C'est quoi ce zoo ?

[Muriel Dulieu Holzer]

I have been amused by all the animal names of deep sky objects. So I made a list: 

• [X] stands for not visible in California. 
• [L] stands for low/difficult. 
• [P] stands for photographic only. 

I added a few body parts and mythical animals as well. Please let me know if any animal DSO is missing, if some things are incorrect and which one is your favorite. I hope to look at a few at GSSP.

Spring
• Bear Paw Galaxy (NGC 2537) · Lynx
• The Grasshopper (UGC 4881) · Lynx
• Beehive Cluster (M44 / NGC 2632) · Cancer
• Ant Galaxy (UGC 6046) · Leo
• Flying Bird Galaxy (UGC 6345) · Leo
• Owl Galaxy (NGC 3758) · Leo
• The Spider (UGC 5829) · Leo Minor
• Ant (UGC 6433) · Ursa Major
• Owl Nebula (M97 / NGC 3587) · Ursa Major
• Medusa Galaxy (NGC 4194) · Ursa Major
• Cocoon Galaxy (NGC 4490) · Canes Venatici
• Whale / Herring Galaxy (NGC 4631) · Canes Venatici
• Heron Galaxy (NGC 5394/5395) · Canes Venatici
• Flying Ant Galaxies (NGC 5421) · Canes Venatici
• Eye of Sauron Galaxy (NGC 4151) · Canes Venatici
• Mice Galaxies (NGC 4676) · Coma Berenices
• Black Eye Galaxy (NGC 4826) · Coma Berenices
• The Eyes (NGC 4435/4438) · Virgo
• Siamese Twins / Butterfly Galaxies (NGC 4567/4568) · Virgo
• Antennae Galaxies (NGC 4038/4039) · Corvus [L]
• Ring-tail Galaxy (NGC 4027) · Corvus
• Penguin & Egg/Porpoise Galaxy (NGC 2936/2937 / Arp 142) · Hydra
• Ghost of Jupiter / Eye Nebula (NGC 3242) · Hydra
• Southern Owl Nebula (K 1-22) · Hydra [L]
• Fly's Wing Galaxy (NGC 5152/5153) · Hydra [L]
• Seashell Galaxy (MCG -05-33-005) · Centaurus [L]
• Tadpole Galaxy (Arp 188 / UGC 10214) · Draco
• Running Chicken (IC 2944) · Centaurus [X]
• Southern Crab Nebula (Hen 2-104) · Centaurus [X]

• Dragonfish Nebula · Carina [X] [P]

• Hockey Stick/Fishhook Galaxy (NGC 4656/4657)  · Canes Venatici

• Cat’s Eye / Croc’s Eye Galaxy (M94 / NGC 4736) · Canes Venatici
• Whale’s Pup (NGC 4627) · Canes Venatici
• Spiderweb Galaxy / protocluster (MRC 1138-262) · Hydra [P]

Summer
• Longhorn Galaxy (CGCG 167-040) · Corona Borealis
• Turtle Nebula (NGC 6210) · Hercules
• Bird's Head Galaxy (NGC 6745) · Lyra
• Foxhead Cluster (NGC 6819) · Cygnus
• Footprint Nebula (M1-92) · Cygnus
• Fetus Nebula (NGC 7008) · Cygnus
• Loch Ness Monster Nebula (LDN 772 / LBN 133) · Vulpecula
• Sea Turtle / Blue Flash Nebula (NGC 6905) · Delphinus
• Manatee Nebula (W50) · Aquila
• Black Lizard Nebula (Barnard 138) · Aquila
• Wild Duck Cluster (M11 / NGC 6705) · Scutum
• Eagle Nebula (M16 / NGC 6611) · Serpens
• Rumpled Starfish / Lobster (NGC 6240) · Ophiuchus
• Snake Nebula (Barnard 72) · Ophiuchus [L]
• Cosmic Bat Nebula (LDN 43) · Ophiuchus [L]
• Butterfly / Siamese Squid Nebula (M2-9) · Ophiuchus
• Dark Horse Nebula · Ophiuchus
• Blue Horsehead Nebula (IC 4592) · Scorpius [L]
• Bug / Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302) · Scorpius [L]

