The OVAS 2004 Messier Marathon Page

 
What’s a Messier marathon? Well in the 1700’s a French astronomer was looking for comets. He kept track of every fuzzy thing that he found in the sky that did not move and was not a comet. As viewed through modern telescopes, these have turned out to be some of the most spectacular deep space objects that can be seen from earth from the northern hemisphere. Every year, usually in the spring – when the timing is right – there is a weekend or two near the new moon when it is possible for the observer in North America to attempt to see all 110 objects found by Charles Messier in his entire career … in one night! It’s an all night astronomy marathon. Are you ready for the challenge? Time is of the essence. Your search must be organized in order to catch the first few before they dip below the horizon. It slows down for a bit and then picks up a frenzied pace as the galaxies in the Virgo cluster appear. One must fight dew and fatigue … and hope that nature cooperates.  This is not a night for careful observing. one must find an object, confirm that it is the right one and then move on to the next.

 So how did it go in 2004?

        Well to Start out it was "Situation Normal". We'd planned on having the gaze on Saturday. Don Kemper had put a lot of time onto invitations advertising that fact but the weather did not cooperate. As the weather situation changed, Don had to shift the gaze to Friday night to grab the last clear day. Two OVAS members and one guest made it to the site on the revised date. How did it go? Very well as you'll find out in Don's report.

Observing Equipment:
10" f7 Cave Astrola Newtonian on original GEM
40mm TeleVue Plossl
18mm TeleVue Radian

Charts and finder aids:
Sky Atlas 2000
The Year Round Guide to the Messier Marathon
16" Planisphere

Other:
Wal-Mart modified red LED lights

Location:
Grayson Lake State Park. Even with the moon out it was a great dark sky site.
Milky Way still visible.

Other observers:
Rob Adkins (OVAS) with his C8, eyepieces, and computer printed charts.
Visitor: Richard Williams

Session:
Arriving just before sunset there was enough time to set up my scope while Rob
(Galaxy Rob) Adkins continued to wait. We got set up and ready in time to watch
the sky change to twilight, spotting five bright planets naked eye before we
began one of our most memorable experiences.

Now Richard Williams had visited our club just last meeting, asking questions
about telescopes and getting started in astronomy. We invited him to attend so
that he might have the occasion to sneak peeks through various scopes while we
tried to rack up as many Messier Objects as we could. Initially, this event was
scheduled for Saturday night, the 20th, but as weather would dictate, as it
usually does, we moved it to Friday, Friday morning. (I was gone to another
astronomy event Thursday night and crashed as soon as I got home.)

Rob and I had little trouble with the usual early evening objects. We got off to
a great start! Well, I thought I was off to a great start... We were using The
Year Round Guide to the Messier Marathon and I used a fresh print out of the
sequence list I used last year, which proved frustrating since the sequences
were different between the two. As luck would have it, pages stuck in my book
and I missed two object in Perseus, one of them the Little Dumbbell, a planetary
nebula. After working my way well around the sky and having almost arrived at
Leo and getting ready to start galaxies, I wondered when "the book" was going to
get around to doing those two missed objects on that first page of my printed
out, check off sequence. Asking Rob if he had got them at that time his reply
was, "Yes, a long time ago." Finding this grose oversight, I quickly went back
to the western sky and troubledly found the eastern most stars of Andromeda
still about 5 degrees above the horizon. This caused targeting the planetary to
be more difficult since it would be low in the sky. This ate up a lot of
valuable time. While Rob was bouncing around in Virgo/Ursa Major, I was lagging
behind until I finally pulled out the Little Dumbbell. The other object was
faster and easier. (So the frustration was worth having after all! Now there
were no gaps in my list.)

Never have I seen all the Ursa Major objects as quickly, easily, and in such
detail as I have last night! Excellent seeing and better than average
transparency at once for a good while.

