| Description | The eighth of 9 entries added to the Messier catalog on March 8, 1781, also (#41) credited to Messier. "Nebula without star, in Virgo, above the preceding No. 90: its light is still fainter than that of the above." Following the entry for M91 in the Connoissance des Temps for 1784, Messier added the note below: "Note. The constellation of Virgo, & especially the northern Wing is one of the constellations which encloses the most Nebulae: this Catalog contains thirteen which have been determined: viz. Nos. 49, 58, 59, 60, 61, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, & 91. All these nebulae appear to be without stars: one can see them only in a very good sky, & near their meridian passage. Most of these nebulae have been pointed to me by M. Méchain.' As pointed out by the editor of [messier.seds.org] this may be the first description of the Virgo cluster of galaxies in the scientific literature. <--> The dimmest target in the Messier catalog, lost for 188 years. Messier had determined its position from M89 while he recorded it was from M58, as the Texas amateur William C. Williams of Fort Worth figured out in 1969 [messier.seds.org] Lovely, barred-spiral galaxy. |
