I have to admit, I'm dumb when it comes to numbers.
NGC 2546, 583, 5960, etc etc mean nothing to me (I made those numbers up).
Embarrasingly either to the Messier numbers.
But as soon as I read 'Orion Neb', Trifid, Eagle, etc, I know exactly which object it is.
Yeah, there's some I don't like, like Pacman, Cheerio, Silver Dollar etc, but that's the Ozzy in me
I really find it difficult to remember numbers. In fact I think I only know about 3 or 4 objects by number!!! NGC 4945, 253 and umm . . . M42
Often when I read thru the 'New Posts' I have no idea what image has been posted when it just says 'NGC 3123' or some number. I usually don't bother looking at the thread coz the number doesn't excite me enough to have a look.
But when I see a recognisable name like Trifid, Lagoon, Swan etc (and the 3 or 4 numbers I do know) I open it up and have a look.
I'm getting too old to be fussed learning a few thousand numbers and what they are. Common names often have their place for amatuers and that suits me fine
My kids remember the common names very easily too.
When I say 'Eagle', they look for the Eagle.
Also, Omega Centauri, and 47 Tuc sound like common names anyway
