A Glimpse Into the Life of Charles Messier 1

Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-01837-2 - Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects: Second Edition Stephen James O’Meara Excerpt More information CHAPTER 1 A glimpse into the life of 1 Charles Messier had no time to check the positions of M é chain’s additions, he added them to his list, bring- ing to 103 the total number of nebulae and star clusters in it. Th is fi nal compendium (the last to be created by Messier) appeared in the French almanac Connaissance des Temps for 1784 (published in 1781). Th e number of objects in Messier’s catalogue has since increased to 110: the original 103 objects, plus 7 more added posthumously by other astronomers for various reasons. (I will discuss these latter objects in more detail later.) In recent times, we have also learned that object number 102 in Messier’s 1781 list may CCharlesharles MMessieressier be a duplicate observation of object number 101; but this matter On the evening of April 13, 1781, French remains a topic of much interesting debate. astronomer Charles Messier (1730–1817) Regardless, the 103 objects in Messier’s cata- made his fi nal observation for what was to logue and the seven subsequent additions become the most extensive catalogue of neb- have endured the test of time to become ulae and star clusters of the time. Th e list, the most popular listing of deep-sky objects which took more than two decades to create, targeted by Northern Hemisphere amateur contained the positions and descriptions of astronomers (both visual and astro-imagers 100 objects visible above his Paris horizon alike), especially by those just beginning in (48 ° 51′ north). Just before Messier submitted the hobby. this list for publication, he received from his Ironically, this was not Messier’s intent. contemporary Pierre M é chain (1744–1804) a “What caused me to undertake the catalogue,” note that included information on three more Messier explained in the Connaissance des objects discovered by him. Although Messier Temps for 1801, “was the nebula I discovered A glimpse into the life of Charles Messier 1 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-01837-2 - Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects: Second Edition Stephen James O’Meara Excerpt More information 1 above the southern horn of Taurus on dixhuitième Siècle [History of Astronomy in the September 12, 1758, while observing the Eighteenth Century], by Delambre. La Harpe comet for that year.… Th is nebula had such ( Correspondence Litteraire , Paris, 1801, tom. a resemblance to a comet, in its form and i, p. 97) says that “he passed his life in search brightness, that I endeavored to fi nd others, of comets. Th e ne plus ultra of his ambition was to be made a member of the Academy of so that astronomers would not confuse these Petersburgh. He was an excellent man, but same nebulae with comets just beginning to had the simplicity of a child. At a time when he shine … and this is the purpose I had in form- was in expectation of discovering a comet, his ing the catalogue.” wife took ill and died. While attending upon Messier, the fi rst astronomer to devote her, being withdrawn from his observatory, himself to the systematic search for comets, Montaigne de Limoges anticipated him by dis- had obviously suff ered the frustration of wast- covering the comet. Messier was in despair. A ing time on “false comets” – diff use deep-sky friend visiting him began to off er some conso- objects that could be mistaken for comets lation for the recent affl iction he had suff ered. during a sweep of the heavens, especially with Messier, thinking only of his comet, exclaimed: – a small telescope at low power; every minute ‘I had discovered twelve. Alas, that I should be spent on a “false” comet was time spent away robbed of the thirteenth by Montaigne!’ and his eyes fi lled with tears. Th en, remembering that from the potential discovery of a real one in it was necessary to mourn for his wife, whose this highly competitive pursuit. remains were still in the house, he exclaimed, – Unlike the skywatchers of today, Messier ‘Ah! cette pauvre femme , ’ [Ah! Th is poor woman] had no star charts with known deep-sky and again wept for his comet.” objects plotted on them, except for a few that included some of the brightest naked- THE “BIRD-NESTER” OF COMETS eye wonders, such as the Beehive (M44) or Given the incredible and effi cient technolo- Pleiades (M45) star clusters. To further his gies used to discover comets in the twenty- success, one could say Messier employed fi rst century, both on Earth and in space, the intelligent strategy of “knowing thy