110 objects
The Messier objects are a set of astronomical objects catalogued by French astronomer Charles Messier in his catalogue of Nebulae and Star Clusters first published in 1774. The original motivation behind the catalogue was that Messier was a comet hunter, and was frustrated by objects which resembled but were not comets. He therefore compiled a list of these objects.[1] The first edition covered 45 objects numbered M1 to M45. The total list consists of 110 objects, ranging from M1 to M110. The final catalogue was published in 1781 and printed in the Connaissance des Temps in 1784. Many of these objects are still known by their Messier number.[2] Because Messier lived and did his astronomical work in France in the Northern Hemisphere, the list he compiled contains only objects from the north celestial pole to a celestial latitude of about -35°. Many impressive Southern objects, such as the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are excluded from the list. Because all of the Messier objects are visible with binoculars or small telescopes (under favorable conditions), they are popular viewing objects for amateur astronomers. In early spring, astronomers sometimes gather for "Messier marathons", when all of the objects can be viewed over a single night. Answer from Wikipedia and all of its sources
If the question is about the Triffid Nebula, then the M stands for Messier, after the French astronomer Charles Messier who catalogued some astronomical objects in 1771. He was a comet hunter and wanted a list of objects that could be confused with comets so that he could reject them quickly.If the question is about the Triffid Nebula, then the M stands for Messier, after the French astronomer Charles Messier who catalogued some astronomical objects in 1771. He was a comet hunter and wanted a list of objects that could be confused with comets so that he could reject them quickly.If the question is about the Triffid Nebula, then the M stands for Messier, after the French astronomer Charles Messier who catalogued some astronomical objects in 1771. He was a comet hunter and wanted a list of objects that could be confused with comets so that he could reject them quickly.If the question is about the Triffid Nebula, then the M stands for Messier, after the French astronomer Charles Messier who catalogued some astronomical objects in 1771. He was a comet hunter and wanted a list of objects that could be confused with comets so that he could reject them quickly.
Charles Messier. His list of "Messier objects" includes a host of galaxies and nebulae; the Great Andromeda Nebula is "M31", or the 31st item in his list.
Charles Messier a French astronomer, published an astronomical catalogue consisting of deep sky objects such as nebulae and star clusters that came to be known as the 103 "Messier objects".It was published in 1774.The purpose of the catalogue was to help astronomical observers, in particular comet hunters such as himself, distinguish between permanent and transient objects in the sky._________________________Interestingly enough, Messier wasn't interested in any of that stuff; Messier was a comet hunter. His catalogue was of "objects that look a little like comets but aren't". His catalogue was designed so that he wouldn't waste time looking at these non-comet objects in his telescope.
Charles Messier was an astronomer from the 1700s who created a guidebook to certain star groupings and nebulae. He created the guide so that other astronomers would have an easier time finding objects in the night sky.
Charles Messier, a French astronomer, compiled a list of 110 astronomical objects, including comets, known as the Messier catalogue in the 18th century. His catalog was created to help differentiate between comets and other celestial objects, such as galaxies and nebulae.
There are approximately 10 billion stars in Messier 32.
Charles Messier created his list of astronomical objects primarily to aid in the discovery of comets. By cataloging non-cometary objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, he aimed to prevent confusion between these fixed objects and comets, which were his main focus. His list, compiled in the 18th century, ultimately helped astronomers identify and study these celestial bodies more effectively. The Messier Catalogue has since become a fundamental reference in astronomy.
Charles Messier was an astronomer for over 50 years, from around 1750 until his death in 1817. He is best known for his catalog of astronomical objects, which he compiled over his career.
Charles Messier should not be all that important; the only things he cared about were comets. Messier built his own observatory specially to search for comets, but he kept discovering little fuzzy patches of light in the night sky that were NOT comets. So he made a little list of "Fuzzy things in the sky that aren't comets", and he numbered them so he would recognize them when he found them again. Later we learned that many of the "fuzzy things in the sky that aren't comets" were galaxies, and the Messier Catalog of galaxies and nebulae is one of the primary lists of deep space objects.
Leo contains three spiral galaxies (Messier 96, Messier 95, Messier 66 and Messier 65) and one elliptical galaxy (Messier 105).
The crater Messier on the Moon and the asteroid7359 Messier were named in his honor