While Messier's catalog is the best starting point to the wonders of the night sky, it's not perfect. Remember that Messier lived in Paris, so his catalog has a definite bias to the Northern Hemisphere. Showpieces of the southern sky such as Omega Centauri and the Jewel Box are absent from the Messier catalog, because they never rise above the horizon in Paris.

Whether it takes you a night or a lifetime, don't miss out on the Messier catalog, a serendipitous gift from a Frenchman that has helped many a stargazer discover some of the most fascinating objects in the cosmos for the first time.