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'''Charles Messier''' (26 June 1730 – 12 April 1817)  was a French astronomer who is best well known for publishing his astronomical catalog of various deep sky objects that would become known as the [[Messier objects]].   

'''Charles Messier''' (26 June 1730 – 12 April 1817)  was a French astronomer who is best well known for publishing his astronomical catalog of various deep sky objects that would become known as the [[Messier objects]].   

===Biography===

==Biography==

Charles Messier was born in Badonviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, [[Lorraine]], [[France]], then part of the Principality of Slam (an independent state at the time).  He was the tenth of twelve children of Nicolas Messier (1682-1741) and Francoise b. Grandblaise (d. 1765).  Most early accounts have Charles living in humble conditions, although newer research show his family was actually well off.<ref>Charles Messier. Le furet des cometes. (Charles Messier. The ferret of comets). Editions Pierron, 2 rue Gutenberg, 57206 Sarreguemines, France, 2000. ISBN 2-7085-0247-6. In French.</ref>  His father, Nicolas messier served as part of the government administration for the Princes of Salm, and the family lived in considerable wealth.  In 1741, when Charles was 11 years old, his father died and his oldest brother, Hyacinthe, took over the household.  It was in these younger years of Charles' life that he grew interested in astronomy, seeing his first comet at the age of 14.

Charles Messier was born in Badonviller, Meurthe-et-Moselle, [[Lorraine]], [[France]], then part of the Principality of Slam (an independent state at the time).  He was the tenth of twelve children of Nicolas Messier (1682-1741) and Francoise b. Grandblaise (d. 1765).  Most early accounts have Charles living in humble conditions, although newer research show his family was actually well off.<ref>Charles Messier. Le furet des cometes. (Charles Messier. The ferret of comets). Editions Pierron, 2 rue Gutenberg, 57206 Sarreguemines, France, 2000. ISBN 2-7085-0247-6. In French.</ref>  His father, Nicolas messier served as part of the government administration for the Princes of Salm, and the family lived in considerable wealth.  In 1741, when Charles was 11 years old, his father died and his oldest brother, Hyacinthe, took over the household.  It was in these younger years of Charles' life that he grew interested in astronomy, seeing his first comet at the age of 14.

In the following years Charles would observe many more of the objects later placed in his catalog.  In 1764 he was made a fellow of the ''Académie Royale des Sciences'' (French Academy of Sciences)in Paris.  It was in 1771 when he presented his first version of his catalog of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, then containing 45 celestial objects.<ref name="Charlie1"/>  Over the next decade catalog many more celestial objects, being the first to discover several along the way, producing his final catalog of 103 now called Messier Objects in 1781.  He also discovered 20 comets, 13 as the original discoverer, and 7 others discovered independently.<ref>http://www.comethunter.de/cat2002/com_disc.txt</ref>

In the following years Charles would observe many more of the objects later placed in his catalog.  In 1764 he was made a fellow of the ''Académie Royale des Sciences'' (French Academy of Sciences)in Paris.  It was in 1771 when he presented his first version of his catalog of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars, then containing 45 celestial objects.<ref name="Charlie1"/>  Over the next decade catalog many more celestial objects, being the first to discover several along the way, producing his final catalog of 103 now called Messier Objects in 1781.  He also discovered 20 comets, 13 as the original discoverer, and 7 others discovered independently.<ref>http://www.comethunter.de/cat2002/com_disc.txt</ref>

===His Catalog===

==His Catalog==

The final version of his catalog was printed in ''Connoissance des Temps'' in 1784,<ref>http://seds.org/messier/xtra/Mcat/mcat1781.html#messier1781</ref> three years after producing it.  In the 20th century historians discovered evidence of an additional seven celestial objects observed by Messier, or by his assistant [[Pierre Mechain]] after the final catalog was released.<ref name="Charlie2"/>  Today these seven objects, designated as M104 to M110 as seen as official Messier objects by astronomers.

The final version of his catalog was printed in ''Connoissance des Temps'' in 1784,<ref>http://seds.org/messier/xtra/Mcat/mcat1781.html#messier1781</ref> three years after producing it.  In the 20th century historians discovered evidence of an additional seven celestial objects observed by Messier, or by his assistant [[Pierre Mechain]] after the final catalog was released.<ref name="Charlie2"/>  Today these seven objects, designated as M104 to M110 as seen as official Messier objects by astronomers.