Astronomy: Charles Messier

Astronomy: Charles Messier
Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Charles Messier Charles Messier (French: [ʃaʁl me.sje]; 26 June 1730 – 12 April 1817) was a French astronomer. He published an astronomical catalogue consisting of 110 nebulae and star clusters, which came to be known as the Messier objects, referred to with the letter M and their number between 1 and 110.

Commentary

Commentary

Charles Messier Charles Messier (French: [ʃaʁl me.sje]; 26 June 1730 – 12 April 1817) was a French astronomer. He published an astronomical catalogue consisting of 110 nebulae and star clusters, which came to be known as the Messier objects, referred to with the letter M and their number between 1 and 110. Messier's purpose for the catalogue was to help astronomical observers distinguish between permanent and transient visually diffuse objects in the sky. Why Charles Messier matters: The people behind the discoveries remind us that science is a human endeavour -- driven by curiosity, persistence, and often the courage to challenge accepted ideas. Deep dive: Charles Messier Charles Messier continues to be an active area of research in modern astronomy. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Messier (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)