Messier Marathon
Yup... It's that time again. Messier Marathon time that is. The Messier Marathon is an event where amateur astronomers around the world head out for an all-night viewing session. They methodically hunt all the objects listed by the famous French comet hunter, Charles Messier. These "non-comets" are some of the most amazing astronomical objects in the heavens. On the list are such deep sky wonders as The Orion Nebula, The Andromeda Galaxy, The Ring Nebula and many, many more. The March new moon is the only time during the year where you can see all of the objects on the Messier list in one evening. This year, the new moon falls on Wednesday March 12th. So, marathons will be taking place from the weekend of 3/9 to the weekend of 3/16. Other times of the year allow different numbers of objects to be viewed. These monster observing sessions were begun in the 1960's and have grown in popularity ever since. To make the most of your marathon attempt, we have compiled these Messier Strategies to keep in mind as you plan your journey. If you follow the list as we have provided it you will greatly increase your odds of success.
Marathon Strategies
Telescope
Selection: You'll probably need at least a 4" telescope to
successfully complete a marathon. While some individuals have completed
the marathon with smaller
telescopes, you'll need all the help you can get. You won't
want to struggle with difficult objects at the very limits of your
telescope.
As a quick note, use of a computerized
telescope to find your objects is generally frowned upon. If you have such
a telescope, simply disable or do not use the "goto"
capabilities.
Observing Site: Of prime importance is your observing site. You'll need a site with dark skies and unobstructed horizons. Since the first and last couple of objects on the list will be viewed in evening and morning twilight, you'll need to catch them as soon as possible. Any interference by the terrain at your site will simply shut you down. As a general rule, more than about 10° will be a serious impediment.
Dark Skies: Of course, dark skies are a must. If you have light from a nearby town or city, this will seriously hamper your efforts.
Weather: Another consideration is weather conditions. Obviously you'll need clear skies to complete a marathon. But... as this is going to be an "all-nighter", you'll also need comfortable conditions. Extremely low temperatures and/or high wind will conspire to make you uncomfortable and generally reduce your chance of success.
Clothing: Make sure that you dress appropriately for your location.
Rest: If at all possible, make sure you go into this event well rested. The marathon is difficult enough when you're well rested. If you're not, the odds against you are raised significantly.
Object Targeting: Since objects rise in the east and set in the west, you'll need to work quickly from west to east. The most difficult objects of all will be the first few and the last few. These will have to be found in a twilight sky. If you don't get these as soon as they are available, you'll lose your opportunity. After bagging the first few, you'll be able to proceed at a more leisurely pace for most of the night. You won't have to sprint again until the final few. It's usually a good idea to make a list of the objects in the order you're planning on looking for them. Determine how much time you can spend on a given object. Don't waste time. If you fall behind, skip that object and move on. You won't find all the objects, but... you'll find more than you would if you get seriously bogged down. If you get caught up, only then should you return to try to find the missing object.
Have Fun: This is after all the main objective. Isn't it????
Messier Resources: The following resources should help you in your marathon quest.
Happy Hunting....