Varāhamihira, an Indian astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 6th century CE, is credited with creating the first catalog of nebulae, known as the 'Brihat Samhita'.

Varāhamihira's catalog of nebulae was primarily used for astrological purposes, as he believed that the positions and appearances of nebulae could influence human affairs.

Nilakantha Somayaji, an Indian astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 16th century, made significant observations and descriptions of nebulae, including the Orion Nebula and the Pleiades.

Nilakantha Somayaji's observations of nebulae focused on their physical characteristics, such as their shape, color, and brightness, rather than their astrological significance.

J.L.E. Dreyer, a Danish astronomer who worked at the Armagh Observatory in Ireland, played a significant role in the compilation of the 'New General Catalogue of Nebulae and Clusters of Stars' (NGC), which is still widely used today.

The primary motivation behind the creation of the NGC catalog was to provide a comprehensive list of nebulae and clusters of stars, making it a valuable resource for astronomers studying these objects.

The NGC catalog contains over 10,000 entries, making it one of the most comprehensive catalogs of nebulae and clusters of stars.

M.K. Vainu Bappu, an Indian astronomer who lived in the 20th century, made significant contributions to the study of planetary nebulae, including the discovery of several new planetary nebulae.

M.K. Vainu Bappu's research on planetary nebulae focused on their physical properties, such as their temperature, density, and expansion velocities.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar, an Indian-American astrophysicist who lived in the 20th century, made significant contributions to the study of extragalactic nebulae, including the development of the theory of stellar evolution.

Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar's research on extragalactic nebulae focused on their physical properties, such as their mass, luminosity, and structure.

Jayant V. Narlikar, an Indian astrophysicist who lived in the 20th century, made significant contributions to the study of active galactic nuclei (AGN), including the development of the Hoyle-Narlikar theory of gravity.

Jayant V. Narlikar's research on active galactic nuclei (AGN) focused on their physical properties, such as their energy output, mass, and structure.

Harish-Chandra, an Indian-American mathematician who lived in the 20th century, made significant contributions to the study of the Magellanic Clouds, including the development of a theory for their structure and evolution.

Harish-Chandra's research on the Magellanic Clouds focused on their physical properties, such as their mass, luminosity, and structure.