Herschel 400 Catalogue
The Herschel 400 catalogue is a subset of William Herschel's original Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, selected by Brenda F. Guzman (Branchett), Lydel Guzman, Paul Jones, James Morrison, Peggy Taylor and Sara Saey of the Ancient City Astronomy Club in St. Augustine, Florida, United States c. 1980. They decided to generate the list after reading a letter[1] published in Sky & Telescope by James Mullaney of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.[2]
In this letter Mr. Mullaney suggested that William Herschel's original catalogue of 2,500 objects would be an excellent basis for deep sky object selection for amateur astronomers looking for a challenge after completing the Messier Catalogue.
The Herschel 400 is a subset of John Herschel's General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters published in 1864 of 5,000 objects, and hence also of the New General Catalogue.
The catalogue forms the basis of the Astronomical League's Herschel 400 club. In 1997, another subset of 400 Herschel objects was selected by the Rose City Astronomers of Portland, Oregon as the Herschel II list, which forms the basis of the Astronomical League's Herschel II Program.
Vital statistics
- The catalogue contains 400 objects
- All objects are from the NGC
- All visible in mid northern latitudes (they were all observed by Herschel from the UK)
- All visible in 150 mm (6") or larger telescopes
Distribution of Herschel 400 objects
Herschel 400 objects which are also Messier objects
The Herschel 400 contains 17 objects which are part of the Messier catalogue:
- M20 NGC 6514 Trifid Nebula
- M33 NGC 598 Triangulum Galaxy
- M47 NGC 2422
- M48 NGC 2548
- M51B NGC 5195 companion to the Whirlpool Galaxy
- M61 NGC 4303
- M76 NGC 651 Little Dumbbell Nebula/Barbell Nebula (northern portion)
- M82 NGC 3034 Cigar Galaxy
- M91 NGC 4548
- M102? NGC 5866 Spindle Galaxy (not certainly a Messier object)
- M104 NGC 4594 Sombrero Galaxy
- M105 NGC 3379
- M106 NGC 4258
- M107 NGC 6171
- M108 NGC 3556
- M109 NGC 3992
- M110 NGC 205
Herschel 400 objects which are also Caldwell objects
The Herschel 400 catalogue pre-dates the Caldwell catalogue by about 15 years. The Caldwell catalogue contains 44 objects which are members of the Herschel 400:[3]
- C2 NGC 40 Bow-Tie Nebula
- C6 NGC 6543 Cat's Eye Nebula
- C7 NGC 2403
- C8 NGC 559
- C10 NGC 663
- C12 NGC 6946
- C13 NGC 457 Owl Cluster
- C14 NGC 869 Double Cluster
- C15 NGC 6826 Blinking Planetary
- C16 NGC 7243
- C18 NGC 185
- C20 NGC 7000 North America Nebula
- C21 NGC 4449
- C22 NGC 7662 Blue Snowball
- C23 NGC 891
- C25 NGC 2419
- C28 NGC 752
- C29 NGC 5005
- C30 NGC 7331
- C32 NGC 4631 Whale Galaxy
- C36 NGC 4559
- C37 NGC 6885
- C38 NGC 4565 Needle Galaxy
- C39 NGC 2392 Eskimo Nebula / Clown Face Nebula
- C40 NGC 3626
- C42 NGC 7006
- C43 NGC 7814
- C44 NGC 7479
- C45 NGC 5248
- C47 NGC 6934
- C48 NGC 2775
- C50 NGC 2244
- C52 NGC 4697
- C53 NGC 3115 Spindle Galaxy
- C54 NGC 2506
- C55 NGC 7009 Saturn Nebula
- C56 NGC 246
- C58 NGC 2360
- C59 NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter
- C60 NGC 4038 Brighter of two Antennae Galaxies
- C62 NGC 247
- C64 NGC 2362 Tau Canis Majoris Cluster
- C65 NGC 253 Sculptor Galaxy / Silver Coin Galaxy
- C66 NGC 5694
Number of objects by type in the Herschel 400
Galaxies | 231 |
Globular clusters | 34 |
Nebulae | 6 |
Star Clusters | 99 |
Star Clusters and Nebulae | 5 |
Planetary Nebulae | 24 |
Asterisms | 1 |
Total | 400 |
---|---|
Number of Herschel 400 objects in each constellation
|
|
|
|
|
Herschel 400 objects
Key
