Messier 93 is a sparkling open cluster in the constellation Puppis. Discovered by Charles Messier in 1781, this cluster lies about 3,600 light-years away and contains more than 80 stars spread across an area roughly the size of the full Moon. Using a telescope, it appears as a loose, bright grouping of stars, some of them forming curved chains that give it a graceful, floral shape.
Part of M93’s charm comes from the variety of stars that it presents. The cluster contains blue-white stars that shine brightly and vividly, contrasted with a few orange giants that add warm accents to the field. These colors make it an excellent target for comparing star hues at the eyepiece.
For binocular users, M93 appears as a faint, hazy patch with a few brighter stars beginning to resolve, while even a small telescope reveals its richness and structure. Larger instruments show its full star count, highlighting subtle chains of starlight that seem to curl and drift across the field. Because it sits fairly low in the southern sky for mid-northern latitudes, catching it on a clear winter night requires careful timing for when it is at its highest.
M93
Rating: 🟢 Solid Catch
Level: 🔵 Easy
How:
When: Jan - Mar
🌟 A Bouquet of Colors One of the most enticing reasons to view Messier 93 is its mix of stellar hues. Blue-white stars dominate the cluster, but scattered among them are a few orange and yellow giants that provide contrast. This range of colors makes M93 a great cluster for observers who enjoy comparing star shades.
🌟 Easily Resolved Structure Unlike some open clusters that appear sparse or overly dense, M93 offers a clear and well-spread pattern of stars. Even small telescopes will resolve dozens of individual points of light, and binoculars will hint at its presence as a hazy patch.
🌟 Accessible with Modest Equipment M93 is accessible to a wide range of observers. Binoculars under dark skies can reveal it as a faint glow, while a small telescope transforms it into a pleasing cluster with depth and texture. Larger instruments reveal even richer detail, making it a cluster that grows with aperture.
🌟 A Southern Sky Gem From mid-northern latitudes, Messier 93 sits relatively low in the southern sky, making it feel like a special treat when conditions allow. Observing it gives northern stargazers a chance to reach into the southern constellations without traveling below the equator.
🌟 Seasonal Highlight Best seen in the late winter evenings, M93 is a seasonal gem that stands out when other parts of the sky are dominated by more familiar Messier showpieces. Adding it to your observing list ensures variety in your sessions and helps round out a tour of the rich open clusters that populate the winter sky.
Open cluster: a loose group of a few dozen to a few thousand young stars that formed together and are loosely bound by gravity.
M93
M93 is fairly easy to find because it's not far from the night sky's brightest star, Sirius in Canis Major, and because it lies just 1.5° from a naked-eye star in Puppis. Since it lies so low in the southern sky from most places in the USA, it is important to time things for when it is close to the meridian and at its highest in the sky.
Find Sirius (-1.44) in the southern sky. It shines brilliantly—far brighter than any other star—and marks the heart of Canis Major. To confirm, note that the Belt of Orion points downwards to Sirius. From there, hop 11° south to Wezen.
Find moderately bright Asmidiske (+3.32) in Puppies, about 7° east of Wezen. It is a double-star and is visible naked-eye in most skies. Using binoculars or a telescope finder, point to and center it.Slowly scan northwest just 1.5°. M93 will appear as a hazy patch, slightly elongated, distinct from the pinpoint stars nearby.
M93
✅ Choose the Right Time of Year Messier 93 is best seen in the late winter and early spring months, when Puppis rides highest in the southern evening sky. Observing during these months ensures you catch it at its best elevation above the horizon, reducing the effects of atmospheric haze and giving you a clearer view of its starry fan.
✅ Use Low to Medium Power This cluster rewards observers who start with a wide field of view. Low to medium magnifications allow the fan-shaped spread of stars to be seen in its entirety, preserving the delicate chains and patterns that make it distinctive. Higher magnifications may isolate a few stars but risk losing the graceful arrangement.