Having to make up valuable time, Richard got to sneak quick glimpses of Leo's
galaxies. Rob shared several views through his C8. Just about the time we headed
into the Virgo galaxy glob, Richard had to leave us do to work on Saturday. He
thanked us many times and ask us to call him any time we went out to observe. I
wish I had a tape recorder as Richard looked at M 23, 24, 31, 85, 86, and
several other globular and open clusters. He got to see M1 as well.

All was rather quiet during the Virgo galaxy tour. Rob, having the usual
identification crisis in that area, carefully labored his way through. My hand
copied, simplified charts of this area from Sky Atlas 2000 and the book really
paid off! I have NEVER gotten through this area as easily as I did last night! I
had to go back to square one a few times, but it was MUCH easier than it was
last year!

After leaving Virgo, and going to good ol' Hercules and Lyra, we noticed what
appeared to be lightening. It was coming from the WNW.

Humidity ran very high last night. Rob was taking measures to keep his eyepiece,
finder and corrector plate clear. I had to turn up the dew removers and clear my
finderscope eyepiece with lens tissue. The low was supposed to be 33 degrees but
I think it actually got colder than that. Frost and ice formed on everything
around 3:00AM or after. Before that, FOG (YES FOG!!! well Phad...<inside joke>)
rose high into the E and SE sky, right up to where Cygnus, the teapot, and
Scorpious was. Rob somehow pulled the Dumbbell out of the fog. I went to
Opheucus and racked up those objects ahead of sequence hoping for clearer
horizons. We racked up all the M's we could get and had to take a break due to
FOG (Phad!!!) whether we wanted to or not. Good thing, my back was killing me.

Much to our surprise, the FOG lifted, probably as it turned to ice on
everything- turn up the dew heater a little more, and I lit in on the teapot and
Milky Way objects as fast as I could. The Lagoon, Swan, several globulars, and
especially the Trifid Nebula looked GREAT!!! I have NEVER had as good of view of
the Trifid Nebula as I did last night! I finally caught up to Rob and we were
bagging some of the last objects practically at the same rate and time.

Our progress came to a halt with six objects to go on our lists. We tried
everything we could to get M 55. There was no way we could find it. M2 proved to
be illusive as well as objects in Capricorn. With the sky turning blue, we
fought on until there was no more contrast to see stars through finders.

A note about this observation site: This is the DARKEST site we have ever used
for Messier Marathon and many objects were easier targets because of it.
However, the Eastern horizon is a little high causing much more difficulty
locating early morning objects- can't see stars to help locate objects that were
probably above the horizon.

Our marathon ended with both of us racking up 103 out of 109 objects! We wish we
had looked for the Draco object that is suggested for M 102 so that we could say
that we racked up 104 out of 110 objects, be we traditionally have followed the
lead of 101 and 102 being counted twice in Messier's list.

ONE HUNDRED THREE MESSIER OBJECTS IN ONE NIGHT! Broke my record from last year!
Dry ground! NO MUD! Jo's home made chocolate chip cookies just for
marathoners!!!! Great time! Wish you could have been there!

Dark clear skies to YOU,
Don (Caveman) Kemper
 

OVAS Messier Marathon Records

        2000 - Dave Tolley - 40 objects (?with a C8?)

        2001 - Dave Tolley - 103 objects - TV101

        2002 -clouds

        2003 - Dave's record stands - 103 objects

        2004 - Don Kemper (10" Cave reflector) and Rob Adkins (C8) tie the club record

                    set in 2001 by Dave Tolley with 103 objects each!

 
 

Never been to a marathon? Don't know what to bring or how to prepare? Read Don Kemper's Messier Marathon Advice before you arrive!

 

A copy of Don's invitation to the 2004 OVAS Messier Marathon! This includes helpful info like when and where we are meeting!

You are among a list of those showing strong astronomical interest including middle school and high school educators, the Eastern Kentucky Science Center, Shawnee State University, Morehead State University Physics Department, and the Ohio Valley Astronomical Society (OVAS) or otherwise just really interested individuals that I, Don Kemper, have had the pleasure of meeting, working, and/or viewing with on various occasions. Feel free to notify any interested astronomers you know.

