Harrington 250+

If you’ve ever looked at a star chart and wondered about the objects that are too big for a telescope but too small to be "just a constellation," you’ve entered the world of Phil Harrington. While he is a prolific author across the hobby, his "250+" database—specifically the Deep-Sky Objects for Binoculars—is the definitive resource for wide-field observers.

Phil Harrington is a master of the "minimalist" approach, proving that you don't need a $5,000 telescope to see the grandeur of the universe.

History & Who Made It

Phil Harrington, a veteran observer and contributor to Astronomy magazine, compiled this database over decades of personal observing. The most famous iteration was published in his book Touring the Universe through Binoculars (1990).

In the early 2000s, this evolved into the "Harrington 250" (often cited as 250+ because the list grew with subsequent editions). Harrington’s mission was to rescue binocular observing from being seen as a "beginner-only" phase. He wanted to show that 250+ specific targets actually look better in a pair of 10×50 binoculars than they do in a high-powered telescope because they require a wide field of view to be understood.

The Purpose: The Wide-Field Challenge

The purpose of the 250+ list is to provide a "Binocular Messier Plus" experience. While Messier included about 40 objects that are great in binoculars, Harrington identified over 200 more.

The database serves as a Spatial Filter. Most astronomical databases focus on high resolution; Harrington’s database focuses on Surface Brightness and Context. He chose objects that are large enough to show their shape and character without needing massive magnification, making this the go-to list for travelers or "quick-look" astronomers.

What Objects Can Be Found In It?

The Harrington 250+ is remarkably diverse because binoculars can see things that telescopes often "magnify away."

The Breakdown (Approx. 250-270 Objects):

• • Open Clusters: The star of the show. Over 130 of the entries are open clusters, as these often span several degrees of the sky (like the Hyades or the Alpha Persei Cluster).

  • Galaxies: About 40-50 of the brightest galaxies (M31, M81, M101) that show their "fuzziness" even at 10x power.

  • Bright Nebulae: Large complexes like the North American Nebula or the California Nebula, which are often too big for a standard telescope eyepiece.

  • Asterisms: Unique to Harrington, he includes several "patterns" that look like recognizable shapes (like the "Coathanger") which are invisible in a narrow-field telescope.

  • Double Stars: Wide pairs (like Mizar and Alcor) that are easily "split" with steady hands and binoculars.

The Harrington 250+ Database (Flat Text Summary)

Catalog Name: Harrington’s Binocular Deep-Sky List Creator: Phil Harrington Primary Source: Touring the Universe through Binoculars (1990/Revised) Total Objects: ~250-272 (depending on edition) Primary Gear: 7x35 to 11x80 Binoculars

Object Category: Approximate Count Open Clusters: 135 Galaxies: 45 Globular Clusters: 25 Bright/Diffuse Nebulae: 25 Planetary Nebulae: 10 Double Stars/Asterisms: 20+

Harrington’s "Must-See" Binocular Targets:

• The Hyades (Taurus): The closest open cluster to Earth.

• The Melotte 20 (Perseus): The Alpha Persei Moving Group.

• The Beehive Cluster (M44): A stunning "swarm" of stars in Cancer.

• The North American Nebula (NGC 7000): Requires dark skies but is a binocular masterpiece.

• The Pipe Nebula: A massive dark nebula in the Milky Way's core.

The "Human" Side of the List

What makes the Harrington database special is his "Hand-Held" philosophy. He includes a rating system for each object (from 1 to 5 stars) based on how impressive it looks specifically through binoculars. A galaxy that is a "5" in a telescope might only be a "2" in binoculars, and Harrington is honest about that, helping you manage your expectations.

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