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Details
MESSIER, Charles. "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles Observées à l'Observatoire de la Marine, hôtel de Clugni, rue des Mathurins." In: Connaissance des Temps, Pour l'Année commune 1783. Pp 225-251. Paris: l'Académie Royale des Sciences, 1780.
12o (170 x 115 mm). 2 folding engraved plates. Contemporary vellum (spine darkened, covers lightly rubbed).
FIRST EDITION, containing Messier's initial catalogue of 45 objects: "the most celebrated nebulae and clusters, including M1, the Crab Nebula; M13, the globular star cluster in Hercules; and M31, the Andromeda Galaxy" (DSB). First published in 1771, but with an additional 23 new objects observed by Messier since its publication. Most interested in comets, Messier is attributed with the initial discovery of twelve or thirteen from the appearance of Comet 1759 III to Comet 1798 I and three additional independent discoveries. His famous catalogue of objects which retain his M for Messier numbers to this day came about only because "the nebula I discovered above the southern horn of Taurus on September 12, 1758, while observing the comet that year... had such a resemblance to a comet, in its form and brightness, that I endeavoured to find others, so that astronomers would not confuse these same nebulae with comets just beginning to shine" (Messier Connaissance des Temps 1800/1801 recorded in DSB).
[With:]
MESSIER, Charles. "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles." In: Connoissance des Temps, ou Mouvement des Astres, Pour l'Année commune 1787. Pp 238-277. Paris: l'Académie Royal des Sciences, 1784.
12o (175 x 115 mm). 2 folding engraved plates, 2 folding maps, and 2 folding tables. (One or two spots.) Contemporary vellum (spine darkened, upper cover bowed).
FIRST EDITION, containing Messier's complete catalogue of 103 objects discovered with the help of his colleague Pierre Méchain, and first published in Connoissance des Temps for 1784 (Paris, 1781). (2)
12o (170 x 115 mm). 2 folding engraved plates. Contemporary vellum (spine darkened, covers lightly rubbed).
FIRST EDITION, containing Messier's initial catalogue of 45 objects: "the most celebrated nebulae and clusters, including M1, the Crab Nebula; M13, the globular star cluster in Hercules; and M31, the Andromeda Galaxy" (DSB). First published in 1771, but with an additional 23 new objects observed by Messier since its publication. Most interested in comets, Messier is attributed with the initial discovery of twelve or thirteen from the appearance of Comet 1759 III to Comet 1798 I and three additional independent discoveries. His famous catalogue of objects which retain his M for Messier numbers to this day came about only because "the nebula I discovered above the southern horn of Taurus on September 12, 1758, while observing the comet that year... had such a resemblance to a comet, in its form and brightness, that I endeavoured to find others, so that astronomers would not confuse these same nebulae with comets just beginning to shine" (Messier Connaissance des Temps 1800/1801 recorded in DSB).
[With:]
MESSIER, Charles. "Catalogue des Nébuleuses et des Amas d'Étoiles." In: Connoissance des Temps, ou Mouvement des Astres, Pour l'Année commune 1787. Pp 238-277. Paris: l'Académie Royal des Sciences, 1784.
12o (175 x 115 mm). 2 folding engraved plates, 2 folding maps, and 2 folding tables. (One or two spots.) Contemporary vellum (spine darkened, upper cover bowed).
FIRST EDITION, containing Messier's complete catalogue of 103 objects discovered with the help of his colleague Pierre Méchain, and first published in Connoissance des Temps for 1784 (Paris, 1781). (2)