M-Numbered Stars
M-Numbered Stars, also known as Messier Objects, are a set of astronomical objects cataloged by the French astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th century. This catalog includes various types of celestial bodies, such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, designated with an "M" followed by a number. For example, M31 refers to the Andromeda Galaxy.
The primary purpose of the Messier catalog was to help astronomers distinguish between permanent celestial objects and transient ones, like comets. There are 110 M-Numbered Stars in total, making them a popular reference for amateur astronomers and stargazers.