See our Koehler Catalog page
Observation of the comet of the year 1779
and discovery of some new nebulous stars, by Inspector
Köhler, communicated by Mr. Bode
.. [other stuff omitted]
Already on December 17 of last year [1778], Mr. Inspector Köhler
sent me a list of various nebulous stars recorded by him since 1772, and in
his latest writing of August 1 of this year [1779] he added some newer ones.
Most of the he has recorded with a 6-feet Dollond-ian tube, for this purpose
magnifying 30 times, determined their situation with respect to mostly
telescopic stars by visual judgement only; but these indications are sufficient
to find these nebulous stars in the sky. Most of those indicated in this list
already occur in my complete list of nebulous stars, which can be found
in the volume of the "Ephemeriden" for 1779, 2nd part p. 69 and succeeding.
Of those which I have not found, there will follow a drawing and position in
the following volume [for 1783], because the plates are already taken for the
present one [for 1782]. Their position is given as follows:
- No. 1 [M22].
In the bow of Sagittarius, longitude 9s 5d 10' [275d 10']; approximate
latitude 1d 0' south. It is No. 57 of my list [M22]. See Ephem. 1779.
- No. 2 [M28].
A very small pale nebula, close to and west above Lambda in the bow of
Sagittarius in 2d 30' [Cap] [272d 30'] and 1 1/2 deg southern latitude.
See fig. a reversely displayed. Mr. Messier has discovered this one already
in 1764; it should be in my list instead of the 58th (which therefore does
not exist in the sky) between No. 54 and 55 therein, for which a typing error
in [right] ascension is responsible.
- No. 3 [M8]
Not far from the preceding, in 26deg [Sgr] [266d] and 0d 45' southern
latitude, is a double star cluster, around which in the 3-foot Dollond
[refractor] under clear air, a sort of pale glowing is noted. fig b.
- No. 4 [M10]
In Serpentarius [Ophiuchus], longitude 10d 20' [Sgr] [250d 20'];
latitude 17d 35' north. It is No. 33 in my list [M10]
- No. 5 [M12]
Just in the same place, longitude 7deg [Sgr] [247d]; latitude 20deg
north. It is No. 32 there [M12].
- No. 6 [M27]
in the Fox at the chest, longitude 5deg [Aqr] [305d]: latitude 43deg
north. It is No. 67 there [M27].
- No. 7 [M71]
A very pale nebula in the Arrow [Sagitta] at 1deg 50' [Aqr] [301d 50']
and 39d northern latitude, fig. c.
- No. 8 [M81,
M82]
Two nebulous stars at the ear of the Great Bear [Ursa Major]. They are
No. 17 [M81] and 18 [M82] in my list.
- No. 9
A nebula at the forehead of the Great Bear [Ursa Major], west of and
near A (according to Flamstead [sic]) or between x y and R (according to
Doppelmayer) fig d.
- No. 10 [M36]
Between x and w (according to Doppelm.) of Auriga.
It is No. 12 of my list [M36].
- No. 11 [M38]
Above w in Auriga. It is No. 9 there [M38].
- No. 12
A nebula near the face of Perseus, near the star h (after Doppelm.)
or the 64th star in Andromeda (according to Flamst.) fig. e
- No. 13 [M5]
At Mount Maenalus, separated from s (after Doppelmayer) by 19' 11".
It is No. 19 of my list [M5].
- No. 14 [M2]
In the neck of Aquarius. It is No. 70 there [M2].
- No. 15 [M15]
Between A in Pegasus and D in Equuleus. It is No. 71 there [M15].
- No. 16
A small nebulous patch near the head of the Goose, fig f.
- No. 17
Two small nebulae in Asterion [one of/in Canes Venatici], fig. g. with
the 10-ft. Dollond, fig. h with the 3-feet.
- No. 18 [M13?]
In Hercules. It is probably No. 30 [M13] of my list.
- No. 19 [M67]
A rather conspicuous nebula in elongated figure, near Alpha of
Cancer, fig. i
- No. 20 [M11?]
In Antinous [now Scutum], discovered with the 6-ft. Dollond, on
June 8, 1772. It is probably No. 62 of my list [M11].
[M59,
M60]
On the occasion of tracking the comet of this year [1779], on April 11 and 13,
Mr. Köhler has discovered another two very small [faint]
nebulae barely visible in the 3-ft Dollond telescope northwest in a
triangle with Rho and the 34th star of Virgo, situated closely the one above
the other, and on May 5, again three other somewhat nebulous stars in
the area of the northern shoulder of Virgo, at quite a distance of each other.
When the position of these and the previously discovered nebulous stars will
be determined more acurately in longitude and latitude, I will be able to
deliver a supplement in running numbers to my complete list, for which recently
contributions have been promised from Italy also, via Prof. Bernoulli.
[M92]
On this occasion, I also want to announce that on December 27, 1777 I [Bode]
have discovered a new nebula in Hercules, not known to me, southwest
below the star s in his foot, which shows up in a mostly round figure
with a pale glimmer of light. Its longitude is about 11 deg [Sgr] [251 d] and
its latitude 66d north.Together with two small [faint] stars, which don't occur
at Flamstead, it appears in the reversing telescope as shown in fig k (in the
following volume).
[M64]
Also, on April 4 of this year [1779], when I [Bode] located the comet in the
evening north above Vindemiatrix in the Virgin [Virgo], I have found a
small nebulous star, about 1 deg to the northeast near the 35th star
of Berenice's Hair [Coma Berenices], the longitude of which is about
1 deg [Lib] [181d] and the latitude is 26d north.