• Cat's Paw Nebula (NGC 6334) · Scorpius [L]

• Lobster / War and Peace Nebula (NGC 6357) · Scorpius [L]
• Butterfly Cluster (M6 / NGC 6405) · Scorpius [L]
• Dark Wolf Nebula (SL 17) · Scorpius [L] [P]
• Parrot's Head Nebula (Barnard 87) · Sagittarius [L]
• Red Spider Nebula (NGC 6537) · Sagittarius
• Dragon Nebula (in M8 Lagoon) · Sagittarius
• Swan / Omega Nebula (M17 / NGC 6618) · Sagittarius
• Rampaging Baboon Nebula · Sagittarius [L]
• Cat's Eye Nebula (NGC 6543) · Draco
• The Condor (NGC 6872) · Pavo [X]
• Ant Nebula (Mz 3) · Norma [X]
• Stingray Nebula (Hen 3-1357) · Ara [X]
• Dragonfly Nebula (NGC 6164/6165) · Norma [X]
• Fighting Dragons of Ara (NGC 6188) · Ara [X]

• Prawn Nebula (IC 4628) · Scorpius [L]
• Caterpillar Nebula (IRAS 20324+4057) · Cygnus [P]
• Emerald (Eye) Nebula (NGC 6572) · Ophiuchus

Fall
• Flying Dragon Nebula (Sh 2-114) · Cygnus
• Egg Nebula (RAFGL 2688) · Cygnus
• Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) · Cygnus
• Cocoon Nebula (IC 5146) · Cygnus
• Flying Bat Nebula (Sh 2-129) · Cepheus
• Lion Nebula (Sh 2-132) · Cepheus
• Giant Squid Nebula (Ou4) · Cepheus [P]
• Elephant Trunk (IC 1396) · Cepheus
• Shark Nebula (LDN 1235) · Cepheus
• Seahorse Nebula (Barnard 150) · Cepheus
• Gecko Nebula (LBN 437) · Lacerta [P]
• Heart Nebula (IC 1805) · Cassiopeia
• Bear Claw Nebula (HDW 2) · Cassiopeia
• Lobster Claw Nebula (Sh 2-157) · Cassiopeia
• Shrimp Nebula (Sh 2-188) · Cassiopeia
• Owl / ET / Dragonfly Cluster (NGC 457) · Cassiopeia
• Fish Head / Northern Bear Nebula (IC 1795) · Cassiopeia
• Anthead Galaxy (NGC 7656) · Aquarius
• Helix / Eye of God Nebula (NGC 7293) · Aquarius
• Skull Nebula (NGC 246) · Cetus
• Butterfly / Little Dumbbell Nebula (M76 / NGC 650-651) · Perseus
• Phoenix Group / Robert's Quartet (NGC 87-92) · Phoenix [X]

• Pacman Nebula (NGC 281) · Cassiopeia

• Retina Nebula (IC 4406) · Lupus [X]

Winter
• Camel Eye / Blue Oyster Nebula (NGC 1501) - Camelopardalis
• The Fly Nebula (NGC 1931) · Auriga
• Spider Nebula (IC 417) · Auriga
• Tadpole Nebula (IC 410) · Auriga
• Starfish Cluster (M38 / NGC 1912) · Auriga
• Crab Nebula (M1 / NGC 1952) · Taurus
• Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33) · Orion
• Boogeyman Nebula (LDN 1622) · Orion [P]
• Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) · Orion
• Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) · Gemini
• Medusa Nebula (Abell 21) · Gemini
• Seagull Nebula (IC 2177) · Monoceros / Canis Major
• Fox Fur Nebula (NGC 2264) · Monoceros
• Butterfly Nebula (NGC 2346) · Monoceros
• Canis Major Dwarf · Canis Major

