Timeline of Charles Messier (June 26, 1730 - April 12, 1817)

[CM.jpg] This timeline summarizes the most important events in the life of Charles Messier, especially of his astronomical activities. We also have a more descriptive biography of Charles Messier.
1730, June 26
Charles Messier was born in Badonviller, Lorraine, France; 10th of 12 children.
1741
The Father of Messier dies.
1744
The young Messier observes a great comet (from Lorraine still).
1748, July 25
An annular solar eclipse is visible from France, and observed by the young Messier.
1751
The 21 year old Charles Messier goes to Paris and gets employed by Nicholas Delisle; gets advised to astronomical observing and recording.
1753, May 6
Charles Messier's first documented astronomical observation of the Mercury transit
1754
Regular appointment as Depot Clerk of the Navy.
1757
Messier begins his search for comet Halley. First observation of M32.
1758
Messier makes his first comet observations, following his first independent (telescopic) co-discovery of Comet 1758 De La Nux, from August 14 to November 2, and independently discovers M1, the Crab Nebula (August 28, measured September 12). Comet Halley is rediscovered by Johann Georg Palitzsch (December 25).
1759
Messier independently discovers and observes Comet Halley (1759 I) from January 21 to June 3.
1760
Messier discovers Comet 1759 II Messier (January 26) and co-discovers the Comet 1759 III, known as the Great Comet of 1760 (January 8). On September 11, he independently discovers the globular star cluster M2 (previously recorded by Maraldi).
1761
Observation of a Venus transit.
1762
Observations of Comet 1762 Klinkenberg.
1763
Discovery of Comet 1763 Messier (September 28). Messier was almost elected to the Academy of Sciences.
1764
Discovery of Comet 1764 Messier (January 3). His first own deep sky discovery of globular cluster M3, cataloged on May 3, probably causes him to undertake a systematical search for nebulous objects, leading to the observation and recording of the objects M3-M40, many of which were own discoveries, but several from old catalogs. Messier was made a member of the Royal Society of London.
1765
M41 recorded (January 16). Delisle retires, Messier continues observing.
1766
Messier discovers 1766 I Messier (March 8), co-discovers 1766 II Helfenzrieder (April 8).
1767
Messier takes part in a 3 1/2 months ship voyage to test some new chronometers, and is absent from Paris from May 12 to September 1.
1769
March 4: M42--M45 added to the catalog; first version finished. Messier discovers Comet 1769 Messier (August 8).
1770
Messier discovers Comet 1770 I Lexell (June 14, named after its orbit calculator). Elected to the Academy of Sciences (June 30). On November 26, Charles Messier (then 40) married Marie-Francoise de Vermauchampt (37).
1771
Co-discovered Comet 1770 II, called Great Comet (January 10), discovered Comet 1771 Messier (April 1). First catalog published (list of 45). Shortly after publication, M46--M49, M62.
1772
Birth of Messier's son, Antoine-Charles (March 15), followed by the death of both Madame Messier (March 23) and their son (March 26). Observed Comet 1772 Montaigne (March 26 - April 3). Discovered M50 (April 5). Absence in Lorraine September - November.
1773
M110 discovered but not cataloged, Comet 1773 Messier (October 12).
1774
M51, M52; introduced to Pierre Méchain. Observed Comet 1774 Montaigne.
1777
M53. Messier reports "specks" crossing the sun.
1778
M54, M55.
1779
Messier co-discovers Comet 1779 Bode (January 19). M56--M63.
1780
M64--M79. Second version of the catalog published (up to M68, with M69 and M70 described independently in the same volume of Connaissance des Temps for 1783). Messier discovers Comet 1780 I Messier (October 27).
1781
A very eventful year for Charles Messier, really ! At the beginning of this year, he cataloged M80--M100, and added Méchain's objects M101--M103 without personal validation, to get his list ready for its final publication in Connaissance des Temps for 1784. He added M104 very shortly after publication (May 11), and probably also positions for the hitherto undetermined objects M102 and M103, as well as those nebulae mentioned at M97 (now M108 and M109). Méchain discovered M105 (March) and M106 (July). Herschel discovered Uranus on March 13, Messier got the note in April and observed it since. Méchain discovered two comets, 1781 I (June 28) and 1781 II (October 9), which Messier observed from June 28 to July 16, and from October 10 to November 5, respectively. On November 6, his work was abruptly interrupted by his accidental fall into the ice cellar.
1782
April: The last Messier object, M107, was discovered by Pierre Méchain. August: William Herschel begins his deep-sky survey, stimulated by Messier's catalog. On September 7, he originally discovers his first deepsky object: The Saturn Nebula (NGC 7009). November 9: Messier recovers from his accident. November 12: observes Mercury transit.
1783
Messier observes Comet 1783 Pigott, independantly co-discovered by Méchain. Herschel starts systematic deepsky scans on October 28.
1784
"Great Comet" 1784 (discovered January 24 by Cassini and others). Chevalier d'Angos announces an unverifiable comet discovery (perhaps M27).
1785
Messier discovers Comet 1785 I Messier-Méchain (January 7). Also observes Comet 1785 II Méchain (discovered March 11).
1786
Herschel's first catalog of 1,000 "nebulous objects" published.
1788
Messier discovers Comet 1788 I Messier (November 26)
1789
The French Revolution begins with the "Storming of the Bastille" (June 14).
1793
Comet 1793 I Messier (September 27). "Year of Terror" in France.
1798
Comet 1798 I Messier (April 12).
1801
First asteroid (Ceres) discovered. Messier co-discovers Comet 1801 Pons (July 12).
1817, April 11-12
In this night, Charles Messier passed away in his 87th year, in his home in Paris.
Sources:
Hartmut Frommert (spider@seds.org)
Christine Kronberg (smil@lrz.uni-muenchen.de)

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Last Modification: 9 Mar 2001, 12:00 MET