Charles Messier lived and worked during a pivotal point in visual astronomical history. He was one of the first comet hunters, discovering new comets over a span of four decades, and recording nearly every observable comet during his career.

His comet hunting resulted in an extensive knowledge of the night sky, enabling him to organize a catalog of galaxies, clusters and nebulae. This list of heavenly wonders, known as the Messier Catalogue, has become one of the most popular lists of its kind. It includes many of the brightest and best-known objects in the night sky. Yet the 110 marvels are few enough that even the beginning amateur astronomer of today can find them all, or nearly all, of them in one night.

Born on June 26, 1730, in Lorraine, France, Charles was the tenth of twelve children. His father died when he was eleven. Three years later, in early 1744, the young Charles observed the brilliant multitailed comet of 1744. A month after his eighteenth birthday, in July 1748, he observed an annular solar eclipse from his home town. In October 1751 he went to Paris in search of a new life. His skill in penmanship and drafting landed him employment as a record keeper at a small observatory at the Hotel de Cluny.