• Duck / Thor's Helmet Nebula (NGC 2359) · Canis Major
• Dolphin Head Nebula (Sh 2-308) · Canis Major [L]
• Butterfly Cluster (M93 / NGC 2447) · Puppis
• Mandrill / Skull & Crossbones Nebula (NGC 2467) · Puppis
• Rotten Egg / Calabash Nebula (OH 231.8+4.2) · Puppis [L]
• Spanish Dancer (NGC 1566) · Dorado [X]
• Tarantula Nebula (NGC 2070) · Dorado [X]
• Cleopatra's Eye (NGC 1535) · Eridanus
• Robin's Egg Nebula (NGC 1360) · Fornax [L]
• Cosmic Eye Galaxy (NGC 1350) · Fornax [L]
• Butterfly / Toby Jug Nebula (IC 2220) · Carina [X]

• Southern Fishhook / Meathook Galaxy (NGC 2442) · Volans [X]

[Surya Rao]

Nice list Muriel!

Have you observed all of these?

Surya

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[Muriel Dulieu Holzer]

Not yet!
I have observed one that I forgot to add to the list: the Butterfly Nebula IC 1318 in Cygnus, best viewed in Summer. 
Which ones have you observed?

-Muriel

[Mark]

I expect none of those names are official as recognized by the IAU.  So you can make up any you like and popularize it!  How about a dark nebula made of your favorite Belgian chocolate?

.

[Steve Gottlieb]

The IAU doesn’t assign catalog names or proper names to any extragalactic objects (even well known ones such as the Ring Nebula or the Whirlpool Galaxy).

But here’s an article by Ron Buta, one of the leading experts on galaxy morphology, on “The Real Astrophysical Zoo. Colliding Galaxies.”  It was published in 1993 in Mercury magazine (which I enjoyed and kept all these years) and you might find a few new ones. Unfortunately, the old scanned images aren't very good.

Steve   

[Mark Wagner]

I'm surprised seeing the Ring Nebula referred to as extragalactic ;-)

Yes, I understood about the IAU and common names.  Proper or common names are to my knowledge "colloquial" (for lack of a better word).  Like calling Babe Ruth "The Bambino" or "Sultan Of Swat", people recognize who those are, even though you can't find a birth record (or legal name change) for those common use names.

So, are any common (extragalactic) use names "official" (I said no)?  What is an official designation, or is everything just accepted by force of use (maybe this is referenced Buta article)?  Scientific databases will/do contain some common extragalactic names (M1, etc.), but if you looked up many/most of the list (Muriel) posted, you won't find them in those databases.  I think one famous/infamous recent "additions" to astronomy name vernacular would be the "Caldwell" objects.  I recall Ray Cash publicly railing against them - and for good reason!

Here also is another compiled "list" of astronomy names (asterisms - some are "animal"), to add to the zoo.  I've chased some of these "objects" for fun - I like the telescope ones.

