| Description | A compendium of William Herschel's sightings and descriptions of nebulae, planetary nebulae, globular clusters, galaxies and other objects originally described by Charles Messier in his 'Catalogue des nébuleuses et des amas d'etoiles' (1771). The list is organised by object, M1-M103, and Herschel's sightings are given chronologically, with his comments, for the years 1776-1813.
This document is referred to in Sir John Herschel's explanation of Herschel family manuscripts on nebulae. See pp.6-7 of 'Catalogue of nebulae and clusters of stars', by John Frederick William Herschel, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society, v.154 (1864) pp.1-137. 'In presenting to the Royal Society this Catalogue, it will be accompanied by the following series of records and documents...2nd. A similar set of register sheets of all the observations of each of MESSIER'S nebulae, arranged according to MESSIER'S numbers.' |