Science
What to watch out for in February’s night skies – The Irish Times
The Great Nebula in Orion is easily observable as one of the jewels of the winter sky
Two hundred and fifty years ago this month the French astronomer Charles Messier (1730-1817) submitted the first draft of a catalogue that would guarantee him lasting fame.
Now recognised as a list of the skys showpiece objects, it contains highlights such as the Great Nebula in Orion (designated M42); the Andromeda Galaxy (M31); and the beautiful Pleiades star cluster (M45).
The catalogue grew out of a need to avoid confusion. During his nightly scans of the sky, Messier occasionally stumbled across…
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