Tales from the grave

I just belatedly saw this message from a Deep Sky Videos viewer. It was a reaction to my video about visiting Charles Messiers' grave.

It makes me think - should we get a campaign going to have Messier's grave on the tourist maps and signs at Père Lachaise Cemetery - it seems wrong that he's overlooked!

Brady,
First, please allow me to thank you for all the effort you put into creating the videos for you channels.
I am subscribed to most of them and always look forward to a new episode. 
As an amateur astronomer, I absolutely enjoy the watching your DeepSkyVideos channel.
During my visit to Paris last week, inspired by your video, I visited the grave of Charles Messier. Thanks to your video and directions in the video's description, I had no trouble locating the grave.
I even got the chance to tell a group of visitors of Chopin's grave about Charles' life and his famous catalog.
The guide didn't know about this particular grave and considers pointing it out during his regular tour. 
Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
Cheers, Dirk

Newly uploaded photos from Brady's trip to the grave here.

Charles Messier's final resting place

I recently visited the grave of astronomer Charles Messier.



The Frenchman started the famed Messier Catalogue of 110 astronomical objects, which we have been gradually covering for Deep Sky Videos.



Messier worked at the Hotel De Cluny in Paris - the observatory itself was atop the thick tower at the right of this picture (the observatory itself is now gone). See below.



The building is now a museum dedicated to the middles ages. Staff inside seemed to know very little about its association with Messier. I was disappointed.

However the SEDS site has some nice stuff about the building and Messier, including a picture of when the observatory was on top of the tower - worth a look.

Next stop was Messier's grave, at the famed Père Lachaise Cemetery.

The cemetery is full of famous people - including Oscar Wilde and Jim Morisson - and there is a map at the entrance with directions to famous sites.

But again Messier - the seemingly forgotten man - was not included.

Luckily I'd found plenty of helpful tips and directions on the web, and found the grave with only minimal fuss.

VIDEO


While I was there, Mrs PeriodicVideos took my job as interviewer and fired a few extra questions at me.

VIDEO