Which established catalog, frequently used by astronomers alongside the NGC and IC, uses the designation (M) for objects like M42?
Answer
Messier Catalogue
The systematic cataloging of celestial objects, including nebulae, relies on several crucial astronomical lists created over time to maintain scientific order. Among the most frequently utilized systems are the NGC (New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars) and the IC (Index Catalogue). However, the text specifically identifies another prominent and older list, the Messier Catalogue, which is characterized by the designation '(M)' preceding the object number. For instance, the famous Orion Nebula, which is an emission nebula, is formally designated as M42 within this historical catalog, reflecting an earlier effort to list non-stellar, fuzzy objects.
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