Happy Birthday Charles Messier: M1 . ... Credit Copyright: courtesy NOAO Explanation: French astronomer Charles Messier was born on June 26, 1730 . Inspired by childhood sightings of comets and a solar eclipse visible from his home town of Badonvillier, he became an astronomer and comet hunter who kept careful records of his observations . ... The first object in his catalog, M1 pictured above - also known as the Crab Nebula , was recorded during his search for the return of comet Halley in 1758. ...