Brightest galaxies
Here are the brightest galaxies in the night sky, ordered by constellation. Brightness, when applied to extended diffuse objects like galaxies, can be a tricky word. Apparent magnitude is listed, but should be used cautiously when applied solely for brightness as perceived by the human eye. For galaxies, "brightness" is a function of magnitude, surface brightness, and apparent size. This is because apparent magnitude applies most accurately to brightness for point objects like stars. Galaxies have an apparent size in the night sky, so their magnitude is "spread out" across it. The larger the galaxy, the dimmer it appears, all other things being equal. See the sidebar for more information.
Also see 100 notable galaxies.
Top 10 best galaxies for telescopes
These are the 10 best and brightest galaxies for telescopes, ordered by approximate awesomness:
Bright Messier galaxies
Here are the brightest galaxies listed in the Messier catalog, ordered by constellation. Messier galaxies are predominately found in the northern hemisphere.
| GALAXY | MAGNITUDE | CONSTELLATION | |
| Edward Young Star |  |
8.9 | Andromeda |
| Le Gentil |  |
8.1 | Andromeda |
| Cat's Eye Galaxy |  |
9 | Canes Venatici |
| Sunflower Galaxy |  |
9.3 | Canes Venatici |
| Whirlpool Galaxy |  |
8.4 | Canes Venatici |
| Cetus A |  |
9.6 | Cetus |
| Blackeye Galaxy |  |
8.5 | Coma Berenices |
| Spindle Galaxy |  |
10.7 | Draco |
| Southern Pinwheel Galaxy |  |
7.5 | Hydra |
| Leo Triplet |  |
10.3 | Leo |
| Leo Triplet |  |
8.9 | Leo |
| Phantom Galaxy |  |
10 | Pisces |
| Triangulum Galaxy |  |
5.7 | Triangulum |
| Bode's Galaxy |  |
6.9 | Ursa Major |
| Cigar Galaxy |  |
8.4 | Ursa Major |
| Pinwheel Galaxy |  |
7.9 | Ursa Major |
| Surfboard Galaxy |  |
10.7 | Ursa Major |
| Sombrero Galaxy |  |
8.9 | Virgo |
| Virgo A |  |
8.8 | Virgo |
Bright Caldwell galaxies
Here are the brightest galaxies listed in the Caldwell catalog, ordered by constellation. Caldwell galaxies are predominately found in the southern hemisphere.
| GALAXY | MAGNITUDE | CONSTELLATION | |
| Centaurus A |  |
7 | Centaurus |
| Fireworks Galaxy |  |
8.9 | Cepheus |
| Needle Galaxy |  |
9.6 | Coma Berenices |
| Antenna Galaxies |  |
10 | Corvus |
| Antenna Galaxies |  |
13 | Corvus |
| Perseus A |  |
11 | Perseus |
| Barnard's galaxy |  |
8.8 | Sagittarius |
| Sculptor Galaxy |  |
7.1 | Sculptor |
| Whale galaxy |  |
7.9 | Sculptor |
| Spindle galaxy |  |
9.1 | Sextans |
Bright Milky Way satellite galaxies
Our Milky Way Galaxy has a number of dwarf galaxies that orbit it. These are the brightest, ordered by constellation. For a list of all satellite galaxies, see Milky Way Satellite Galaxies.
| GALAXY | MAGNITUDE | CONSTELLATION | |
| Large Magellanic Cloud |  |
0.9 | Dorado |
| Small Magellanic Cloud |  |
2.7 | Tucana |
| Sagittarius Dwarf |  |
4.5 | Sagittarius |
| Fornax Dwarf |  |
9.3 | Fornax |