This is the Messier catalog, complied by Charles Messier back in 1781, and remains a list of the most famous astronomical objects.
Category: Astronomy
Telescope Making: The 32″ Telescope and Observatory
This page shows you stages in the construction of my latest telescope, a 32-inch diameter main mirror, with 5 corrector lenses. It is a 4800 mm focal length f6 when used as a camera.
NGC 1-4000
This is the first half of the NGC catalog. Click on image for full size.
SH2 Sharpless catalog (Hydrogen alpha regions of Milky Way)
SH2 Images, PN images
Building My Dream Observatory
In May 2011, I wrote an article for Sky and Telescope about my observatory. Here is an excerpt: As a teenager, I started grinding mirrors and building telescopes because my dreams always exceeded my budget.Continue reading
Wreckage at a White Dwarf
In April 2017 I wrote an article for Sky and Telescope about a disintegrating exoplanet, of which I obtained data using my telescope, for the science team led by Harvard. Here is an extract ofContinue reading
My Asteroid
Asteroid 133537mariomotta was discovered 2003 Oct. 7 by L. Buzzi at Schiaparelli. It was awarded to Dr. Motta by the International Astronomical Union, as recommended by the American Astronomical Society.
Eclipses, Solar System, Etc
Solar system objects, eclipses, comets, etc
IC “Index Catalogue”
IC catalog objects, fainter objects than NGC but photograph well