Camille Flammarion (1842-1925)

Nicolas Camille Flammarion (1842-1925)

Nicolas Camille Flammarion first studied theology, but early got interested in astronomy. At age 16, in 1858, he wrote a 500-page manuscript, Cosmologie Universelle, and became an assistent of LeVerrier (the man whose calculations had led to the discovery of Neptune) at Paris Observatory. From 1862 to 1867, he temporarily worked at the Bureau of Longitudes, then returning to the Observatory where he got involved in the program of double star observing. This project resulted in publishing a catalogue of 10,000 double stars in 1878.

Besides, Flammarion observed the Moon and planet Mars. He published several popular books (L'astronomie Populaire in 1879, of which over 100,000 copies were sold and an English translation by J.E. Gore appeared in 1894, as well as a book on Mars, supporting the existence of "canals", built by an advanced civilisation), and encouraged amateur astronomy. In 1877, Flammarion founded the Astronomical Society of France. In 1882, he was donated a private observatory and estate by a M. Meret who admired his work.

In 1922, he was made a Commander of the Legion of Honor for his astronomical life-work.

In 1921, Flammarion added M104 to the Messier catalog. He had found Messier's handwritten position in his personal copy of the catalog, which he happened to possess. M104 could be identified with William Herschel's H I.43 or NGC 4594.

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