For his observations, Mr. Köhler makes use of a 10-feet Dollond
telescope; a 7 to 8 shoes [feet] Newtonian telescope from Hearne and
the big Löser-ian Gregorian Telescope, of which comprehensive information
and an image is in Hofrat Kästner's edition of the Optik of Mr.
Smith; He gives the following remarks about it:
Through the 10-shoe [feet] Dollond I have normally found near Saturn only 3,
rarely 4 satellites, but responsible for this is without doubt the low
altitude of Saturn over the horizon. The Dollond magnifies 150 times, if I
use an eyepiece of 19 lines, and herewith has all necessary light and
sharpness. The Löser telescope magnifies 300 times, has still more light
than the Dollond, but a bit less sharpness, but I read small letters at a far
greater distance than with the Dollond. The Newtonian big telescope doesn't
reach even the Dollond, because the mirror has suffered very much from the
hands of its previous owner.
[M3]
From the Astronomisches Jahrbuch for 1785:
Observation of a nebulous patch at Bootes, by Mr. Inspector Koehler.
From a letter of the same of Jun. 17, 1782
Some days ago I have discovered a nebulous star not included in your catalog
(*) near the 3rd and 9th star of Bootes, with that stars if makes an almost
equilateral triangle. It has the following position with respect to these and
neighboring stars. (**) See Fig. V., Tab. III. With my star micrometer I found
on the 15th [of June, 1782] at midnight the following distances:
The Nebula from the 3rd of Bootes 2d 54' 20"
The same from the 9th - - 3 18 30
The same from a in the drawing 2 27 28
The same from c -- -- 0 29 5
c from the 3rd of Bootes 2 45 27
c from b of the drawing 0 55 0
b from the Nebula - - 0 55 8
a from the 9th of Bootes - - 1 22 40
a from the 3rd -- - - 3 20 0
3rd from 9th -- - - 2 51 32
d Bootes from the 9th - - 3 56 48
After a chartlet, which I based upon the Right Ascension and Declination
reduced to January 1, 1780 (from Flamsteed's catalog), of the 3rd and 9th star,
it follows:
Mag RA Dec [N]
c. 7. 202d 37' 48" 29d 16' 0"
Nebula rath.vivid 203 4 0 29 24 45
e 9. 203 9 30 29 23 30
b (***) 7.8. 203 31 0 28 43 32
the 3rd 6.7. 204 6 48 26 48 44
a 6. 205 53 20 29 45 0
the 9th 5.6. 206 37 41 28 34 28
d 5. 210 4 36 26 8 5
Of this nebula, which Mr. Messier has first noted on May 3, 1764, mentioning
has occurred already in the previous volume [Jahrbuch for 1784], page 182,
and why this one doesn't occur in my first catalog of nebulae.
Now, the previous observations of Mr. Koehler show me, that in the VII-th
volume of the Paris 10-year ephemerides there occurs a typing error in the
declination of the same [nebula] and instead of 26d 32' -- 29d 32' should be
read. (****)
Therfore, this nebula is listed just three degrees to far south in my sky
charts. I will deliver the supplement promised in the previous volume to the
catalog of nebulae mentioned; there have been promised contributions by Mr.
Mechain for this.
In my new complete catalog of fixed stars, the number of nebulous stars,
star clusters and nebulae visible in our latitudes goes to One Hundred.
(*) S. Berl. Ephemerides f. 1779 [Bode's catalog]
(**) In the Fig. I have been able only to introduce the stars closest
neighbored to the nebula, therefore, among others the star a is missing.
(***) Is a star observed by Mr. Darquier. S. Jahrbuch for 1784, p. 192.
(****) In the Connoissance des Tems pour l'année 1783, there is
correctly 29d &c. declination.
References
- Johann Gottfried Koehler and Johann Elert Bode,
1779.
Beobachtung des Kometen vom Jahr 1779 und Entdeckung einiger neuer
Nebelsterne, vom Hrn. Inspector Koehler, vom Hr. Bode mitgetheilt
[Observation of the comet of the year 1779 and discovery of some new
nebulous stars, by Mr. Inspector Koehler, communicated by Mr. Bode].
Astronomisches Jahrbuch oder Ephemeriden für das Jahr 1782.
nebst einer Sammlung der neuesten in die astronomischen Wissenschaften
einschlagenden Beobachtungen, Nachrichten, Bemerkungen und Abhandlungen
[Astronomical Yearbook or Ephemerides for the Year 1782, besides a
collection of the newest observations, news, remarks and treatises
impacting into the astronomical sciences].
Berlin, 1779, p. 151-157 (here: p. 155-7).
- Johann Gottfried Koehler and Johann Elert Bode,
1782.
Beobachtung eines Nebelflecks beym Bootes, von Herrn Inspector
Köhler. Aus einem Schreiben desselben vom 17. Jun. 1782
[Observation of a nebulous patch at Bootes, by Mr. Inspector
Koehler. From a letter of the same of Jun. 17, 1782].
Astronomisches Jahrbuch oder Ephemeriden für das Jahr 1785.
nebst einer Sammlung der neuesten in die astronomischen Wissenschaften
einschlagenden Beobachtungen, Nachrichten, Bemerkungen und Abhandlungen
Berlin, 1782, p. 230-231.
Translated from German by H. Frommert