60° 09m Dec
Z8.9016x11.2Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C13
NGC 457
Dragonfly Cluster (Owl Cluster)CassiopeiaOct01h 19.1m RA
+58° 20m Dec
Z6.4013Open Cluster🔍︎
C14
NGC 884
Sword HandlePerseusOct02h 20.0m RA
+57° 08m Dec
Z4.0030Open Cluster🔍︎
C15
NGC 6826
Blinking Eye NebulaCygnusAug19h 44.8m RA
+50° 31m Dec
Z10.0027x24Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C16
NGC 7243
LacertaOct22h 15.3m RA
+49° 53m Dec
Z6.4021Open Cluster🔍︎
C17
NGC 147
CassiopeiaOct00h 33.2m RA
+48° 30m Dec
Z9.3013.2x7.8Elliptical Galaxy🔍︎
C18
NGC 185
CassiopeiaOct00h 39.0m RA
+48° 20m Dec
Z9.2011.7x10.0Elliptical Galaxy🔍︎
C19
IC 5146
Cocoon NebulaCygnusSep21h 53.5m RA
+47° 16m Dec
Z7.2012Bright Nebula🔍︎
C20
NGC 7000
North American NebulaCygnusSep20h 58.8m RA
+44° 20m Dec
Z4.00120x100Bright Nebula🔍︎
C21
NGC 4449
The Box GalaxyCanes VenaticiMay12h 28.2m RA
+44° 06m Dec
Z9.406.2x4.4Irregular Galaxy🔍︎
C22
NGC 7662
Blue Snowball NebulaAndromedaOct23h 25.9m RA
+42° 33m Dec
Z9.0032x28Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C23
NGC 891
The Silver Sliver GalaxyAndromedaOct02h 22.6m RA
+42° 21m Dec
Z10.0013.5x2.5Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C24
NGC 1275
Per A radio sourcePerseusOct03h 19.8m RA
+41° 31m Dec
Z11.602.2x1.7Irregular Galaxy🔍︎
C25
NGC 2419
C25 is a tiny globular clusterIntergalactic WandererLynxJan07h 38.1m RA
+38° 53m Dec
Z10.406x6Globular Cluster🔍︎
C26
NGC 4244
Silver Needle GalaxyCanes VenaticiApr12h 17.5m RA
+37° 49m Dec
Z10.2017x2.2Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C27
NGC 6888
Crescent NebulaCygnusAug20h 12.0m RA
+38° 21m Dec
Z7.4018x12Bright Nebula🔍︎
C28
NGC 752
C28 / NGC 752 Open Cluster in AndromedaAndromedaNov01h 57.8m RA
+37° 41m Dec
Z5.7075Open Cluster🔍︎
C29
NGC 5005
Canes VenaticiApr13h 10.9m RA
+37° 03m Dec
Z9.805.8x2.8Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C30
NGC 7331
Deer Lick GroupPegasusSep22h 37.1m RA
+34° 25m Dec
Z9.5010.5x3.7Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C31
IC 405
Flaming Star NebulaAurigaDec05h 16.2m RA
+34° 16m Dec
Z13.0037x10Bright Nebula🔍︎
C32
NGC 4631
Whale GalaxyCanes VenaticiMay12h 42.1m RA
+32° 32m Dec
Z9.3015.5x2.7Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C33
NGC 6992
East Veil NebulaCygnusAug20h 56.4m RA
+31° 43m Dec
Z7.00180Supernova Remnant🔍︎
C34
NGC 6960
West Veil NebulaCygnusAug20h 45.7m RA
+30° 43m Dec
Z7.00180Supernova Remnant🔍︎
C35
NGC 4889
Coma BerenicesMay13h 00.1m RA
+27° 59m Dec
Z11.402.9x1.9Elliptical Galaxy🔍︎
C36
NGC 4559
Koi Fish GalaxyComa BerenicesMay12h 36.0m RA
+27° 58m Dec
Z9.9010.7x4.4Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C37
