Amerigo Vespucci (March 9, 1451 - February 22, 1512)

During his third voyage in about 1503-4, Amerigo Vespucci mentioned in a letter describing the southern skies, "three Canopes, two bright and one obscure." Amerigo's bright "Canopes" are thought to be the Magellanic Clouds, LMC and SMC, while the obscure one is probably the Coalsack dark nebula.

Honors include the naming of America for him, even during his lifetime, in 1507 by cartographer Martin Waldseemüller.

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