Open cluster Globular cluster Diffuse nebula Planetary nebula Galaxy
1–100
101–200
Messier or Caldwell ID | NGC number | Common name | Image | Object type | Distance (kly) | Constellation | Apparent magnitude |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | NGC 2420 | Open Cluster | – | Gemini | 8.3 | ||
– | NGC 2421 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 8.3 | ||
M47 | NGC 2422 | Open Cluster | 1.6 | Puppis | 4.4 | ||
– | NGC 2423 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 6.7 | ||
– | NGC 2438 | Planetary Nebula | 2.9 | Puppis | 10 | ||
– | NGC 2440 | Planetary Nebula | 4 | Puppis | 11 | ||
– | NGC 2479 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 10 | ||
– | NGC 2482 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 7.3 | ||
– | NGC 2489 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 7.9 | ||
C54 | NGC 2506 | Open Cluster | 10 | Monoceros | 7.6 | ||
– | NGC 2509 | Open Cluster | 9.5 | Puppis | 9 | ||
– | NGC 2527 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 6.5 | ||
– | NGC 2539 | Open Cluster | 4.4 | Puppis | 6.5 | ||
M48 | NGC 2548 | Open Cluster | 1.5 | Hydra | 5.8 | ||
– | NGC 2567 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 7.4 | ||
– | NGC 2571 | Open Cluster | – | Puppis | 7 | ||
– | NGC 2613 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Pyxis | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 2627 | Open Cluster | 6.63 | Pyxis | 8 | ||
– | NGC 2655 | Galaxy | 63,000 | Camelopardalis | 10.1 | ||
– | NGC 2681 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 2683 | Galaxy | 16,000 | Lynx | 9.7 | ||
– | NGC 2742 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 11.7 | ||
– | NGC 2768 | Galaxy | 65,000 | Ursa Major | 10 | ||
C48 | NGC 2775 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Cancer | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 2782 | Galaxy | 70,000-110,000 | Lynx | 11.5 | ||
– | NGC 2787 | Galaxy | 25,000 | Ursa Major | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 2811 | Galaxy | – | Hydra | 11.3 | ||
– | NGC 2841 | Galaxy | 31,000 | Ursa Major | 9.3 | ||
– | NGC 2859 | Galaxy | 23,000 | Leo Minor | 10.7 | ||
– | NGC 2903 | Galaxy | 20,500 | Leo | 8.9 | ||
– | NGC 2950 | Galaxy | 49,800 | Ursa Major | 11 | ||
– | NGC 2964 | Galaxy | 60,800 | Leo | 11.3 | ||
– | NGC 2974 | Galaxy | 89,000 | Sextans | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 2976 | Galaxy | 12,000 | Ursa Major | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 2985 | Galaxy | 70,100 | Ursa Major | 10.5 | ||
M82 | NGC 3034 | Cigar Galaxy | Galaxy | 11,000 | Ursa Major | 8.4 | |
– | NGC 3077 | Galaxy | 12,000 | Ursa Major | 9.9 | ||
– | NGC 3079 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 10.6 | ||
C53 | NGC 3115 | Spindle Galaxy | Galaxy | 22,000 | Sextans | 9.2 | |
– | NGC 3147 | Galaxy | 130,000 | Draco | 10.7 | ||
– | NGC 3166 | Galaxy | 57,000-75,000 | Sextans | 10.6 | ||
– | NGC 3169 | Galaxy | 57,000-75,000 | Sextans | 10.5 | ||
– | NGC 3184 | Galaxy | 25,000 | Ursa Major | 9.8 | ||
– | NGC 3190 | Galaxy | 80,000 | Leo | 11 | ||
– | NGC 3193 | Galaxy | 80,000 | Leo | 10.9 | ||
– | NGC 3198 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Ursa Major | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 3226 | Galaxy | 58,700 | Leo | 11.4 | ||
– | NGC 3227 | Galaxy | 58,700 | Leo | 10.8 | ||
C59 | NGC 3242 | Ghost of Jupiter | Planetary Nebula | 1 | Hydra | 9 | |
– | NGC 3245 | Galaxy | – | Leo Minor | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 3277 | Galaxy | – | Leo Minor | 11.7 | ||
– | NGC 3294 | Galaxy | – | Leo Minor | 11.7 | ||
