What famous object is designated by the catalog number M31 in Messier's inventory?
Answer
The Andromeda Galaxy.
The lasting impact of Messier's work is evidenced by the fact that his catalog designation, 'M' followed by a number, is still used to identify specific deep-sky targets across the cosmos. Among the most famous of these objects that modern stargazers aim to locate is the Andromeda Galaxy, which corresponds to the designation M31 in the established Messier Catalogue. Similarly, the Orion Nebula holds the designation M42, illustrating how his structure imposed on chaotic sightings became foundational for deep-sky observation.
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