Astronomical targets accumulate multiple designations across centuries of visual and space-borne surveys—from Messier (M) and New General Catalogue (NGC) numbers to Hipparcos (HIP), Henry Draper (HD), and Gaia DR3 identifiers. Explore our curated catalog subsets with direct cross-links to full object profiles.
Guide and cross-walk to Charles Messier's flagship deep-sky catalog (M1 to M104 in FastAstro), linking Messier numbers to NGC IDs, distances, and magnitudes.
Epoch / Compiler: Charles Messier & Pierre Méchain (1771–1781, revised 110-object list)
Cross-reference guide to Dreyer's New General Catalogue (NGC) showpieces, including southern gems Omega Centauri, 47 Tucanae, Carina Nebula, and the Veil.
Epoch / Compiler: J. L. E. Dreyer (1888, 1895, 1908) & Revised NGC/IC (Steinicke / OpenNGC)
Cross-reference catalog of Milky Way halo globular clusters (Harris / Gaia EDR3) comparing Messier 13, Omega Centauri, Messier 92, and 47 Tucanae.
Epoch / Compiler: W. E. Harris (1996/2010) & Vasiliev / Baumgardt (2021 Gaia EDR3)
Cross-reference catalog of nearby galactic disk open star clusters—Hyades, Pleiades (M45), Beehive (M44), and Double Cluster (NGC 869/884)—with Gaia DR3 data.
Epoch / Compiler: ESA Gaia DR3 Open Cluster Census & Trumpler Classification
Cross-reference catalog of solar-neighborhood and navigation stars across Bayer, Henry Draper (HD), Hipparcos (HIP), WDS, and Gaia DR3 designations.
Epoch / Compiler: ESA Hipparcos & Gaia DR3, USNO WDS, and AAVSO VSX / GCVS
Curated NASA Exoplanet Archive reference catalog of benchmark exoplanets: Proxima Centauri b, TRAPPIST-1 e, 51 Pegasi b, HD 209458 b, K2-18 b, and WASP-39 b.
Epoch / Compiler: NASA Exoplanet Science Institute (Caltech / IPAC) & JWST Archive
