Pierre Mechain 1744-1804
Pierre Mechain was born in Laon France on August 16th
1744, he was the born the son of a master ceiling plasterer but quickly in life
showed an interest in mathematics. He turned to astronomy and in 1782 his work
with comets won him admission to the Academies Royales des Sciences.
He
discovered 11 comets and calculated the orbits of these comets plus other known
comets.
In addition Mechain discovered many nebulae that would be
incorporated by Charles Messier into his famous catalogue of galaxies and
nebulae.
Pierre Mechain, died on Sept. 20, 1804, in Spain.
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