Telescope
#	Name	Designation	Cons	R.A.	Dec.	Mag	Size
1	Keystone		Cet	00h 23m	-23d 30'	7 to  8	105'
2	Renou 18		Psc	01h 14m	30d 00'	9	18'
3	E.T.	NGC-457	Cas	01h 19m	58d 20'	5 to 10	30'
4	Spatula		Psc	01h 35m	08d 00'	6 to 10	90'
5	Pot and Pitcher		And	01h 55m	41d 20'	8.5	135'
6	Pouring Cup		Cet	02h 12m	08d 30'	6 to 10	90'
7	Engagement Ring		UMi	02h 32m	89d 16'	10	105'
8	Aladdin's Lamp		Cas	02h 36m	67d 30'	9	105'
9	Kemble's Kite	Measuring Scoop	Cas	03h 27m	71d 50'	8.5	75'
10	Letter "F"		Eri	03h 38m	-07d 45'	8 to 11	60'
11	Letter "D"		Eri	03h 39m	-01d 45'	9.5	30'
12	Fish Hook		Tau	04h 25m	21d 15'	8 to 9.5	90'
13	Elosser 1		Ori	04h 50m	07d 51m	7	21'
14	Leaping Minnow	Melotte 31	Aur	05h 19m	33d 40'	6	75'
15	FSR 983		Ori	05h 23m	00d 38'	9	5'
16	Smiley Face	Cheshire Cat	Aur	05h 27m	35d 00'	5 to 7	60'x30'
17	Barbecue Fork		Tau	05h 43m	21d 20'	9 to 11.5	90'
18	Funnel		Lep	05h 46m	-15d 40'	9.5 to 10.5	30'
19	"37"	NGC 2169	Ori	06h 08m	13d 57'	6	7'
20	Nagler 1		CMa	06h 22m	-26d 28'	7 to 10	16'x48'
21	Arrowhead	Unicorn's Horn	Mon	06h 40m	-09d 00'	8	15'
22	Christmas Tree	NGC 2264	Mon	06h 41m	09d 40'	9.5	30'
23	Pakan's 3		Mon	06h 52m	-10d 10'	9.5 to 11.5	60'
24	Levy 384		Pup	08h 15m	-13d 58'	N/A	2'
25	Flower Vase		Hya	09h 05m	-04d 15'	8.5	60'
26	Inchworm		Lyn	09h 05m	38d 16'	4	46'
27	Spade		UMa	09h 42m	53d 20'	9.5 to 10.5	60'
28	The Heart		Hya	09h 43m	-13d 50'	10 to 11.5	45'
29	Sailboat		LMi	10h 14m	31d 30'	7	45'
30	Rinnan's Run		Sex	10h 46m	03d 26'	9 to 10	180'
31	Enter Arrow		Sex	10h 50m	-09d 00'	10	45'
32	Broken Engagement Ring		UMa	10h 51m	56d 09'	7	20'
33	Tree Leaf	Curved Arrow	Com	12h 53m	19d 30'	9.5	45'
34	Stargate		Crv	12h 36m	-12d 02'	6 to 11	15'
35	Ty's Oil Can	Jaws	Vir	12h 39m	-11d 25'	9 to 11.5	30'
36	Ferrero 6	Eiffel Tower	UMa	13h 10m	57d 31'	7	28'x20'
37	Sand Shovel		Com	13h 15m	19d 00'	9	90'
38	Phaser Gun		Vir	13h 20m	03d 00'	9 to 10	75'
39	Mortar Trowel		Vir	13h 24m	-04d 50'	8.5 to9.5	60'
40	Gas Pump Handle		UMa	13h 38m	52d 50'	7.5 to 9.5	45'
41	Picot 1	Napoleon's Hat	Boo	14h 14m	18d 33'	9 to 11	20'
42	Do Dz 5		Her	16h 27m	38d 04'	8	27'
43	Mini  Coathanger		UMi	16h 29m	80d 13'	10	15'
44	Backwards 5		Her	16h 37m	30d 45'	7 to 10	20'
45	Do Dz 6		Her	16h 45m	38d 21'	8	3.5'
46	Shark		UMi	16h 45m	77d 50'	9	90'
47	Sudor Ophiuchi		Her	17h 08m	13d 02'	4	180'
48	Do Dz 7		Her	17h 11m	15d 29'	10	10'
49	Do Dz 8		Her	17h 26m	24d 12'	7	15'
50	Butterfly	Messier 6	Sco	17h 40m	-32d 13'	6 to 10	30'
51	Markov 1		Her	17h 57m	29d 29'	7	15'
52	Chinese Kite		Her	17h 58m	45d 50'	8.5 to11	90'
