The Fall Messier Marathon The Fall Messier Marathon GuideGuide
Ed Ting, NHAS, CMP Oct 17th 2008
Messier MarathonMessier Marathon
An informal competition to locate the most Messier objects by a single observer during a dusk-to-dawn Marathon.
How Many Can You Expect How Many Can You Expect To See?To See?
March: 108-110June: 90-95 October: 100-102
From Southern NHFrom Southern NH
Daylight lasts approx 11 hours and 30 minutes
Everything is “shifted” by 6 hours compared to a conventional March MM
What Doesn’t ChangeWhat Doesn’t Change
You still have to stay up all night longThe average time to find each object goes
up – about 7 minutes, 25 seconds per object
The busiest times are the beginning and the end, with a lull in the middle
Your New Problem Objects Your New Problem Objects Are…Are…
M4 and M80 are right on the western horizon
M104, M68, and M83 are lost in the morning sun
M3M3
M3 is also a problem (18 deg above horizon at 6 PM)
What Does ChangeWhat Does Change
M30, M72, and M73 are no longer difficultScorpio is now the early problemMarch – The Sun is in CapricornOctober – The Sun is in Virgo
One Big ChangeOne Big Change
The Virgo Cluster must be tackled while the sun is rising
Thus, the VC is now a Bonus Object M64, M53, M61, etc become problems also
For Experienced ObserversFor Experienced Observers
You have to readjust your thinkingBeginners have the upper hand here!
Your New GoalYour New Goal
91 Objects5 Objects are not visibleThe Virgo Cluster galaxies (14 objects)
become “Bonus Objects.”
The Sky at 6:00 PMThe Sky at 6:00 PM
The First 2 HoursThe First 2 Hours
Goal – Get 20 Objects (22% of total)M62, M19, M6, M7, M5, M97, M108,
M109, M81, M82, M101, M102 (NGC 5866), M51, M3, M53, M63, M94, M107, M12, M10
The Sky at 10 PMThe Sky at 10 PM
9 –11 PM Sagittarius 9 –11 PM Sagittarius Sagittarius, Scutum, OphiucusM10, M23, M24, M25, M69, M70, M54,
M9, M14, M8, M20, M21, M28, M22, M55, M16, M17, M11, M26
Goal: Get 19 Objects (20%, 42% of total) Lots of showpiece objects
Sagittarius/ Scorpius AreaSagittarius/ Scorpius Area
The Sky at MidnightThe Sky at Midnight
Midnight to 2 AMMidnight to 2 AM
Goal: Get 22 objects (25%, 67% total)M40, M106, M75, M13, M92, M57, M56,
M27, M71, M2, M72, M73, M30, M29, M39, M15, M74, M77, M31, M32, M110, M33
The Sky at 4 AMThe Sky at 4 AM
4 AM – Winter Objects4 AM – Winter Objects
Goal: Get 31 objects (33%, 100%)M103, M52, M34, M76, M79, M1, M45,
M37, M36, M38, M50, M47, M46, M93, M41, M35, M41, M42, M43, M78, M48, M44, M67, M105, M96, M95, M65, M66, M61, M64, M85
The Virgo ClusterThe Virgo Cluster
The bad news – You have to find 14 dim objects (15% of the total MM)
The VC is rising in the east, along with the sun!
These are all Bonus Objects
The Virgo ClusterThe Virgo Cluster
Work From Left To RightWork From Left To Right
From Skymap From Skymap
You’re Done!You’re Done!
How did you do? Don’t forget to report your results to the club for
the newsletter. If you followed the “Goals” you should have 91
objects (82%)
Tips & Tricks (p. 1 of 2)Tips & Tricks (p. 1 of 2)
Use a scope with a short focal lengthConsider using an alt-az scopeBring a pair of binocularsHave a method for dealing with dewEat light snacks throughout the eveningOnce in a particular area, stay there until
you get all the objects there
Tips and Tricks (p. 2 of 2)Tips and Tricks (p. 2 of 2)
Work West to East, South to NorthWork from a listBring a chairDon’t forget to have fun!
Books For Further ReadingBooks For Further Reading
Good Luck!Good Luck!