Charles Messier
What caused me to undertake the catalog was the nebula I discovered above the southern horn of Taurus on September 12, 1758, while observing the comet of that year. …"
Charles Messier was a French astronomer credited with discovering at least 20 comets, and creating the Messier Catalog. The Messier Catalog is a collection of 110 nebulae star clusters in space, and it was compiled due to his obsession with discovering new comets. It has remained an icon of astronomy for three centuries.
Commemorative plaque in his hometown of Badonviller. (Wikipedia)
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Messier's Catalogue
In 1757, Edmond Halley predicted the return of a comet, which Messier searched for. Unfortunately, his employer miscalculated the location, which led to Messier scanning the wrong patch of sky for the comet. A year later, Messier noticed that there was a fuzzy patch in the constellation of Taurus. Interested, he observed this fuzzy patch repeatedly. He discovered that it was not a comet, because it didn't move with the stars - it was a nebula. This nebula was the beginning of Messier's catalogue, as it was the first entry in it - Messier 1 or M1. It is also known as the Crab Nebula. An Italian astronomer had discovered M2 before Messier, but it was entered in the catalogue as M2 nevertheless. After identifying M3, Messier devoted himself to his search for these confusing objects. A seven-month period in 1764 led to 38 new objects being added. Messier had identified 103 objects by 1781, but only 40 had been first discovered by Messier. In the 20th century, the last 7 were added, all which were recorded as being discovered by Messier. M110, the last entry, was entered in 1967. Along with the discovery of the 20 (or more) comets, the Messier Catalogue was Charles Messier's main contribution to astronomy. |
The Crab Nebula.
The Messier Catalogue.
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