– | NGC 3310 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 10.9 | ||
– | NGC 3344 | Galaxy | 22,500 | Leo Minor | 10 | ||
– | NGC 3377 | Galaxy | 35,000 | Leo | 10.2 | ||
M105 | NGC 3379 | Galaxy | 38,000 | Leo | 9.3 | ||
– | NGC 3384 | Galaxy | 35,000 | Leo | 10 | ||
– | NGC 3395 | Galaxy | – | Leo Minor | 12.1 | ||
– | NGC 3412 | Galaxy | – | Leo | 10.6 | ||
– | NGC 3414 | Galaxy | – | Leo Minor | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 3432 | Galaxy | – | Leo Minor | 11.3 | ||
– | NGC 3486 | Galaxy | 27,000 | Leo Minor | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 3489 | Galaxy | 29,000 | Leo | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 3504 | Galaxy | – | Leo Minor | 11.1 | ||
– | NGC 3521 | Galaxy | 30,000 | Leo | 8.9 | ||
M108 | NGC 3556 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Ursa Major | 10.1 | ||
– | NGC 3593 | Galaxy | 20,000 | Leo | 11 | ||
– | NGC 3607 | Galaxy | – | Leo | 10 | ||
– | NGC 3608 | Galaxy | – | Leo | 11 | ||
– | NGC 3610 | Galaxy | 70,000 | Ursa Major | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 3613 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 12 | ||
– | NGC 3619 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 13 | ||
– | NGC 3621 | Galaxy | 22,000 | Hydra | 10 | ||
C40 | NGC 3626 | Galaxy | 86,000 | Leo | 10.9 | ||
– | NGC 3628 | Galaxy | 35,000 | Leo | 9.5 | ||
– | NGC 3631 | Galaxy | 35,000 | Ursa Major | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 3640 | Galaxy | 75,400 | Leo | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 3655 | Galaxy | – | Leo | 11.6 | ||
– | NGC 3665 | Galaxy | 85,600 | Ursa Major | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 3675 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 11 | ||
– | NGC 3686 | Galaxy | 53,000 | Leo | 11.4 | ||
– | NGC 3726 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Ursa Major | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 3729 | Galaxy | 65,700 | Ursa Major | 11.4 | ||
– | NGC 3810 | Galaxy | 51,200 | Leo | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 3813 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 11.7 | ||
– | NGC 3877 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 12 | ||
– | NGC 3893 | Galaxy | 51,400 | Ursa Major | 11 | ||
– | NGC 3898 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 3900 | Galaxy | – | Leo | 11.4 | ||
– | NGC 3912 | Galaxy | – | Leo | 13 | ||
– | NGC 3938 | Galaxy | 43,000 | Ursa Major | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 3941 | Galaxy | 40,000 | Ursa Major | 11 | ||
– | NGC 3945 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 10.6 | ||
– | NGC 3949 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 11 | ||
– | NGC 3953 | Galaxy | 56,000 | Ursa Major | 10.1 | ||
– | NGC 3962 | Galaxy | – | Crater | 10.6 | ||
– | NGC 3982 | Galaxy | 67,000 | Ursa Major | 12 | ||
M109 | NGC 3992 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Ursa Major | 9.8 | ||
– | NGC 3998 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 10.6 | ||
– | NGC 4026 | Galaxy | 52,000 | Ursa Major | 12 |
201–300
Messier or Caldwell ID | NGC number | Common name | Image | Object type | Distance (kly) | Constellation | Apparent magnitude |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
– | NGC 4027 | Galaxy | 68,000 | Corvus | 11.1 | ||
– | NGC 4030 | Galaxy | 75,000 | Virgo | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4036 | Galaxy | 62,000 | Ursa Major | 10.6 | ||
C60/C61 | NGC 4038/4039 | Antennae Galaxies | Galaxy | 83,000 | Corvus | 10.7 | |
– | NGC 4041 | Galaxy | 70,000 | Ursa Major | 11.1 | ||
