Charles
Messier: (March 24th, 1781) "Nebula
in Ursa Major near beta. 'It is difficult to see' reports M. Mechain. He
saw it for the first time on Feb. 16, 1781..... Near this nebula he saw
another which has not yet been determined, also a third which is near gamma
Ursae Majoris. Diameter 2 arc minutes' (Note: the other two objects, although
not a formal part of the Messier Catalog, are usually referred to as M108
and M109.
Ross:
(March
11, 1848) "Two stars considerably apart in the central region; dark
penumbra around each spiral arrangement."
Ross's somewhat
humorous drawing of M97:
