Caldwell Catalog
The Messier Catalog is a list of 110 of the brightest deep sky objects (including star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies) visible from the Northern Hemisphere. Although the 18th century catalog was originally compiled to help Messier identify new comets from static deep sky objects uncovered in his searches, the list has become a favorite of amateur astronomers.
In 1995, Sir Patrick Caldwell-Moore noted that the Messiar catalog does not include a number of bright deep sky objects, nor does it cover any Southern Hemisphere objects south of declination -35°. He compiled a new catalog to compliment the Messier Catalog by including the "missing" objects and to extend the list to cover the Southern Hemisphere.
The resulting Caldwell Catalog is a collection of 109 of the most impressive celestial objects culled from the NGC and IC catalogs that were not included in Messier's list. Objects in the Caldwell Catalog are organized in descending declination, while objects in Messier's Catalog are listed in order of discovery.
The table below lists details about every deep sky object in the Caldwell Catalog. The Caldwell Catalog Photo Gallery is a long-term project to image each of the objects in this catalog.
| Caldwell Catalog | ||||||||||
| C | NGC | Type | Mag. | Size arc_min | Distance (ly) | RA (hr_min) | Dec (dg_min) | Con | Viewing Season | Common Name _________________ |
| 1 | 188 | Oc | 8.1 | 14 | 4800 | 00 44.4 | +85 20 | Cep | autumn | |
| 2 | 40 | Pl | 11.6 | 0.6 | 3500 | 00 13.0 | +72 32 | Cep | autumn | Bow Tie Nebula |
| 3 | 4236 | Sb | 9.7 | 21x7 | 7 million | 12 16.7 | +69 28 | Dra | spring | |
| 4 | 7023 | Bn | 6.8 | 18x18 | 1400 | 21 01.8 | +68 12 | Cep | autumn | Iris Nebula |
| 5 | IC 342 | Sp | 9.2 | 18x17 | 13 million | 03 46.8 | +68 06 | Cam | winter | |
| 6 | 6543 | Pl | 8.8 | 0.3/5.8 | 3000 | 17 58.6 | +66 38 | Dra | summer | Cat's Eye Nebula |
| 7 | 2403 | Sp | 8.9 | 18x10 | 14 million | 07 36.9 | +65 36 | Cam | winter | |
| 8 | 559 | Oc | 9.5 | 4 | 3700 | 01 29.5 | +63 18 | Cas | autumn | |
| 9 | Sh2-155 | Bn | 7.7 | 50x10 | 2800 | 22 56.8 | +62 37 | Cep | autumn | Cave Nebula |
| 10 | 663 | Oc | 7.1 | 16 | 7200 | 01 46.0 | +61 15 | Cas | autumn | |
| 11 | 7635 | Bn | 7.0 | 15x8 | 7100 | 23 20.7 | +61 12 | Cas | autumn | Bubble nebula |
| 12 | 6946 | Sp | 9.7 | 11x9 | 18 million | 20 34.8 | +60 09 | Cep | summer | |
| 13 | 457 | Oc | 6.4 | 13 | - | 01 19.1 | +58 20 | Cas | autumn | Owl or E.T. Cluster |
| 14 | 869/884 | Oc | 4.3 | 30 & 30 | 7300 | 02 20.0 | +57 08 | Per | autumn | Double Cluster, h & chi Persei |
| 15 | 6826 | Pl | 9.8 | 0.5/2.3 | 2200 | 19 44.8 | +50 31 | Cyg | summer | Blinking Planetary |
| 16 | 7243 | Oc | 6.4 | 21 | 2500 | 22 15.3 | +49 53 | Lac | autumn | |
| 17 | 147 | El | 9.3 | 13x8 | 2300000 | 00 33.2 | +48 30 | Cas | autumn | |
| 18 | 185 | El | 9.2 | 12x9 | 2300000 | 00 39.0 | +48 20 | Cas | autumn | |
