#2851: Messier Objects

XKCD comic, described below.
Transcript

[Multiple objects are labelled with M followed by a number.]

[There is a tree, a butterfly, a squirrel, a man with a powdered wig labeled Charles Messier, a squirrel, and ground.]

M137 (Earth) (pointing to the ground)

M205 (Charles Messier) (pointing to Charles Messier)

M21860 (pointing to a tree on the left of the panel)

M41592 (pointing to a butterfly above Charles)

M30712050 (pointing to a squirrel)

[Caption below the panel:]

People usually focus on the first 110, but the Messier Catalog actually includes all objects.

(Sourced from explainxkcd.com)

The debate over the correct Messier number for the Ship of Theseus is ongoing.

ExplainOriginal