On Oct. 13, 1773, a French astronomer named Charles Messier discovered the "whirlpool galaxy," also known as Messier 51, or M51.
Charles Messier was scanning the sky for objects that could confuse comet hunters when he catalogued the galaxy as M51. However, Messier wasn't able to see the spiral structure, and he didn't identify it as a galaxy. Seventy-two years later, another astronomer named William Parsons saw the whirlpool shape, but he thought it was a spiral nebula. Eventually, Edwin Hubble found out that M51 and other features like it were actually galaxies.
Charles Messier was scanning the sky for objects that could confuse comet hunters when he catalogued the galaxy as M51. However, Messier wasn't able to see the spiral structure, and he didn't identify it as a galaxy. Seventy-two years later, another astronomer named William Parsons saw the whirlpool shape, but he thought it was a spiral nebula. Eventually, Edwin Hubble found out that M51 and other features like it were actually galaxies.
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TechTranscript
00:00On this day in space.
00:03In 1773, a French astronomer named Charles Messier discovered the Whirlpool Galaxy,
00:08also known as Messier 51 or M51.
00:11Charles Messier was scanning the sky for objects that could confuse comet hunters
00:15when he catalogued the galaxy as M51.
00:17However, Messier wasn't able to see the spiral structure,
00:20and he didn't identify it as a galaxy.
00:2272 years later, another astronomer named William Parson saw the Whirlpool's shape,
00:27but he thought it was a spiral nebula.
00:29Eventually, Edwin Hubble found out that M51 and other features like it were actually galaxies.
00:34And that's what happened on this day in space.
00:37♪