| 19 | IC 5146 | Bn | 10.0 | 12x12 | 3300 | 21 53.5 | +47 16 | Cyg | autumn | Cocoon Nebula |
| 20 | 7000 | Bn | 6.0 | 120x100 | 1800 | 20 58.8 | +44 20 | Cyg | summer | North America Nebula |
| 21 | 4449 | Ir | 9.4 | 5x3 | 10 million | 12 28.2 | +44 06 | CVn | spring | |
| 22 | 7662 | Pl | 9.2 | 0.3/2.2 | 3200 | 23 25.9 | +42 33 | And | autumn | Blue Snowball |
| 23 | 891 | Sb | 9.9 | 14x2 | 31 million | 02 22.6 | +42 21 | And | autumn | |
| 24 | 1275 | Sx | 11.6 | 2.6x1 | 230 mil. | 03 19.8 | +41 31 | Per | winter | Perseus A |
| 25 | 2419 | Gc | 10.4 | 4.1 | 275000 | 07 38.1 | +38 53 | Lyn | winter | |
| 26 | 4244 | Sp | 10.6 | 16x2.5 | 10 million | 12 17.5 | +37 49 | CVn | spring | |
| 27 | 6888 | Bn | 7.5 | 20x10 | 4700 | 20 12.0 | +38 21 | Cyg | summer | Crescent Nebula |
| 28 | 752 | Oc | 5.7 | 50 | 1200 | 01 57.8 | +37 41 | And | autumn | |
| 29 | 5005 | Sb | 9.8 | 5.4x2 | 69 million | 13 10.9 | +37 03 | CVn | spring | |
| 30 | 7331 | Sb | 9.5 | 11x4 | 47 million | 22 37.1 | +34 25 | Peg | autumn | |
| 31 | IC 405 | Bn | 6.0 | 30x19 | 1600 | 05 16.2 | +34 16 | Aur | winter | Flaming Star Nebula |
| 32 | 4631 | Sp | 9.3 | 15x3 | 22 million | 12 42.1 | +32 32 | CVn | spring | Whale Galaxy |
| 33 | 6992/5 | Sn | - | 60x8 | 2500 | 20 56.4 | +31 43 | Cyg | summer | East Veil Nebula |
| 34 | 6960 | Sn | - | 70x6 | 2500 | 20 45.7 | +30 43 | Cyg | summer | West Veil Nebula |
| 35 | 4889 | El | 11.4 | 3x2 | 300 mil. | 13 00.1 | +27 59 | Com | spring | |
| 36 | 4559 | Sp | 9.8 | 10x4 | 32 million | 12 36.0 | +27 58 | Com | spring | |
| 37 | 6885 | Oc | 5.7 | 7 | 1950 | 20 12.0 | +26 29 | Vul | summer | |
| 38 | 4565 | Sb | 9.6 | 16x3 | 32 million | 12 36.3 | +25 59 | Com | spring | Needle Galaxy |
| 39 | 2392 | Pl | 9.9 | 0.2/0.7 | 4000 | 07 29.2 | +20 55 | Gem | winter | Eskimo or Clown Nebula |
| 40 | 3626 | Sb | 10.9 | 3x2 | 86 million | 11 20.1 | +18 21 | Leo | spring | |
| 41 | - | Oc | 1.0 | 330 | 151 | 04 27.0 | +16 00 | Tau | winter | Hyades |
| 42 | 7006 | Gc | 10.6 | 2.8 | 135000 | 21 01.5 | +16 11 | Del | autumn | |
| 43 | 7814 | Sb | 10.5 | 6x2 | 49 million | 00 03.3 | +16 09 | Peg | autumn | |
| 44 | 7479 | Sb | 11.0 | 4x3 | 106 mil. | 23 04.9 | +12 19 | Peg | autumn | |
| 45 | 5248 | Sp | 10.2 | 6x4 | 74 million | 13 37.5 | +08 53 | Boo | spring | |
| 46 | 2261 | Bn | 10.0 | 2x1 | 2500 | 06 39.2 | +08 44 | Mon | winter | Hubble's Variable Nebula |
| 47 | 6934 | Gc | 8.9 | 5.9 | 57000 | 20 34.2 | +07 24 | Del | summer | |
| 48 | 2775 | Sp | 10.3 | 4.5x3 | 55 million | 09 10.3 | +07 02 | Can | spring | |
| 49 | 2237-9 | Bn | - | 80x60 | 4900 | 06 32.3 | +05 03 | Mon | winter | Rosette Nebula |
| 50 | 2244 | Oc | 4.8 | 24 | 4900 | 06 32.4 | +04 52 | Mon | winter | |
| 51 | IC 1613 | Ir | 9.0 | 12x11 | 2300000 | 01 04.8 | +02 07 | Cet | autumn | |
| 52 | 4697 | El | 9.3 | 6x3 | 76 million | 12 48.6 | -05 48 | Vir | spring | |
