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!