But don't spend too much time trying to catch it, because tonight marks 2024's first - and best - chance to run the famous Messier marathon, during which observers try to net all 109 (or 110 ...

Messier's frustration with finding "fuzzy" bodies that weren't comets resulted in his famous list of 103 objects, published in 1781, later revised by other astronomers to 110 objects. His list ...