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The First Three Southern Deep Sky Catalogues
Three men made the first catalogues of southern clusters, nebulae and galaxies.
The first was the Frenchman Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille.
He observed from Cape Town in 1751 and 1752 with a half inch diameter refractor and discovered 29 new objects: 22 open clusters, 4 globular clusters, 2 nebulae and a galaxy (M83).
The second was a poor Scotsman, James Dunlop.
He observed from Parramatta, NSW in 1826 with a nine inch diameter speculum (67% copper and 33% tin) reflector and discovered 298 new objects: 134 open clusters, 44 globular clusters, 61 nebulae, 4 planetary nebulae, 2 dark nebulae and 53 galaxies. He was the first to catalogue the objects in the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds. His 9 foot long telescope had the light gathering power of a modern 6 inch reflector.
The third was a wealthy Englishman, John Herschel, the son of William Herschel.
He observed near Cape Town from 1834 to 1838 with an 18.5 inch diameter speculum reflector and discovered 1003 new objects: 229 open clusters, 15 globular clusters, 55 nebulae, 16 planetary nebulae and 688 galaxies. His 20 foot long telescope had the light gathering power of a modern 16 inch reflector.
The attached file contains 150 objects from Dunlop’s 1826 catalogue.
It includes 33 objects that were found by Lacaille, William Herschel and others.
At 8pm in mid-August RA 18 is overhead.
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