Discovery of Nova Vulpeculae by Pere Dom Anthelme, a Carthusian monk at Dijon, France. First noted at magnitude 3.0, it faded from visibility until October then rose to a 2 nd maximum of magnitude 2.6 by March 1671. Around April 30, it once again began fading and wasn t available by August. Hevelius found it brightening in March 1672 and observed it until May 22. This third brightening reached a maximum of between magnitude 5.5 and 6.0.
Models predict a helium flash on the surface of a star, giving birth to a planetary nebula.
Charles Messier born. He found a keen interest in things astronomical when, at the age of 14, he observed the magnificent six-tailed comet of 1744. Messier devoted most of his adult observing time to searching for comets of which he found over a dozen. Frustrated at being misled by so-called misty patches dotted about the heavens, he determined to catalogue them to avoid mistakes and save time. His catalogue, the Messier Catalogue, although only containing 100 or so objects, is still used widely today.