| 53 | 3115 | El | 9.1 | 8x3 | 22 million | 10 05.2 | -07 43 | Sex | spring | Spindle Galaxy |
| 54 | 2506 | Oc | 7.6 | 7 | 10000 | 08 00.2 | -10 47 | Mon | winter | |
| 55 | 7009 | Pl | 8.3 | 2.5/1 | 1400 | 21 04.2 | -11 22 | Aqr | autumn | Saturn Nebula |
| 56 | 246 | Pl | 8.0 | 3.8 | 1600 | 00 47.0 | -11 53 | Cet | autumn | |
| 57 | 6822 | Ir | 9.3 | 10x9 | 2300000 | 19 44.9 | -14 48 | Sgr | summer | Barnard's Galaxy |
| 58 | 2360 | Oc | 7.2 | 13 | 3700 | 07 17.8 | -15 37 | CMa | winter | |
| 59 | 3242 | Pl | 8.6 | 0.3/21 | 1400 | 10 24.8 | -18 38 | Hya | spring | Ghost of Jupiter |
| 60 | 4038 | Sp | 11.3 | 2.6x1.8 | 83 million | 12 01.9 | -18 52 | Crv | spring | Antennae Galaxies |
| 61 | 4039 | Sp | 13.0 | 3.2x2.2 | 83 million | 12 01.9 | -18 53 | Crv | spring | Antennae Galaxies |
| 62 | 247 | Sp | 8.9 | 20x7 | 6800000 | 00 47.1 | -20 46 | Cet | autumn | |
| 63 | 7293 | Pl | 6.5 | 13 | 522 | 22 29.6 | -20 48 | Aqr | autumn | Helix Nebula |
| 64 | 2362 | Oc | 4.1 | 8 | 5100 | 07 18.8 | -24 57 | CMa | winter | |
| 65 | 253 | Sp | 7.1 | 25x7 | 9800000 | 00 47.6 | -25 17 | Scl | autumn | Sculptor Galaxy |
| 66 | 5694 | Gc | 10.2 | 3.6 | 113000 | 14 39.6 | -26 32 | Hya | spring | |
| 67 | 1097 | Sb | 9.2 | 9x6 | 47 million | 02 46.3 | -30 17 | For | autumn | |
| 68 | 6729 | Bn | 9.7 | 1.0 | 424 | 19 01.9 | -36 57 | CrA | summer | |
| 69 | 6302 | Pl | 12.8 | 0.8 | 5200 | 17 13.7 | -37 06 | Sco | summer | Bug Nebula |
| 70 | 300 | Sp | 8.1 | 20x13 | 3900000 | 00 54.9 | -37 41 | Scl | autumn | |
| 71 | 2477 | Oc | 5.8 | 27 | 3700 | 07 52.3 | -38 33 | Pup | winter | |
| 72 | 55 | Sb | 8.2 | 32x6 | 4200000 | 00 14.9 | -39 11 | Scl | autumn | |
| 73 | 1851 | Gc | 7.3 | 11 | 39400 | 05 14.1 | -40 03 | Col | winter | |
| 74 | 3132 | Pl | 8.2 | 0.8 | 2000 | 10 07.7 | -40 26 | Vel | spring | Eight Burst Nebula |
| 75 | 6124 | Oc | 5.8 | 29 | 1500 | 16 25.6 | -40 40 | Sco | summer | |
| 76 | 6231 | Oc | 2.6 | 15 | 6000 | 16 54.0 | -41 48 | Sco | summer | |
| 77 | 5128 | Px | 7.0 | 18x14 | 16 million | 13 25.5 | -43 01 | Cen | spring | Centaurus A |
| 78 | 6541 | Gc | 6.6 | 13 | 22300 | 18 08.0 | -43 42 | CrA | summer | |
| 79 | 3201 | Gc | 6.7 | 18 | 17000 | 10 17.6 | -46 25 | Vel | spring | |
| 80 | 5139 | Gc | 3.6 | 36 | 17300 | 13 26.8 | -47 29 | Cen | spring | Omega Centauri |
| 81 | 6352 | Gc | 8.1 | 7 | 18600 | 17 25.5 | -48 25 | Ara | summer | |
| 82 | 6193 | Oc | 5.2 | 15 | 4300 | 16 41.3 | -48 46 | Ara | summer | |
| 83 | 4945 | Sp | 9.5 | 20x4 | 17 million | 13 05.4 | -49 28 | Cen | spring | |
| 84 | 5286 | Gc | 7.6 | 9 | 36000 | 13 46.4 | -51 22 | Cen | spring | |
| 85 | IC 2391 | Oc | 2.5 | 50 | 500 | 08 40.2 | -53 04 | Vel | winter | Omicron Vel Cluster |
| 86 | 6397 | Gc | 5.6 | 26 | 7500 | 17 40.7 | -53 40 | Ara | summer | |
| 87 | 1261 | Gc | 8.4 | 7 | 55500 | 03 12.3 | -55 13 | Hor | winter | |
| 88 | 5823 | Oc | 7.9 | 10 | 3400 | 15 05.7 | -55 36 | Cir | summer | |
