Messier 77

Discovered by Pierre Méchain October 29, 1780.

Messier: M77.

December 17, 1780. 77. 2h 31m 30s (37d 52' 33") -0d 57' 43"
Méchain: (37d 52' 58") -0d 57' 44"
"Cluster of small stars, which contains some nebulosity, in Cetus & on the parallel of the star Delta, reported of the third magnitude, & which M. Messier estimated to be hardly of the fifth. M. Méchain saw this cluster on October 29, 1780 in the form of a nebula."

William Herschel

[PT 1818 p. , reprinted in Scientific Papers, Vol. 2, p. 601]
The 77th of the Connoissance. [M 77 = NGC 1068]
"1783, 7 feet telescope. An ill defined star, surrounded by nebulosity."
"1801, 1805, 1809, 1810, 10 feet telescope. It has almost the appearance of a large stellar nebula."
"1783, 1785, 1786, 20 feet telescope. Bery bright; an irregular extended nucleus with milky chevelure, 3 or 4 minutes long, near 3 minutes broad."
"1801, 1805, 1807, large 10 feet telescope. A kind of much magnified stellar cluster; it contains some bright stars in the centre. With 171 its diameter is 1' 17"; with 220 it is 1' 36"."
From the observations of the large 10 feet telescope, which has a gaging power of 75.82, we may conclude that the profundity of the nearest part of this object is at least of the 910th order.

John Herschel (1833): h 262.

h 262 = M77.
Sweep 108 (November 24, 1827)
RA 2h 33m 58.2s, NPD 90d 43' 43" (1830.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
vB; not vL; R; psbM; has * 2' dist 40 deg sf
Very bright; not very large; round; pretty suddenly brighter toward the middle; has a star 2' distant at 40 deg south following

Smyth: CX [110]. M77.

CX. 77 M. Ceti.
AR 2h 34m 30s, Dec S 0d 41'.2
Mean Epoch of Observation: 1836.78 [Oct 1836]
A round stellar nebula, near Delta in the Whale's lower jaw, and about 2 1/2 deg from Gamma on the line towards Epsilon, or s. by w. This was first classed by M. [Messier] in 1780 as a mass of stars containing nebulosity. It is small, bright, and exactly in a line with three small stars, one preceding and two following, of which the nearest and largest is a 9th-magnitude to the sf [south following, SE]. There are other minute companions in the field; and the place is differentiated from Gamma Ceti.
This object is wonderfully distant and insulated, with presumptive evidence of intrinsic density in its aggregation; and bearing indication of the existence of a central force, residing either in a central body or in the centre of gravity of the whole system. Sir William Herschel, after repeatedly examining it, says, - "From the observations of the large ten-feet telescope, which has a gauging power of 75.82, we may conclude that the profundity of the nearest part is at least of the 910th order." That is, the 910 times as far off as the stars of the first magnitude!

Webb

1 deg f [followiong, East of] Delta, a little s [south]. Small, faintish; very near [a] 9 mg. star. H. [William Herschel] thought it at least 900 times more distant than 1 mg. star! But qu. these infernos now?

Lassell

[Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. XXXVI (36)]
[Drawing on Plate I, Fig. 1]

John Herschel, General Catalogue: GC 600.

GC 600 = h 262 = M77.
RA 2h 35m 30.2s, NPD 90d 35' 56.2" (1860.0). [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
vB; pL; iR; sbMrrN; * 130 deg, 2'. 13 observations by W. & J. Herschel.
Very bright, pretty large, irregularly round, suddenly brighter toward the middle where there is a nucleus which is partially resolved/some stars seen near the nucleus; a star at position angle 130 deg, 2' distance.
Remark: Figure in P.T. 61 [Lord Rosse 1861], plate xxv, fig. 6.

Dreyer (1877)

GC 600, h 262 [M77]. Drawing in Lassell, Plate I, Fig. 1.

Dreyer: NGC 1068.

NGC 1068 = GC 600 = h 262; Méchain, M 77.
RA 2h 35m 31s, NPD 90d 36.7' (1860.0). [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
vB, pL, iR, sbMrrN; = M77
Very bright, pretty large, irregularly round, suddenly brighter toward the middle where there is a nucleus which is partially resolved/some stars seen near the nucleus.
Remark: Figures in P.T. 61 [Lord Rosse 1861], plate XXV; Lass. 2 [Lassell, Memoirs R.A.S. vol. xxxvi], plate I, fig. 2; Ld R [Observations of Nebulae and Clusters at Birr Castle, 1848-78 (Transactions Royal Dublin Society), N.S. vol iii], plate I.

Lick VIII

[Photographs of Nebulae and Clusters, Made with the Crossley Reflector, by James Edward Keeler, Director of the Lick Observatory, 1898-1900. Publications of the Lick Observatory, Vol. VIII, 1908]
[Plate 7. The Spiral Nebula M77 Ceti]
[p. 30] NGC 1068, RA= 2:37:34, Dec=- 0:26.3 (1900.0), M77
[p. 45] No. 7, NGC 1068, 1899 Dec 3, exp. 3h 00m, Enl. 7.2, Top S, M77.

Curtis

[Descriptions of 762 Nebulae ans Clusters photographed with the Crossley Reflector. Publ. Lick Obs., No. 13, Part I, p. 9-42]
NGC 1068, RA= 2:37.6, Dec=- 0:26. Messier 77 Ceti; [Publ. Lick Obs.] Vol. VIII, Plate 7. A very bright and beautiful spiral 2.5'x1.7' in p.a. 20deg. Several almost stellar condensations on the periphery of the brighter central portions, near the bright nucleus, which is apparently not stellar. The whorls are compactly arranged. 11 s.n.