Charles Messier (; 26 June 1730 – 12 April 1817) was a French
astronomer most notable for publishing an
astronomical catalogue consisting of
nebulae and
star clusters that came to be known as the 110 "
Messier objects". The purpose of the catalogue was to help astronomical observers, in particular
comet hunters such as himself, distinguish between permanent and transient visually diffuse objects in the sky.