NGC 6885
20 Vulpeculae ClusterVulpeculaAug20h 12.0m RA
+26° 29m Dec
Z6.000.38Open Cluster🔍︎
C38
NGC 4565
Needle GalaxyComa BerenicesFeb12h 36.3m RA
+25° 59m Dec
Z9.6015.9x1.85Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C39
NGC 2392
Eskimo NebulaGeminiDec07h 29.2m RA
+20° 55m Dec
Z10.0048Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C40
NGC 3626
LeoApr11h 20.1m RA
+18° 21m Dec
Z10.902.7x1.9Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C41
HyadesTaurusNov04h 27m RA
+16° 00m Dec
Z0.50330Open Cluster🔍︎
C42
NGC 7006
DelphinusSep21h 01.5m RA
+16° 11m Dec
Z10.602.8Globular Cluster🔍︎
C43
NGC 7814
The Little Sombrero GalaxyPegasusOct00h 03.3m RA
+16° 09m Dec
Z10.505.5x2.3Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C44
NGC 7479
Propeller GalaxyPegasusOct23h 04.9m RA
+12° 19m Dec
Z11.004.1x3.1Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C45
NGC 5248
BootesMay13h 37.5m RA
+08° 53m Dec
S10.206.2x4.5Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C46
NGC 2261
Hubbles Variable NebulaMonocerosJan06h 39.2m RA
+08° 44m Dec
S2Bright Nebula🔍︎
C47
NGC 6934
DelphinusAug20h 34.2m RA
+07° 24m Dec
S8.903.5Globular Cluster🔍︎
C48
NGC 2775
CancerFeb09h 10.3m RA
+07° 02m Dec
S10.304.3x3.3Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C49
NGC 2237
Rosette NebulaMonocerosDec06h 32.3m RA
+05° 03m Dec
S9.0078Bright Nebula🔍︎
C50
NGC 2244
C50 - NGC 2244 - Harp Cluster inside Rosette NebulaHarp ClusterMonocerosDec06h 32.4m RA
+04° 52m Dec
S4.8024Open Cluster🔍︎
C51
IC 1613
Cetus SystemCetusOct01h 04.8m RA
+02° 07m Dec
S9.3016.2x14.5Irregular Galaxy🔍︎
C52
NGC 4697
VirgoApr12h 48.6m RA
-05° 48m Dec
S9.304.4x2.8Elliptical Galaxy🔍︎
C53
NGC 3115
Spindle GalaxySextansFeb10h 05.2m RA
-07° 43m Dec
S9.207.2x2.5Elliptical Galaxy🔍︎
C54
NGC 2506
MonocerosJan08h 00.2m RA
-10° 47m Dec
S7.6012Open Cluster🔍︎
C55
NGC 7009
Saturn NebulaAquariusAug21h 04.2m RA
-11° 22m Dec
S8.0041x35Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C56
NGC 246
Skull NebulaCetusOct00h 47.0m RA
-11° 53m Dec
S8.003.8Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C57
NGC 6822
Barnards GalaxySagittariusAug19h 44.9m RA
-14° 48m Dec
S9.0015.5x13.5Irregular Galaxy🔍︎
C58
NGC 2360
Caroline's ClusterCanis MajorJan07h 17.8m RA
-15° 37m Dec
S7.2013Open Cluster🔍︎
C59
NGC 3242
Ghost of Jupiter NebulaHydraMar10h 24.8m RA
-18° 38m Dec
S9.0025Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C60
NGC 4038
The AntennaeCorvusApr12h 01.9m RA
-18° 52m Dec
S10.705.2x3.1Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C61
NGC 4039
Ringtail GalaxyCorvusApr12h 01.9m RA
-18° 53m Dec
