Messier 19

Discovered by Charles Messier on June 5, 1764.

Messier: M19.

June 5, 1764. 19. 16h 48m 07s (252d 01' 45") -25d 54' 46"
Nebula without stars, on the parallel of Antares between Scorpius and the right foot of Ophiuchus: this nebula is round; one can see it very well with an ordinary telescope of 3.5-foot [FL]; the nearest neighboring known star to this nebula is 28 Ophiuchi, which is of mag. 6, according to Flamsteed. (diam. 3')

[Mem. Acad. for 1771, p. 443 (first Messier catalog)]
In the night of June 5 to 6, 1764, I have discovered a nebula, situated on the parallel of Antares, between Scorpius and the right foot of Ophiuchus: that nebula is round & doesn't contain any star; I have examined it with a Gregorian telescope which magnified 104 times, it is about 3 minutes of arc in diameter: one sees it very well with an ordinary [non-achromatic] refractor of 3 feet & a half [FL]. I have observed its passage of the Medirian, & compared it with that of the star Antares; I have determined the right ascension of that nebula of 252d 1' 45", & its declination of 25d 54' 46" south. The known star closest to that nebula is the 28th of the constellation Ophiuchus, after the catalog of Flamsteed, of sixth magnitude, [sic]
[p. 456] 1764.Jun.5. RA: 252. 1.45, Dec: 25.54.46.A, Diam: 0. 3. Nebula without stars, on the parallel of Antares, between Scorpius and the right foot of Ophiuchus.

Bode: Bode 35.

A nebula.

William Herschel:

[PT 1814, p. 277. Reprinted in: Scientific Papers, Vol. 2, p. 537 (*). (*) Dreyer's note: The observation quoted in that place cannot be found]
[Jan. 13, 1806?] Common 10 feet telescope. Space penetrating power 28.67. "When the 19th of the Connoiss. is viewed with a magnifying power of 120, the stars are visible; the cluster is insulated; some of the small stars scattered in the neighborhood are near it; but they are larger than those belonging to the cluster. With 240 it is better resolved, and is much condensed in the centre. With 300 no nucleus or central body can be seen. The diameter with the 10 feet is 3'16", and the stars in the centre are too accumulated to be separately seen."
It will not be necessary to add that the two last mentioned globular clusters [M19 and M53], viewed with more powerful instruments, are of equal beauty with the rest; and from what has been said it is obvious that here the exertion of a clustering power has brought the accumulation and artificial construction of these wonderful celestial objects to the highest degree of mysterious perfection.

[PT 1818 p. 441. Reprinted in: Scientific Papers, Vol. 2, p. 597]
The 19th of the Connoissance. [M 19 = NGC 6273]
"1783, 10 feet telescope. With 250, I can see 5 or 6 stars,a nd all the rest appears mottled like other objects of its kind, when not sufficiently magnified or illuminated." (*: Compare above [1814])
"1784, 20 feet telescope. A cluster of very compressed stars, much accumulated in the middle; 4 or 5 minutes diameter."
By the observation of the 10 feet telescope, the profundity of this cluster is of the 344th order. It is in the preceding branch of the milky way.

John Herschel (1833): h 1975.

h 1975 = M19.
Sweep 148 (April 16, 1828)
RA 16h 52m 6.9s, NPD 116d 0m 0s (1830.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
A fine globular cluster, stars v S, 12....18m, with one = 10m, and one 10.11 m; nearly R; vgpmbM, but does not come up to a blaze (i.e. to a confusion of stars with one another). Insulated; 3' diam. It forms a link between I.70 and 10 or 12M.
A fine globular cluster, stars very small [faint], of 12th to 18th magnitude, with one of 10th magnitude, and one of 10th to 11th magnitude; nearly round; very gradually pretty much brighter toward the middle, but does not come up to a blaze (i.e. to a confusion of stars with one another). Insulated; 3' diameter. It forms a link between I.70 [NGC 5634] and 10 or 12M [M10 or M12].

Viewed July 1, 1823. F; R; gbM; r; fills 1/4 field; one or two *s seen, but the twilight too strong.
Viewed July 1, 1823. Faint; round; gradually brighter toward the middle; mottled; fills 1/4 of the field; one or two stars seen, but the twilight too strong.

Smyth: DXCVII [597]. M19

DXCVII. 19 M. Ophiuchi.
AR 16h 52m 44s, Dec S 26d 02'.2
Mean epoch of the Observation: 1837.46 [July 1835].
A fine insulated globular cluster, of small [faint] and very compressed stars, between the Scorpion's back and the left foot of Ophiuchus; and nearly midway between two telescopic stars, in the preceding branch of the Via Lactea [Milky Way]. It is of a creamy white tinge, and is slightly lustrous in the centre; but H. [John Herschel] tells us, that even in the 20-foot reflector it did not brighten to a blaze, or to a confusion of the stars with another. It was discovered by M. [Messier] in 1764, and described as a nebula without stars, of a round form, and seen well with a 3 1/2-foot telescope; but in 1784, Sir William Herschel resolved it, and pronounced its profundity to be of the 344th order. The mean apparent place is obtained by differentiation with 36 Ophiuchi, from which it is 2deg 1/2 distant on a line west-by-north; and it is 7deg 1/2 due east from Antares.
The above nebulae [M62 and M19], and the whole vicinity, afford a grand conception of the grandeur and richness even of the exterior creation; and indicate the beautious gradation and variety of the heaven of heavens. Truly has it been said, "Stars teach us as well as shine." This is near the large opening or hole, about 4deg broad, in the Scorpion's body, which WH [William Herschel] found almost destitute of stars.

John Herschel (1847): h 3663.

h 3663 = M. 19 = h. 1975.
Sweep 453 (May 13, 1834)
RA 16h 52m 7.9s, NPD 116d 0m 51s (1830.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
Glob. Cl.; v B; R; diam 10'; resolved into st 16m.
Globular Cluster; very bright; round; diameter 10'; resolved into stars of 16m.
Sweep 474 (July 29, 1834)
RA 16h 52m 9.8s, NPD 116d 0m 52s (1830.0)
Superb Glob. Cl.; g m b M, but not a nucleus; diam of B part = 12.0', of whole cl to edge = 17.0'; resolved into st 14, 15, 16m.
Superb Globular Cluster; gradually much brighter toward the middle, but not a nucleus; diameter of bright part = 12.0', of whole cluster to edge = 17.0'; resolved into stars of 14, 15, and 16m.

John Herschel, General Catalogue: GC 4264.

GC 4264 = h 1975 = h3663 = M19.
RA 16h 53m 59.2s, NPD 116d 3' 13.0" (1860.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
Glob. Cl.; vB; L; R; vCM; rrr: st 16... red. 7 observations by W. & J. Herschel.
Globular cluster; very bright; large; round; very compressed toward the middle; well resolved; stars of 16th magnitude and fainter, red.

Dreyer: NGC 6273.

NGC 6273 = GC 4264 = h 1975 = h 3663; M 19.
RA 16h 53m 59s, NPD 116d 3.2' (1860.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
Glob. Cl., vB, L, R, vCM, rrr, st 16; = M19
Globular cluster, very bright, large, round, very compressed toward the middle, well resolved, stars of 16th magnitude.