Profession: Astronomer
Biography: The French astronomer Charles Messier was the first to compile a catalog of nebulae in the sky. Messier was employed by the French astronomer Joseph-Nicolas Delisle to record astronomical occurrences. To distinguish comets from nebule, which Messier was primarily looking for, from constant objects, he and an assistant put together a list to make their task easier. The M-numbers Messier ascribed to the objects in his catalog are still used by astronomers today.
During his career Messier discovered 13 comets and 40 nebulae, his first was the Crab Nebula (M1). Messier also recorded other astronomer's discoveries so by 1781 his catalog including 103 nebula. He was elected to the French Academy of Sciences in 1770.
Born: June 26, 1730
Birthplace: Badonviller, Lorraine, France
Star Sign: Cancer
Historical Events
- 1758-09-12 French astronomer Charles Messier mistakenly identifies the Crab Nebula, and begins his Messier Catalogue
- 1765-01-16 French astronomer Charles Messier catalogs M41 (galactic cluster in Canis Major)
- 1771-02-16 French astronomer Charles Messier presents his original list of 45 M-objects to French Academy
- 1771-02-19 French astronomer Charles Messier adds M46-M49 to his catalog (galactic clusters in Puppis & Hydra & galaxy in Virgo)
- 1773-10-13 The Whirlpool Galaxy discovered by French astronomer Charles Messier
- 1774-01-11 French astronomer Charles Messier adds M51 (spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici) to his catalog
- 1777-02-16 French astronomer Charles Messier adds M53 to his catalog (globular cluster in Coma Berenice)
- 1779-01-23 French astronomer Charles Messier catalogs M56 (globular cluster in Lyra)
- 1779-01-31 French astronomer Charles Messier adds M57 (Ring Nebula in Lyra) to his catalog
- 1781-02-17 French astronomer Charles Messier catalogs M83 (spiral galaxy in Hydra)
- 1781-03-18 French astronomer Charles Messier rediscovers global cluster M92
A. E. Douglass
Benjamin Banneker
Edmond Halley
Galileo Galilei
Johannes Kepler
John Flamsteed