Messier was a self-educated astronomer until he began working for the French navy in 1751. Six years later he began searching for Comet Halley,...

Mssr. Messier was a self-educated astronomer until he began working for the French navy in 1751. Six years later he began searching for Comet Halley, which was predicted to return in 1758. His independent recovery of that famous object in early 1759 launched his career as a comet hunter, but he is best known for the catalog of nebulae that he developed while searching for comets. He was elected to the Royal Society of London in 1764, and to the Royal Academy of Sciences of Paris in 1770. He was appointed Astronomer of the Navy the following year. Charles?