– | NGC 4051 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Ursa Major | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 4085 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 12.3 | ||
– | NGC 4088 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Ursa Major | 10.5 | ||
– | NGC 4102 | Galaxy | 69,000 | Ursa Major | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4111 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Canes Venatici | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 4143 | Galaxy | – | Canes Venatici | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4147 | Globular Cluster | 60 | Coma Berenices | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 4150 | Galaxy | – | Coma Berenices | 11.7 | ||
– | NGC 4151 | Galaxy | 62,000 | Canes Venatici | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 4179 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 10.9 | ||
– | NGC 4203 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.7 | ||
– | NGC 4214 | Galaxy | 10,000 | Canes Venatici | 9.7 | ||
– | NGC 4216 | Galaxy | 40,000 | Virgo | 10 | ||
– | NGC 4245 | Galaxy | – | Coma Berenices | 11.4 | ||
– | NGC 4251 | Galaxy | – | Coma Berenices | 12 | ||
M106 | NGC 4258 | Galaxy | 25,000 | Canes Venatici | 8.3 | ||
– | NGC 4261 | Galaxy | 95,000 | Virgo | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 4273 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 11.9 | ||
– | NGC 4274 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 4278 | Galaxy | 55,100 | Coma Berenices | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 4281 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 11.3 | ||
– | NGC 4293 | Galaxy | 54,000 | Coma Berenices | 11 | ||
M61 | NGC 4303 | Galaxy | 60,000 | Virgo | 9.7 | ||
– | NGC 4314 | Galaxy | 40,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.5 | ||
– | NGC 4346 | Galaxy | – | Canes Venatici | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4350 | Galaxy | – | Coma Berenices | 11.1 | ||
– | NGC 4361 | Planetary Nebula | – | Corvus | 10 | ||
– | NGC 4365 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 11 | ||
– | NGC 4371 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 4394 | Galaxy | 40,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.9 | ||
– | NGC 4414 | Galaxy | 62,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.3 | ||
– | NGC 4419 | Galaxy | – | Coma Berenices | 11.1 | ||
– | NGC 4429 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 4435 | The Eyes | Galaxy | 52,000 | Virgo | 10.9 | |
– | NGC 4438 | The Eyes | Galaxy | 52,000 | Virgo | 10.1 | |
– | NGC 4442 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 10.5 | ||
– | NGC 4448 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Coma Berenices | 11.1 | ||
C21 | NGC 4449 | Galaxy | 10,000 | Canes Venatici | 9.4 | ||
– | NGC 4450 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.1 | ||
– | NGC 4459 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 4473 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 4477 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 4478 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Virgo | 11.2 | ||
– | NGC 4485 | Galaxy | 25,000 | Canes Venatici | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4490 | Galaxy | 25,000 | Canes Venatici | 9.8 | ||
– | NGC 4494 | Galaxy | 45,000 | Coma Berenices | 9.9 | ||
– | NGC 4526 | Galaxy | 108,000 | Virgo | 9.6 | ||
– | NGC 4527 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Virgo | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 4535 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 9.8 | ||
