There is some evidence that the technique has been known since ancient times, as it seems to have been reported by Aristotle while observing the star cluster now known as M41.
Messier | Charles Messier | Messier object | Messier 81 | Mark Messier | Messier marathon | Messier 99 | Messier 98 | Messier 96 | Messier 94 | Messier 93 | Messier 92 | Messier 91 | Messier 82 | Messier 73 | Messier 72 | Messier 69 | Messier 62 | Messier 54 | Messier 52 | Messier 47 | Messier 41 | Messier 38 | Messier 36 | Messier 32 | Messier 13 | Messier 110 | Messier 109 | Messier 107 | Messier 106 |