19/4/2022 The M1 but not as we know it...Bob Mizon MBE of Fordingbridge Astronomers revealed to us in April how Charles Messier came to create his ground breaking catalogue of astronomical objects which today are still referred to by the numbers (M1, M2 etc) that he allocated. Messier was hunting for comets and needed to rule out the fixed objects that he observed despite not knowing exactly what they were. As a student beginning his year abroad in Perpignan in the late 1960s Bob was struck by the dark skies of the Eastern Pyrenees and maintained his enthusiasm for the night sky throughout his teaching career. Bob's retelling of some of his adventures in France over many years, including one occasion where he met his French namesake in an ironmonger's shop, clearly showed his great affection for the country and its people. Comments are closed.
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November 2023
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