S13.003.1x1.6Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C62
NGC 247
The Needles Eye GalaxyCetusOct00h 47.1m RA
-20° 46m Dec
S8.9021.4x6.9Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C63
NGC 7293
Helix NebulaAquariusSep22h 29.6m RA
-20° 48m Dec
S7.3025Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C64
NGC 2362
Mexican Jumping StarCanis MajorJan07h 18.8m RA
-24° 57m Dec
S4.106Open Cluster🔍︎
C65
NGC 253
Sculptor GalaxySculptorSouthern Hemisphere00h 47.6m RA
-25° 17m Dec
7.1027.5x6.8Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C66
NGC 5694
HydraMay14h 39.6m RA
-26° 32m Dec
S10.203.6Globular Cluster🔍︎
C67
NGC 1097
FornaxSouthern Hemisphere02h 46.3m RA
-30° 17m Dec
9.309.3x6.3Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C68
NGC 6729
R CrA NebulaCorona AustrinaSouthern Hemisphere19h 01.9m RA
-36° 57m Dec
2.5x2.0Bright Nebula🔍︎
C69
NGC 6302
Bug NebulaScorpiusSouthern Hemisphere17h 13.7m RA
-37° 06m Dec
13.003Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C70
NGC 300
Southern Pinwheel GalaxySculptorSouthern Hemisphere00h 54.9m RA
-37° 41m Dec
9.0021.9x15.5Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
M93
C71
NGC 2447
Butterfly ClusterPuppisJan07h 44.6m RA
-23° 52m Dec
S5.8022Open Cluster🔍︎
C72
NGC 55
String of PearlsSculptorSouthern Hemisphere00h 14.9m RA
-39° 11m Dec
8.0032.4x5.6Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C73
NGC 1851
ColumbaSouthern Hemisphere05h 14.1m RA
-40° 03m Dec
7.3011Globular Cluster🔍︎
C74
NGC 3132
Eight-Burst Planetary NebulaVelaSouthern Hemisphere10h 07.7m RA
-40° 26m Dec
8.0062x43Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C75
NGC 6124
ScorpiusSouthern Hemisphere16h 25.6m RA
-40° 40m Dec
5.8029Open Cluster🔍︎
C76
NGC 6231
False Comet NebulaScorpiusSouthern Hemisphere16h 54.0m RA
-41° 48m Dec
2.6015Open Cluster🔍︎
C77
NGC 5128
Hamburger GalaxyCentaurusSouthern Hemisphere13h 25.5m RA
-43° 01m Dec
7.0025.7x20.0Elliptical Galaxy🔍︎
C78
NGC 6541
Cacciatore ClusterCorona AustrinaSouthern Hemisphere18h 08.0m RA
-43° 42m Dec
6.6015Globular Cluster🔍︎
C79
NGC 3201
VelaSouthern Hemisphere10h 17.6m RA
-46° 25m Dec
6.8018.2Globular Cluster🔍︎
C80
NGC 5139
Omega CentauriCentaurusSouthern Hemisphere13h 26.8m RA
-47° 29m Dec
3.7036.3Globular Cluster🔍︎
C81
NGC 6352
AraSouthern Hemisphere17h 25.5m RA
-48° 25m Dec
8.207.1Globular Cluster🔍︎
C82
NGC 6193
AraSouthern Hemisphere16h 41.3m RA
-48° 46m Dec
5.2015Open Cluster🔍︎
C83
NGC 4945
The Tweezers GalaxyCentaurusSouthern Hemisphere13h 05.4m RA
-49° 28m Dec
9.0020x3.8Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C84
NGC 5286
CentaurusSouthern Hemisphere13h 46.4m RA
-51° 22m Dec
7.604Globular Cluster🔍︎