| 89 | 6087 | Oc | 5.4 | 12 | 3300 | 16 18.9 | -57 54 | Nor | summer | S Norma Cluster |
| 90 | 2867 | Pl | 9.7 | 0.2 | 5500 | 09 21.4 | -58 19 | Car | spring | |
| 91 | 3532 | Oc | 3.0 | 55 | 1600 | 11 06.4 | -58 40 | Car | spring | |
| 92 | 3372 | Bn | 6.2 | 120x120 | 7500 | 10 43.8 | -59 52 | Car | spring | Eta Carinae Nebula |
| 93 | 6752 | Gc | 5.4 | 20 | 13000 | 19 10.9 | -59 59 | Pav | summer | |
| 94 | 4755 | Oc | 4.2 | 10 | 4900 | 12 53.6 | -60 20 | Cru | spring | Jewel Box |
| 95 | 6025 | Oc | 5.1 | 12 | 2500 | 16 03.7 | -60 30 | TrA | summer | |
| 96 | 2516 | Oc | 3.8 | 30 | 1300 | 07 58.3 | -60 52 | Car | winter | |
| 97 | 3766 | Oc | 5.3 | 12 | 5800 | 11 36.1 | -61 37 | Cen | spring | |
| 98 | 4609 | Oc | 6.9 | 5 | 4200 | 12 42.3 | -62 58 | Cru | spring | |
| 99 | - | Dn | - | 400x300 | 610 | 12 53.0 | -63 00 | Cru | spring | Coalsack Nebula |
| 100 | IC 2944 | Oc | 4.5 | 15 | 6000 | 11 36.6 | -63 02 | Cen | spring | Lambda Centauri Nebula |
| 101 | 6744 | Sb | 9.0 | 16x10 | 34 million | 19 09.8 | -63 51 | Pav | summer | |
| 102 | IC 2602 | Oc | 1.9 | 50 | 492 | 10 43.2 | -64 24 | Car | spring | Theta Car Cluster |
| 103 | 2070 | Bn | 1.0 | 40x25 | 170000 | 05 38.7 | -69 06 | Dor | winter | Tarantula Nebula |
| 104 | 362 | Gc | 6.6 | 13 | 27700 | 01 03.2 | -70 51 | Tuc | autumn | |
| 105 | 4833 | Gc | 7.3 | 14 | 19600 | 12 59.6 | -70 53 | Mus | spring | |
| 106 | 104 | Gc | 4.0 | 31 | 14700 | 00 24.1 | -72 05 | Tuc | autumn | 47 Tucanae |
| 107 | 6101 | Gc | 9.3 | 11 | 49900 | 16 25.8 | -72 12 | Aps | summer | |
| 108 | 4372 | Gc | 7.8 | 19 | 18900 | 12 25.8 | -72 40 | Mus | spring | |
| 109 | 3195 | Pl | 11.6 | 40_35 | 5400 | 10 09.5 | -80 52 | Cha | spring | |
| Caldwell Catalog Column Descriptions | |
| Heading | Description |
| C | Caldwell Catalog Number |
| NGC | New General Catalog Number |
| Type | Celestial Object Classification (see table below) |
| Mag. | Apparent Visual Magnitude |
| Size | Angular Size in Arc-Minutes |
| Distance | Distance from Solar System in Light Years |
| RA | Right Ascension (J2000) in Hours and Minutes |
| Dec | Declination (J2000) in Degrees and Minutes |
| Con | IAU Constellation Abbreviation |
| Viewing Season | Best Season for Viewing Caldwell Object |
| Common Name | Informal or Colloquial Name of Caldwell Object |
| Caldwell Catalog Object Classification | ||||
| Type | Description | Type | Description | |
| Oc | Open Cluster | Sp | Spiral Galaxy | |
| Gc | Globular Cluster | Bs | Barred Galaxy | |
| Pl | Planetary Nebula | Ln | Lenticular Galaxy | |
| Bn | Bright Nebula | El | Elliptical Galaxy | |
| Dn | Dark Nebula | Ir | Irregular Galaxy | |
| Sn | Supernova Remnant | Px | Peculiar Galaxy | |
| Sx | Seyfert Galaxy | |||
Additional Information
- Caldwell Catalog (Wikipedia)
- Caldwell Catalog (SEDS)
- Caldwell Catalog (Astronomical League)
- Caldwell Catalog (Saguaro Astronomy Club)
- Caldwell Finder Charts (MSAS)
- Messier Catalog