Deep Space Objects

The full 'Catchers of the Light' Deep Sky Object (DSO) database consists of over 25,000 potential imaging targets!

It is fully searchable against an object’s: Type (e.g. Open Cluster, Nebula, Planetary Nebula etc.); Class (i.e. its Hubble Galaxy Classification, Trumpler Open Cluster Classification or Globular Cluster Condensation); the Constellation in which it is found); the Catalogue(s) in which it is a member; and it’s Common Name (e.g. M1 is known as the ‘Crab’ Nebula, NGC7000 is the ‘North American’ Nebula); its Magnitude within a specified range (i.e. ‘From’ – ‘To’).

The following Catalogues have been included in the database:

● Abell’s Clusters of Galaxies;
● ArtdeCiel List;
● Barnard’s Dark Nebula;
● Caldwell List;
● Herschel 400 List;
● Hickson Compact Galaxy Groups;
● Hidden Treasures List;
● Index Catalogue;
● Lynd Bright Nebula;
● Lynd Dark Nebula;
● Messier List;
● New General Catalogue;
● Perek Kohouteck Planetary Nebula;
● Planetary Nebula Catalogue;
● Sharpless HII Regions;
● Van  Den Berg Reflection Nebula.

For each object found basic information is presented, i.e. thumbnail image, object name, object type, constellation, NGC & IC IDs, right ascension, declination, object size (width and height in arc minutes), magnitude and common name.

Furthermore for each object there is ‘Details’ link which provides further information on the object, e.g. additional catalogue ids, surface brightness and its discoverer, as well as a larger image.

An image gallery of all the objects in the base database can be accessed by clicking the indicated link.

Important Note: This database is immense so when it is first accessed the list presented is empty. Please use the selection criteria menus and entry boxes to narrow your search. Be careful, if you select the whole database it will take a little time to display it!
John Louis Emil Dreyer
Lubos Perek
Created NGC/IC, published in 1888-1908
Czech astronomer, expert on Planetary Nebula
Click Here For Gallery
Min. Mag.
Max Mag.
University of Cambridge; Paris Observatory,Huntington Library; Royal Observatory Scotland; Museum of Scotland & New York Metropolitan Museum of Art