March and Early April are one of the most amazing times in the celestial calendar. In the Northern Hemisphere (depending your latitude), on nights from late March through to the first couple of weeks of April, astronomers can view a good rotation of the night sky. If you’re intrepid, from dawn to dusk, there’s the opportunity to see ALL of the objects in Messier’s catalog!
M1 – M110 will be available, but it is a challenge to see them all. But, many amateur astronomers have taken up this challenge – to see all 100, or at least a majority of them, during a 10-11hr window. There IS a real strategy to achieve this goal, but it is doable! It is a real testament to an astronomer’s stamina, astronomical planning, observing, and logging skills to achieve it.
The Astronomical League even offers pins to recognize the challenge – and Lauren Gonzalez, our AL Coordinator is offering the chance for you to get several of the available pins! We’ll have coffee and hot chocolate for the Marathoners, and please note that lasers may be used on the field during the evening observing.
From Lauren:
A great opportunity approaches for you to get started on your first (or next) Astronomical League observing award! The March Members Only Night allows you a chance to view all 110 of Messier’s famous list in one night: a Messier Marathon. You have several options for earning an award from the AL, and all of these awards are great for beginners. (Note that GOTO scopes are not allowed for these awards. You may use a scope that HAS goto capability, as long as you aren’t USING the goto for spotting the objects; the idea is to hunt for them.)
- The Messier Award: to receive this certificate (no pin), you have to observe 70 of the 110 objects. Your log must include the date, time, seeing, telescope aperture, power, and a description of the object. You will be eligible for the award pin upon viewing and submitting logs for the balance of the objects. These logs get submitted to me via email.
- If you manage to get all 110 in one night, you may submit for the certificate and pin at the same time, the Honorary Messier award. The award coordinator actually discourages trying to find them all in one night for the award program, as the feverish pace doesn’t allow for full appreciation of the objects, but it isn’t forbidden to do them all at once. These logs still come to me via email.
- For a less breakneck Messier experience, you could easily complete the Binocular Messier award, as only 50 observations of the 110 are needed. For the certificate and pin, you need to log the object name, date and time, seeing/transparency, size and power of your binocs, and a brief description. These logs must be emailed or copies snail-mailed directly to the award coordinator rather than to me.
- A great observing award for those without equipment is the Constellation Hunter program. You only need some sky maps and a pencil. Record for each required constellation the date and time, latitude and longitude where you are observing, transparency and seeing, and sketch all stars and other objects within the border of the constellation that you can see. These logs get submitted to me via email.
For the more experienced observer, there are a couple of other great programs:
1) Stellar Evolution requires 100 observations of many different types of objects, many of which are individual stars of different types. Main sequence stars, white dwarfs, supergiants and carbon stars make up a large portion of the list in addition to supernova remnants and some nebulae.
2) Two in the View is another fun one, requiring you to find objects that have neighbors, either apparent or actual. You must view 100 of 114 objects on the list, and your log must include the date and time, objects viewed, your latitude/longitude, seeing and transparency, instrument size/eyepiece used/magnification, and sketch the relative size and position of the objects. GOTO IS ALLOWED on this one, as is imaging, but you must state in your logs if that was done, and imagers must also submit their image files with their logs.
3) The Herschel 400 is always a good one to start on, if you like a real challenge, but that’s a much more extensive project, for sure!
Any award can be done with a group, but each person in the group must locate each item individually. For example, if I’m working with Joi, I might find the object first, and let her look at it, but then we have to push the scope away from the object, and then she must find it as well. Each individual must have their own set of logs/descriptions. You can find out much more about each program at https://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/LevelObservingClubs.html or by emailing me at lsrogers16@gmail.com.
Find an astro friend and get to going! Here are a few sheets and guides to help you plan the night and achieve your goal.
- How To Prepare for A Messier Marathon – set up early, dress warmly, know your plan, log log log, and bring snacks!
- Attack Order for A Messier Marathon (latitudes 20-40) – gotta get on it as soon as your eyes can spot your first calibration objects.
- Messier Checklist Blank – A blank Messier checklist for you to modify and add required items.
- TUMOL – The Ultimate Messier Objects Log – this is the gold standard, full logbook for the night with all of the required forms / details.
- ConstellationForm – Constellation Hunter Form, if you’re working on this AL Pin.
- StellarEvolutionBlank – Stellar Evolution Form, if you are working on this AL Pin.
Please let us know if you have any questions! We are looking forward to seeing you on the field for the Marathon!
