The most difficult Messier

Interesting question. What size scope do you have and what do you feel, for your scope, is the most difficult Messier object to resolve?

I have a 5 inch Mak and I have litte problem with Messier objects with the exception of M102 and M33 which both require the "right night" and then they are no problem.

But I consistently have major problems with M109. I have only seen in "clearly" one time and most times I can not make out even a hint of it.

So that's my choice for consistent difficulty - M109.

Daryl

Mike, I agree. I have a terrible time finding M1. I have an 8" scope, so I don't think it is a matter of actually seeing it when it is in the field, but rather one of putting it in the field.

I completed a Messier Marathon this past spring and the only reason I found M1 quickly is that it shared a FOV with Saturn. Bit of a giveaway.

I think M68 and 83 are pretty tough, too, from my latitude. (35N)

Hello there Daryl,

An interesting question to be sure! Let's start with M102 some people are talking about. This is a controversial one as it's either a duplicate of M101 or NGC 5866. If you meant NGC 5866, this one is fairly easy. M101 is an interesting galaxy through my 4-inch TV-102 Light Cup in that on some nights, it's just too darned easy and obvious while other nights it could not be seen at all! So it's greatly affected by the degree of transparency.

Ron B[ee]

I think that location makes a big diffence. I have the most problems in the Virgo cluster, partly because the skies are dark enough where I live to have NCG's creep in and confuse the issue. The low brightness objects such as M101 and M 74 are pretty straight forward on a good night. M84 (pretty far South) held out as the last of the Messiers for me, but it fell pretty easily once I went after it without distraction.

Daryl,

M74 has the second lowest surface brightness of any of the Messier objects and is generally considered to be the most difficult, Messier Marathon or not. It certainly was the hardest one for me to see when I first worked through the Messier list. It required repeated attempts with a 12.5" Newtonian for me to finally log M74.

Even through 20 inch and larger scopes M74 is not very impressive visually although it does image rather well.

Dave Mitsky