many of today’s telescopic observers pursue enemy”: the objects Messier included in comets mostly as objects of passing interest – his catalogue are those he wanted to know especially when they blaze forth to naked-eye existed, so that he could ignore them and splendor or threaten to hit the Earth … or move along in his attempt to visually capture other planets! (Note, however, that owing to his ultimate prey. the same leaps in technology, some amateur Th e magnitude to which Messier was per- astronomers across the globe also conduct ceived to dedicate his thoughts to the hunt extremely serious studies of, and searches is refl ected in a colorful story that has been for, comets, and have contributed greatly to passed down since the beginning of the nine- the science.) Nevertheless, to the mid-eighteenth century. Here is the tale, as told by teenth-century observer, comets were among French astronomer Fran ç ois Arago (1786– the most mystifying sights in the sky. And the 1853) in his Popular Lectures on Astronomy: astonishing appearance of six-tailed C/1743 Delivered at the Royal Observatory of Paris , XI (Ché seaux’s comet of 1744) – one of the published in 1845: greatest since the dawn of modern astron- An interesting memoir of Messier may be omy – may have inspired Messier’s lifelong found in the Histoire de l‘Astronomie au passion for comets. 2 Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-01837-2 - Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects: Second Edition Stephen James O’Meara Excerpt More information 1 his brother’s personal clerk, Charles obtained the skills of clean handwriting, draftsmanship, and journal keeping – all traits that would soon help him secure his future employment at the Paris Observatory. Charles led a safe and secure country life, immersing himself in his spare time in the natural wonders of the local countryside. He also grew up during the height of Rococo devel- opment in France, the CCometomet C/2006C/2006 P1P1 ((McNaught).McNaught). start of the classical period of music, and With history having recorded only some 50 the time of the cultural Enlightenment in comets known by Messier’s time, these celes- Europe. Th ese important shifts in scientifi c tial itinerants presented the burgeoning tele- and cultural trends may have swept up young scopic astronomers of the day not only with Messier’s thoughts in their currents, leading a fascinating challenge (namely to fi nd them) him into new areas of imagining. And while but also the promise of some fame and notori- it is uncertain what exactly inspired Messier’s ety. And Messier was the man who fi rst thrust interest in astronomy, the remarkable sight this challenge to the forefront of desire. of Ch é seaux’s comet in 1744 and the annu- Messier was born on June 26, 1730, in the lar solar eclipse of June 25, 1748 (visible small village of Badouvillier, Lorraine (about from his hometown), must have been major 200 miles east of Paris, near the German bor- infl uences. der). He was the tenth of 12 children born to When a changing political climate in Nicolas and Francoise Messier, and one of France in 1751 forced his brother Hyacinthe only six to survive into adulthood. His father to take a position as a tax collector in his was a type of mayor/administrator, who, mother’s hometown, the orphaned Charles among other duties, collected taxes through- found himself in need of a job. With the help out the serfdom and served as a judge for of a family friend, Charles traveled to Paris local misdemeanors; Nicolas passed away in that October to meet with astronomer Joseph 1741, when Charles was only 11. Nicolas Delisle, who then hired Messier to be When Charles’s older brother Hyacinthe his apprentice at the Marine Observatory at took over the Messier household, he began to the Hotel de Cluny in Paris – even though, as prep young Charles as a manager of fi nances – Delisle said, the young man had “hardly any Hyacinthe’s particular fi eld of expertise. As other recommendation than that of a neat A glimpse into the life of Charles Messier 3 © in this web service Cambridge University Press www.cambridge.org Cambridge University Press 978-1-107-01837-2 - Deep-Sky Companions: The Messier Objects: Second Edition Stephen James O’Meara Excerpt More information 1 and legible handwriting and some little abil- Messier’s comet pursuits blossomed after ity in draughtsmanship.” Delisle retired in 1761, the year Messier took Nevertheless, Delisle assigned Messier the charge of the observatory, observed the transit task of mapmaking and the recording of astro- of Venus, and made other acute observations.

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