The following article first appeared in the August 2000 issue of the Reflector, official newsletter of the Astronomical League . One man's mistakes are another man's treasures.
Most astronomers already know the story.
In 1758, French comet hunter Charles Messier found M1, the Crab Nebula, while following a comet. Over the next 30 years, he discovered 106 more objects and cataloged them so that other comet hunters wouldn't mistake them for comets. Being 16 years old and an enthusiastic observer, I've recently completed the Binocular Messier and Honorary Messier clubs and can heartily recommend them both. The Binocular Messier club requires that you observe any 50 Messier objects with any binoculars. I personally recommend 10x50's.