Messier Marathon Tips
By Shawn Grant
It is messier marathon time again. Once a year around the spring equinox you can see all 110 messier objects in one night. Messier marathons have grown in popularity over the years because of the challenge and the great fun. It is a great sense of accomplishment to observe all 110 messier objects in one night. Here are some tips to help you succeed at a marathon.
You will need to prepare for the marathon at least a week in advance. The first thing you will need to do is to determine which objects to observe first and which last. This web site has a list of the order to observe the messier objects. Take time to study this list. The next thing you need to do is organize your charts. What I do is use computer software such as Guide, CDC or SkyTools to print a series of charts complete with telrad or finderscope overlays in successive order of the objects. Computer programs have a great advantage over book charts because of the overlays and greater detail that comes in handy in the Virgo Cluster. If you don't have computer software go through your book charts and place numbered bookmarks on the pages that have the messier objects. This way you won't have to fumble through the charts wasting precious time trying to find the right chart.
The day of the marathon can be busy preparing for the event. Here is a simple checklist of items you will need. The telescope is of course the most important part. Any telescope that is 6 inches or larger will do nicely for the marathon. If your location is dark you can use a smaller telescope. Make sure you don't forget the telrad and or finder scope. Without these there is no marathon. For eyepieces you must have a wide field eyepiece that yields at least 1-degree field of view or more. Other eyepieces are fine but not as important. Remember you are not admiring the object, you are quickly identifying it and then moving on. You may need a mid power eyepiece to aid in the identification of some objects. Don't forget your checklist, charts and a red flashlight to read them. Late March can still be chilly so be sure to bring warm clothing. During the night there is a two to three hour break where you can get a little rest. You may want to bring a pillow and a sleeping bag. The marathon last all night and you will get hungry and thirsty during the night. Be sure you bring plenty of food and beverage.
Be sure to give yourself plenty of travel time. You must arrive to the observing site at least a half an hour before sunset. You need to insure plenty of time to setup your telescope and collimate it. Arrange your charts and checklist for easy access. An observing table will be a great help. Make a survey of your observing site and identify your cardinal directions.
If you follow all of these tips you can insure a successful and enjoyable marathon.
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