Messier 64

Discovered on March 23, 1779 by Edward Pigott.
Independently rediscovered on April 4, 1779 by Johann Elert Bode.
Independently rediscovered on March 1, 1780 by Charles Messier.

Messier: M64.

March 1, 1780. 64. 12h 45m 51s (191d 27' 38") +22d 52' 31"
"Nebula discovered in Coma Berenices, which is about half as apparent as that which is below the hair [M53]. M. Messier has reported its position on the Chart of the Comet of 1779. Observed again March 17, 1781."

Pigott

[Account of a Nebula in Coma Berenices. PT 71 (1781), p. 82-83. Available online.]
".. on the 23rd of March [1779], I discovered a nebula in the constellation of Coma Berenices, hitherto, I presume, unnoticed; at least not mentioned in M. de la Lande's Astronomy, nor in M. Messier's ample Catalogue of nebulous Stars [of 1771]. I have observed it in an acromatic instrument, three feet long, and deduced its mean R.A. by comparing it to the following stars [..; yielding a] Mean R.A. of the nebula for April 20, 1779, of 191d 28' 38".
Its light being exceedingly weak, I could not see it in the two-feet telescope of our quadrant, so was obliged to determine its declination likewise by the transit instrument. The determination, however, I believe, may be depended upon to two minutes: hence, the declination north is 22d 53"1/4 [sic]. The diameter of this nebula I judged to be about two minutes of a degree.
[Pigott's position, RA 12:45:57, Dec +22:53:15 (1779.3) precedes to RA 12:56:46, Dec +21:41.4 (2000.0) which is very close to the modern position of RA 12:56:44, Dec +21:40.9 (2000.0) - hf]

Bode: Bode 77.

"A small nebulous star."
"On April 4 of this year [1779], when I 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."

William Herschel

[1811: PT Vol. 1811, p. 226-336; here p. 278]
3. Of Nebulosities joined to Nebulae.
The nature of diffused nebulosities is such that we often see it joined to real nebulae; for instance of this kind we have the following fourteen objects [including M64] ..
[1912: Unpublished observations, from Scientific Papers, Vol. II, edited by J.L.E. Dreyer, p. 658]
1785, April 27 (Sw. 403). Extends not less than 25' and the southern branch loses itself more imperceptibly and is much broader and more diffused than the northern one; the night being very fine I viewed it to the great advantage. I suspected the ground of the heavens about the northern branch to be tinged with a very faint, milky nebulosity for a considerable way.
1787, Feb. 13 (Sw. 699). A very remarkable object, mE. [much elongated], about 12' long, 4' or 5' broad, contains one lucid spot like a star with a small black arch under it, so that it gives one the idea of what is called a black eye, arising from fighting.

John Herschel (1833): h 1486.

h 1486 = M64.
Sweep 424 (May 1, 1832)
RA 12h 48m 21.5s, NPD 67d 24' 0" (1830.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
B; v L; v m E; v s m b M; well examined. I am much mistaken if the nucleus not be a double star, in the general direction of the nebula: 320 much increases this suspicion; 240 shows well a vacuity below (n of) the nucleus. The neb is 8' or 9' long, and 2' broad.
Bright; very large; very much extended; very suddenly much brighter toward the middle; well examined. I am much mistaken if the nucleus not be a double star, in the general direction of the nebula: magnification 320 much increases this suspicion; 240 shows well a vacuity below (north of) the nucleus. The nebula is 8' or 9' long, and 2' broad.

Sweep 409 (March 29, 1832)
RA 12h 48m 22.4s, NPD 67d 23' 10" (1830.0)
v L; oval neb, with a v S, s B, vivid nucleus. The neb is far feebler; 6'l, 4 or 5'br. I see no ``dark recess'' in it.
Very large; oval nebula, with a very small, suddenly bright, vivid nucleus. The nebula is far feebler; 6' long, 4 or 5' broad. I see no ``dark recess'' in it.

Sweep 246 (March 26, 1830)
RA 12h 48m 26.1s, NPD 67d 23' 17" (1830.0)
B; L; E; 5'l, 3'br; v s v m b M, almost to a *, but magnifying destroys this effect. Resolvable but not resolved.
Bright; large; extended; 5' long, 3' broad; very suddenly very much brighter toward the middle, almost to a star, but magnifying destroys this effect. Resolvable [mottled] but not resolved.

