On October 2, 1608, German-Dutch lensmaker Hans Lippershey applied to the States-General of the Netherlands on October 2, 1608, for a patent for his instrument "for seeing things far away as if they were nearby".
On June 26, 1730, French astronomer Charles Messier was born. He is best known for his publication of 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.
Mount Wilson Observatory has a rich history of astronomical research and discovery spanning nearly 10 decades. As the centennial approaches, Mount Wilson Observatory continues to conduct research and develop new instruments. There are not only long-term observing projects developed during the last century in operation, but state-of-the-art telescopes and cutting-edge instrumentation operating and under development at the observatory.