– | NGC 4536 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 4546 | Galaxy | 45,600 | Virgo | 10.3 | ||
M91 | NGC 4548 | Galaxy | 60,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 4550 | Galaxy | 50,000 | Virgo | 11.6 | ||
C36 | NGC 4559 | Galaxy | 32,000 | Coma Berenices | 9.9 | ||
C38 | NGC 4565 | Needle Galaxy | Galaxy | 42,000 | Coma Berenices | 9.6 | |
– | NGC 4570 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.9 | ||
M104 | NGC 4594 | Sombrero Galaxy | Galaxy | 50,000 | Virgo | 8.3 | |
– | NGC 4596 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.5 | ||
– | NGC 4618 | Galaxy | 30,000 | Canes Venatici | 10.8 | ||
C32 | NGC 4631 | Whale Galaxy | Galaxy | 22,000 | Canes Venatici | 9.3 | |
– | NGC 4636 | Galaxy | 53,000 | Virgo | 9.6 | ||
– | NGC 4643 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 10.6 | ||
– | NGC 4654 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.5 | ||
– | NGC 4656 | Hockey Stick Galaxy | Galaxy | 30,000 | Canes Venatici | 10.4 | |
– | NGC 4660 | Galaxy | 63,000 | Virgo | 11 | ||
– | NGC 4665 | Galaxy | 58,000 | Virgo | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4666 | Galaxy | 80,000 | Virgo | 10.8 | ||
– | NGC 4689 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Coma Berenices | 10.9 | ||
C52 | NGC 4697 | Galaxy | 76,000 | Virgo | 9.3 | ||
– | NGC 4698 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.7 | ||
– | NGC 4699 | Galaxy | 65,000 | Virgo | 9.6 | ||
– | NGC 4725 | Galaxy | 41,000 | Coma Berenices | 9.2 | ||
– | NGC 4753 | Galaxy | 60,000 | Virgo | 9.9 | ||
– | NGC 4754 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.6 | ||
– | NGC 4762 | Galaxy | 60,000 | Virgo | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 4781 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4800 | Galaxy | 95,000 | Canes Venatici | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4845 | Galaxy | 47,000 | Virgo | 12 | ||
– | NGC 4856 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 4866 | Galaxy | 80,000 | Virgo | 11 | ||
– | NGC 4900 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 11.5 | ||
– | NGC 4958 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 10.5 | ||
– | NGC 4995 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 11 | ||
C29 | NGC 5005 | Galaxy | 69,000 | Canes Venatici | 9.8 | ||
– | NGC 5033 | Galaxy | 38,000-60,000 | Canes Venatici | 10.1 | ||
– | NGC 5054 | Galaxy | – | Virgo | 11 | ||
– | NGC 5195 | Messier 51b | Galaxy | 25,000 | Canes Venatici | 9.6 | |
C45 | NGC 5248 | Galaxy | 74,000 | Boötes | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 5273 | Galaxy | – | Canes Venatici | 11.6 | ||
– | NGC 5322 | Galaxy | 80,000 | Ursa Major | 10 | ||
– | NGC 5363 | Galaxy | 63,600 | Virgo | 10.2 | ||
– | NGC 5364 | Galaxy | 55,000 | Virgo | 10.4 | ||
– | NGC 5466 | Globular Cluster | 52 | Boötes | 9.1 | ||
– | NGC 5473 | Galaxy | – | Ursa Major | 11.4 | ||
– | NGC 5474 | Galaxy | 21,000 | Ursa Major | 10.9 |
301–400
See also
- Category:IC objects
- Category:NGC objects
- Caldwell catalogue
- Index Catalogue (IC)
- Messier Catalogue
- New General Catalogue (NGC)
- Revised Index Catalogue (RIC)
- Revised New General Catalogue (RNGC)
References
- Mullaney, James (April 1976). "Letter to Sky & Telescope". Sky & Telescope: 235. Archived from the original (subscription required) on 2007-10-01. Retrieved 2006-08-24. Cite journal requires
|journal=
(help) - Branchett, Brenda. "Herschel 400 Club". Retrieved 2006-08-24.
- O'Meara, Stephen James (2002). The Caldwell Objects. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-82796-5.