53	Webb's Wreath	Ruby Ring	Her	18h 02m	26d 18'	7	11'x7'
54	Candle and Holder		Her	18h 03m	48d 00'	7.5 to10.5	75'
55	Drill Gun		Her	18h 26m	26d 10'	8 to 10	45'
56	Mini-Cas	Kemble 2	Dra	18h 35m	72d 18'	7 to 8	30'
57	Tennis Racket		Aql	19h 50m	-04d 35'	7 to 9.5	45'
58	Meerschaum Pipe		Cyg	19h 51m	30d 07'	9-12	22'
59	Vultus Irrisorie		Cyg	19h 53m	47d 16'	6 to 8	84'
60	Arrowchain		Sge	19h 55m	17d 18'	9	36'
61	Levy 157	Cane	Cyg	19h 48m	37d 43m	9	10'x20'
62	Leiter 4		Sge	20h 01m	20d 03'	6	7'x5'
63	Fairy Ring	Chaple's Arc	Cyg	20h 04m	38d 10'	7	22'
64	HD 196944		Aqu	20h 41m	-06d 49m	6.6	23'
65	Bent Fan	Red Necked Emu	Cyg	20h 14m	36d 35'	5.5 to10.5	30'
66	Patchik 56		Cyg	20h 24m	41d 37m	11	3.3'x2.2'
67	Thompson 1		Del	20h 38m	11d 20'	9	6'
68	Theta Delphinus Group		Del	20h 38m	13d 15'	7 to 8	60'
69	Poskus 1	Flyswatter	Del	20h 46m	16d 20'	10 to 11	6'
70	M73		Aqu	20h 56m	-12d 50'	9	2.8 '
71	Little Orion	Leiter 9	Cyg	20h 56m	43d 34'	10 to 11	45'
72	10 Aquarii		Aqu	21h 00m	-05d 35m	5.8	29'x15'
73	Toadstool	French 1	Del	21h 07m	16d 20'	9 to 12	15'
74	Seedling		Peg	21h 43m	10d 20'	10	45'
75	Tobacco Pipe		Cep	22h 30m	70d 30'	8 to 9	90'
76	Delphinus Minor		Peg	23h 03m	23d 12'	7 to 8	60'
77	The Airplane/Party Balloon		Cas	23h 21m	62d 20'	9.5	75'
78	The Yacht		Cep	23h 25m	64d 15'	9 to 10	120'
79	TPK 1		And	23h 39m	47d 31'	9 to 12	23'x11'
80	Bowl of Stars		Cas	23h 55m	56d 30'	8	120'
Binocular
#	Name	Designation	Cons	R.A.	Dec.	Mag	Size
81	Home Plate		And	00h 07m	40d 35'	6 to 7	44'x31'
82	Golf Putter		And	01h 52m	37d 30'	7	95'x25'
83	Kite		Cas	01h 40m	58d 30'	5 to 7	180'
84	Question Mark		Cetus	02h 36m	06d 42'	5 to 7	60'x120'
85	Dipper Bowl	Messier 45	Tau	03h 47m	24d 18'	3 to 6	120'
86	Kemble's Cascade		Cam	03h 57m	63d 00'	5 to10	120'
87	Davis' Dog		Tau	04h 22m	21d 46'	5	206'x86'
88	Star Gun	Stratton 1	Mon	07h 15m	00d 00'	4 to 7	60'x180'
89	Umbrella		Hya	08h 40m	-12d 30'	8 to 9	90'
90	Sea Horse		Hya	13h 10m	-23d 30'	9 to 10	105'
91	Baby Scorpion		Hya	14h 48m	-26d 06'	5 to 8	300'
92	Coat Hanger	Cr.399	Vul	19h 26m	20d 00'	7.5	90'
93	Lucky 7		Cas	23h 03m	59d 30'	5 to 7	195'x70'
Naked-Eye
#	Name	Designation	Cons	R.A.	Dec.	Mag	Size
94	Sickle		Leo	10h 10m	20d	2	9x15 deg
95	Big Dipper		UMa	12h 30m	55d	2	27x13 deg
96	Keystone		Her	17h 00m	33d	4	7x8 deg
97	Tea Pot		Sgr	18h 40m	-30d	3	15x9 deg
98	Job's Coffin		Del	20h 40m	15d	4	3x2 deg
99	Water Jar		Aqu	22h 30m	00d	4	4x4 deg
100	Circlet		Psc	23h 30m	03d	4	8x6 deg
101	Great Square		Peg	23h 40m	23d	2	17x15 deg