✅ Pay Attention to Star Colors One of the joys of M93 is the variety of hues it displays. Spend some extra time comparing the blue-white stars against the orange and yellow giants. Even in smaller telescopes, these color contrasts are visible and add vibrancy to the view, turning a simple cluster into a miniature stellar rainbow.
✅ Observe from a Dark Site While Messier 93 is not faint, it lies in the southern sky where light pollution and atmospheric glow can be more noticeable. Observing from a darker site will enhance its brightness, bring out more stars, and make its fan shape more obvious. A Bortle 3–4 sky or better will allow the cluster to truly sparkle.
✅ Sweep the Surrounding Region M93 does not stand alone; it lies in a star-rich part of Puppis with several other open clusters nearby. After enjoying M93, take time to pan around with binoculars or a wide-field eyepiece. This makes the observation more rewarding and places M93 in the larger context of its beautiful southern stellar neighborhood.
M93
❌ Naked Eye
To the naked eye under dark skies, Messier 93 is beyond reach for most observers. Its low elevation and modest brightness make it a hidden treasure that requires at least binoculars to truly reveal itself.
✅ Binoculars
Through binoculars, M93 comes alive as a small hazy patch sprinkled with a few brighter points beginning to resolve. It lacks sharp detail but stands out as a compact glow that hints at richness.
✅ Small Telescope
With a small telescope dozens of members become distinct, with a mixture of bright and faint points forming delicate chains. The fan-shaped spread becomes apparent, and careful observers will notice subtle star colors, including a warm orange tint among the cooler blue-white companions.
✅ Medium Telescope
In a medium telescope, the cluster gains both depth and character. Scores of stars fill the field, with the brighter chains looking more pronounced and the fainter stars sprinkling the background. The variety of hues becomes more apparent.
✅ Large Telescope
A large telescope reveals the true richness of Messier 93. Fainter members spill outward, giving the cluster an even more complex and textured appearance. The star chains are sharp and well-defined, and the color differences stand out vividly.
M93
Messier 93 is a bright and compact open cluster that can be rewarding under a range of skies, but its beauty shines most vividly in darker conditions.
🟣 In Bortle 1–2 skies, M93 sparkles with crisp brilliance. Its fan-shaped pattern is unmistakable, and the contrast between blue-white stars and orange giants is striking. The surrounding star fields of Puppis are equally rich, making the cluster feel like part of a grand southern tapestry.
🔵 In Bortle 3–4 skies, the cluster still stands out strongly, though the fainter background stars begin to soften. Its form remains distinct, and star colors are visible, but the backdrop is less densely filled. Even so, M93 continues to offer an elegant and memorable view.
🟢 In Bortle 5–6 skies, Messier 93 loses some of its sparkle. The cluster remains visible as a concentrated group, but faint members fade into the glow of light pollution. Its overall shape is still discernible, and brighter stars can be resolved, though the full richness is diminished.
🟡 In Bortle 7+ skies, M93 becomes a challenge. It may appear only as a small, washed-out grouping with a handful of brighter stars. The fan shape is difficult to appreciate, and the surrounding richness of Puppis vanishes into the skyglow. Still, the brighter cluster members can provide a modest glimpse of its character for those willing to seek it out.
M93
DSOs within 48° or 2 outstretched hands at arm's length
M93 - a starlit bouquet in the winter sky
Find Sirius (-1.44) in the southern sky. It shines brilliantly—far brighter than any other star—and marks the heart of Canis Major. To confirm, note that the Belt of Orion points downwards to Sirius. From there, hop 11° south to Wezen.
Find moderately bright Asmidiske (+3.32) in Puppies, about 7° east of Wezen. It is a double-star and is visible naked-eye in most skies. Using binoculars or a telescope finder, point to and center it.Slowly scan northwest just 1.5°. M93 will appear as a hazy patch, slightly elongated, distinct from the pinpoint stars nearby.