Viewed, and the appearance of a vacuity below the nucleus verified. April 21, 1833, a careful drawing taken. (See fig. 27.)

[Appendix]

[Figure on Plate X, Figure 27, No. 1486, M. 64, RA 12h 48m 23s, NPD 67d 23']
Fig. 27. Mess. 64. - The dark semi-elliptic vacancy (indicated by an unshaded or bright portion in the figure,) which partially surrounds the condensed and bright nucleus of this nebula, is of course unnoticed by Messier. It was however seen by my Father, and shown by him to the late Sir Charles Blagden, who likened it to the appearance of a black eye, an odd, but not inapt comparison. The nucleus is somewhat elongated, and I have a strong suspicion that it may be a close double star, or extremely condensed double nebula.
[also see JH's remark for the figure (No. 50) of M104]

Smyth: CCCCLXVII [467]. M64.

CCCCLXVII. 64 M. Comae Berenices.
AR 12h 48m 52s, Dec N 22d 33'.2
Mean Epoch of Observation: 1837.24 [Mar 1837]
[with a drawing]
A conspicuous nebula, between Berenice's Hair, and the Virgin's left arm; discovered by M. [Messier] in 1780, who, however, only saw it very faintly. Yet it is magnificient both in size and brightness, being elongated in a line np [north preceding, NW] and sf [south following, SE], and blazing to a nucleus. This is the object which Sir Charles Blagden, on being shown it by WH, likened to a black eye, which though odd, is considered not an inapt comparison.
Sir John Herschel examined this nebula very minutely. He considers it resolvable, though not resolved; and adds, "I am much mistaken if the nucleus be not a double star, in the general direction of the nebula; 320 much increases this suspicion; 240 shows well a vacuity below the nucleus." My utmost endeavours only shows it thus: [drawing]
This nebula was fixed by differentiating it with Epsilon Virginis, the bright star 11deg south of it; and it lies between Arcturus and Delta Leonis, about 20deg west from the former bright star.

John Herschel, General Catalogue: GC 3321.

GC 3321 = h 1486 = M64.
RA 12h 49m 51.8s, NPD 67d 33' 15.8" (1860.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
!; vB; vL; vmE 120deg +/- ; bMSBN = ** ? 10 observations by W. & J. Herschel.
Remarkable, very bright, very large, very much extended in position angle of about 120 degrees +/-, brighter toward the middle where there is a small bright nucleus, which may be a double star ?
Remark: Figure in P.T. 33 [J.H. 1833], plate ii, fig. 27.

Lassell

[Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vol. XXXVI (36)]
[Drawing on Plate VI, Fig. 26]

Dreyer (1877)

GC 3321, h. 1486 [M 64]. Drawing in Lassell, Plate VI, Fig. 26.

Dreyer: NGC 4826.

NGC 4826 = GC 3321 = h 1486; M 64.
RA 12h 49m 51s, NPD 67d 33.5' (1860.0) [Right Ascension and North Polar Distance]
! vB, vL, vmE 120deg +/- , bMSBN; = M64
Remarkable, very bright, very large, very much extended in position angle of about 120 degrees +/-, brighter toward the middle where there is a small bright nucleus.
Remark: Figure in P.T. 33 [J.H. 1833], plate X, fig. 27; Lass 2 [Lassell, Memoirs R.A.S., vol. xxxvi], plate VI, fig. 26.

Curtis

[Descriptions of 762 Nebulae and Clusters photographed with the Crossley Reflector. Publ. Lick Obs., No. 13, Part I, p. 9-42]
NGC 4826, RA=12:51.8, Dec=+22:14. [Publ. Lick Obs.] Vol. VIII, Plate 45. The central portion of this fine nebula is very bright, and there is a bright, almost stellar nucleus. It is 8'x4' in p.a. 110deg. The whorls are rather compact, and of very uniform texture, without irregularities or condensations. The most striking feature of this spiral is the somewhat irregular, but very clear-cut, absorption area on the north of the nucleus. See Abs. Eff. 2 s.n.