Mark

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[Steve Gottlieb]

I have viewed a few extragalactic planetary nebula (you can probably guess the galaxy), but none looked like the Ring 😆

The IAU has officially named 27,235 objects, though the vast majority of these fall in the “Minor Planets” category (asteroids, dwarf planets, etc.). A relatively small number are individual stars (about 600) and exoplanets(164).  None are galaxies, clusters, nebulae, etc (even M1, let alone “Crab Nebula”).  You can see/search the entire list at https://exopla.net/iau-name-lists/  You’ll find Pluto famously in the list as a Minor Planet.

The only list of astronomical nicknames that got under my skin at the time was Stephen O’Meara’s pirate and jewel themed "Deep-Sky Companions: Hidden Treasures” (I have the book).  But maybe others will enjoy this partial list.  Yo-ho-ho.

Dead Man's Chest cluster

Captain Hook cluster

Jolly Roger cluster

Pirate Moon cluster

Pirate Frigate cluster

Mermaid's Purse nebula

Little Jewel Box

13th Pearl nebula

Golden Earring cluster

Heart and Dagger cluster

Blade and Pearl galaxy

Lost jewel of Orion

Fool's Gold galaxy

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[Mark Wagner]

Maybe O'Meara loves "Talk Like A Pirate Day" and that was spill-over.

One very positive I can offer on Muriel's compiled list:  When an object becomes known by a common name, beyond simply a number in a catalog, it is likely because there is something unusual and interesting about it, making it memorable.  The common name is a shortcut to referencing it.  Thus, I would expect it (I assume gathered by AI query) to be a good list of objects both visuallly and for imaging (possibly).

So, perhaps we can add it to TAC's Observing Lists - "Muriel's What Is This Zoo?" list. A bit of permanent TAC fame.

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-- 
Mark

[Muriel Dulieu]

The list is a mix of 3 AIs, google search, my personal observations and Steve’s database. I am still working on it. I found a few more entries (and there are new entries from the article posted previously), some mistakes, I want to remove the objects not visible visually, and maybe keep a separate list for Southern objects and/or photography only. I am thinking of sorting by RA instead of seasons.

-Muriel

On Jun 23, 2026, at 1:00 PM, Mark Wagner <itsmar...@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Mark Wagner]

Thanks Muriel.  Good project. I'll be very interested to see the completed list.  I do like RA sorts, the seasons are inherent in them, both northern and southern hemispheres. And of course if you look at a "cross-over" object that can be seen from either hemisphere - the season is relative to your location.

Let me know if I can help.

Mark

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Mark

[Jay Freeman]

I have only been monitoring this thread casually, but don't forget ...

o The Swan Nebula (M17)
o The Apple Core (M27)
o The Off Ramp (Visual Milky Way Star Cloud, from Cygnus south, on the preceding side of the Great Rift), and ...

o The Elusive Elvis Nebula, which is visible only at remote country gas stations in the small hours after midnight ...

-- Jay Reynolds Freeman, Deep-Sky Weasel
---------------------
Jay_Reynol...@mac.com
http://JayReynoldsFreeman.com (personal web site)

[Mark]

Another entry could be the Three Lions (Leo Trio).

[Jay Freeman]

That reminds me of some of the early days of TAC: Many of us would be wearing eye patches when we were not at the eyepiece, to preserve dark adaptation. So of course, the way we all greeted each other was with a hearty "ARRRRH!!!". But you can't be a pirate without a pirate hat, so some of us started bringing sheets of newspaper to fold up and make pointy hats to wear while observing. The trouble there is that newspaper doesn't last long when it is wet and dewey, so we switched to aluminum foil instead, and before long the real reason we were wearing them was to avoid getting our brains taken over by radio emanations from the mother ship. That was all very useful, because it scared away innocent bystanders who drove through the parking lot with their headlights on.

Ahh, those were the days ...

ARRRRH!!!


-- Jay Reynolds Freeman, Deep-Sky equvalent of Johnny Depp

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