The following is a database of 1867 objects that can be seen through small telescopes, it includes galaxies, single stars, double stars, multiple stars and nebulae. It is mainly intended for telescope observers with mechanical setting circles or electronic equivalents (such as NGC-MAX and similar devices). It will be less useful for observers who rely on star hopping.
Follow this link to download a copy of the database.
Note: You must have Microsoft Excel to view this database. Depending on how your web browser is set up, you may be asked to locate a copy of Microsoft Excel on your computer. It may automatically open the database or offer to save a copy to your hard disk. The file is 368K and may take a few moments to download (especially on a slow modem).
We suggest you save the database to your hard drive. Once you have done so, you can view it anytime you wish. You will find the database is sorted by constellation and then RA within each constellation. You can change how the database is sorted, in particular you can
Each row in the database is a different object; the columns of the database are as follows:
# a identification number of the object (such as M51). Type
the type of object (such as galaxy, nebulae, etc). Mag
the magnitude of the object. Name
either common name or an alternative identification number for the object. Size
the size of the object. Con
the constellation where the object is located. RA hr
the location (the right ascension in hours). RA min
the location (the right ascension in minutes). DEC deg
the location (the declination in degrees). DEC min
the location (the declination in minutes). Comments
comments about the object. Rating.
Abbreviations used in the database are as follows:
ab about alm
almost am
among annul
annular or ring neb att
attached b
brighter bet
between bf
brightest to f side biN
binuclear bn
brightest to n side bp
brightest to p side bs
brightest to s side B
bright c
considerably chev
chevelure co
coarse, coarsely com
cometary form comp
companion conn
connected cont
in contact C
compressed Cl
cluster d
diameter def
defined dif
diffused diffic
difficult dist
distance or distant D
double e
extremely, excessively ee
most extremely er
easily resolvable exc
excentric E
extended f
following (eastward) F
faint g
gradually glob.
globular gr
group i
irregular inv
involved, involving iF
irregular figure l
little (adv.); long (adj.) L
large m
much m
magnitude M
middle or in the middle n
north neb
nebula nebs
nebulous neby
nebulosity nf
north following np
north preceding nr
near ns
north-south N
nucleus, or to a nucleus p
preceding (westward) p
pretty (adv., before F. B. L, S) pf
preceding-following pg
pretty gradually plan
planetary nebula (same as PN) pm
pretty much ps
pretty suddenly prob
probably P
poor (sparse) in stars PN
planetary nebula r
resolvable (mottled, not resolved) rr
partially resolved rrr
well resolved, clearly stars R
round Ri
rich in stars RR
exactly round s
suddenly (abruptly) s
south sc
scattered sev
several sf
south following sp
south preceding st
stars (pl.) st 9...
stars of 9th magnitude and fainter st 9..13
stars of mag. 9 to 13 stell
stellar, pointlike susp
suspected S
small in angular size S*
small (faint) star trap
trapezium triangle
triangle, forms a triangle with triN
trinuclear v
very vv
very var
variable *
a single star *10
a star of 10th magnitude *7-8
star of mag. 7 or 8 **
double star (same as D*) ***
triple star !
remarkable !!
very much so !!!
a magnificent object
A, dbl Asterism or dbls B
Milky Way Patch BN, Nb
Bright Nebula (Diffuse) C,N
Cluster and Neb (Diffuse) Dbl
Binary Star DblQ
Quadruple Star DblT
Triple Star DN
Dark Nebula EG
Elliptical Galaxy EN
Emission Neb (Diffuse) G, Gx
Galaxy GC
Globular Cluster IG
Irregular Galaxy LG
Lenticular (S0) Galaxy OC
Open Cluster PN, Pl
Planetary Nebula Qu
Quasar RN
Reflection Neb (Diffuse) SG
Spiral Galaxy SN
Supernova Remnant