C85
IC 2391
o (Omicron) Vel ClusterVelaSouthern Hemisphere08h 40.2m RA
-53° 04m Dec
2.5050Open Cluster🔍︎
C86
NGC 6397
Blue Straggler ClusterAraSouthern Hemisphere17h 40.7m RA
-53° 40m Dec
5.7032Globular Cluster🔍︎
C87
NGC 1261
HorologiumSouthern Hemisphere03h 12.3m RA
-55° 13m Dec
8.4012.9Globular Cluster🔍︎
C88
NGC 5823
CircinusSouthern Hemisphere15h 05.7m RA
-55° 36m Dec
7.905Open Cluster🔍︎
C89
NGC 6087
S Nor ClusterNormaSouthern Hemisphere16h 18.9m RA
-57° 54m Dec
5.4012Open Cluster🔍︎
C90
NGC 2867
CarinaSouthern Hemisphere09h 21.4m RA
-58° 19m Dec
10.000.72x0.59Planetary Nebula🔍︎
C91
NGC 3532
Wishing Well ClusterCarinaSouthern Hemisphere11h 06.4m RA
-58° 40m Dec
3.0055Open Cluster🔍︎
C92
NGC 3372
Eta Carinae Nebula (Homunculus Nebula or Keyhole Nebula)CarinaSouthern Hemisphere10h 43.8m RA
-59° 52m Dec
3.00120Bright Nebula🔍︎
C93
NGC 6752
Pavo Globular Cluster (The Starfish)PavoSouthern Hemisphere19h 10.9m RA
-59° 59m Dec
5.4020.4Globular Cluster🔍︎
C94
NGC 4755
Herschel's Jewel Box ClusterCruxSouthern Hemisphere12h 53.6m RA
-60° 20m Dec
4.207.8Open Cluster🔍︎
C95
NGC 6025
Triangulum AustraleSouthern Hemisphere16h 03.7m RA
-60° 30m Dec
5.1012Open Cluster🔍︎
C96
NGC 2516
Southern Beehive ClusterCarinaSouthern Hemisphere07h 58.3m RA
-60° 52m Dec
3.8030Open Cluster🔍︎
C97
NGC 3766
Rich Man's Jewel BoxCentaurusSouthern Hemisphere11h 36.1m RA
-61° 37m Dec
5.3012Open Cluster🔍︎
C98
NGC 4609
Coalsack ClusterCruxSouthern Hemisphere12h 42.3m RA
-62° 58m Dec
6.905Open Cluster🔍︎
C99
Coalsack NebulaCruxSouthern Hemisphere12h 53m RA
-63° 00m Dec
420x300Dark Nebula🔍︎
C100
IC 2944
Running Chicken NebulaCentaurusSouthern Hemisphere11h 36.6m RA
-63° 02m Dec
4.5075Open Cluster🔍︎
C101
NGC 6744
PavoSouthern Hemisphere19h 09.8m RA
-63° 51m Dec
9.0020x12.9Spiral Galaxy🔍︎
C102
IC 2602
Southern PleiadesCarinaSouthern Hemisphere10h 43.2m RA
-64° 24m Dec
1.9050Open Cluster🔍︎
C103
NGC 2070
Tarantula Neb. in LMCDoradoSouthern Hemisphere05h 38.7m RA
-69° 06m Dec
8.203.5Bright Nebula🔍︎
C104
NGC 362
75 TucanaeTucanaSouthern Hemisphere01h 03.2m RA
-70° 51m Dec
6.6012.9Globular Cluster🔍︎
C105
NGC 4833
Southern ButterflyMuscaSouthern Hemisphere12h 59.6m RA
-70° 53m Dec
7.4013.5Globular Cluster🔍︎
C106
NGC 104
47 TucanaeTucanaSouthern Hemisphere00h 24.1m RA
-72° 05m Dec
4.0043.8Globular Cluster🔍︎
C107
NGC 6101
ApusSouthern Hemisphere16h 25.8m RA
-72° 12m Dec
9.3010.7Globular Cluster🔍︎
C108
NGC 4372
MuscaSouthern Hemisphere12h 25.8m RA
-72° 40m Dec
7.8018Globular Cluster🔍︎
C109
NGC 3195
ChamaeleonSouthern Hemisphere10h 09.5m RA
-80° 52m Dec
11.601.33Planetary Nebula🔍︎
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