OVAS is inviting YOU to our Messier Marathon!

What is a Messier Marathon?

To attempt to be concise... it is the new moon time in March when it is possible to view all 110 (actually 109) Messier Objects in one all night session. The true spirit of Messier Marathon is to use a telescope and sky charts that do not electronically control the pointing or assist the positioning of the scope in any way to navigate your way through the sky from one Messier Object to another in an attempt to see all 110 (actually 109) in one night. This is NOT a race between you and your fellow astronomer, but rather a fun filled night of developing your chart reading and object finding skills. If you get 10 or 110 (actually 109) it really doesn't matter, just getting out with fellow astronomers for a fun time trying to rack up whatever Messier Objects you can is what it is all about. These objects include a full range of deep sky objects- galaxies, clusters, nebulae, even a super nova remnant.

If you are a member of the Astronomical League, and you keep a good record of your list of Messier Objects you have viewed, upon completing the list you can receive a Messier Certificate and lapel pin from the league. It's a nice pin, but the point (pardon the pun) is that the league offers such self guided observing programs to assist you in developing your observing skills. You may join the Astronomical League directly at: http://www.astroleague.org/ Click on the "Observing Clubs" link and then you will see a list of observing clubs of the league. You will notice that there is a "Binocular Messier Club" as well. OVAS membership includes Astronomical League membership.

Need an organized list of Messier Objects in a time saving, logical sequence? Check out:

http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/xtra/marathon/marathon.html (scroll down the page for links to sequence lists) and

http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/messier/xtra/marathon/mm2004.html for the Messier Marathon 2004 website. 

Need a set of maps of the sky with Telrad recitals superimposed over Messier Objects? Use:

Who can attend?

Any amateur astronomer who wants to develop their skills at finding Deep Sky Objects.

Any amateur astronomer who wants to rack up all the Messier Objects they can in one night.

This is an event that is oriented towards those having a stronger interest in astronomy so it will not be a public invited starparty. We have those every meeting night at Huntington High School. (See www.ovas.org for meeting times.) If you have a scope and are just starting out, you need to be here as it can be a time of learning.

OK, you professional astronomers are welcome too.

What to bring?

Very warm, well insulated cloths!!! Prepare to dress for at least 10 degrees colder weather than is predicted. Have a WARM hat. Gloves are advisable. Bring even more extra layers. (Now watch it be unseasonably warm!)

A red flash light to see with. Please DO NOT bring any regular white light flashlight. Good red LED lights are now readily available at Wal-Mart for $12.00 or less.

Your telescope/binocular and eyepieces to observe with.

Extra batteries for whatever takes batteries, like your red flashlight and perhaps tracking motors.

Your star charts and whatever books you may have about Messier Objects.

A folding chair.

Something to set your charts, eyepieces and stuff on. Many use a small, folding table.

We find it advisable to bring a good energy snack and something to drink and something to put your waste paper and such in.

What if you don't have a scope but you would like to come or you know a few students or friends who would greatly enjoy this event? Contact me. I'd like to have people come if they are really interested. Just keep in mind that it is not really an open to the public event. If you got this invitation directly, YOU are invited!

When is it?

March 20, 2004 - Saturday

I will strongly encourage you to arrive while the sun is visible!!!! You will be able to set your equipment up in daylight- a great advantage. The first two objects are seen at dusk. They are tricky to see then and you will be rushed enough without having to set your stuff up too. Of course, if it is cloudy or worse, there will be no event.

 

Where is it?

Grayson Lake State Park, Bruin Boat Ramp and Beach area. Get off of I64 at Grayson KY and turn south on Route 7 through Grayson. Drive about 12 miles from I64 and turn left at the signs into the paved parking lot. Just that easy. We have permission to use the parking lot and large picnic area, and picnic shelter. Restrooms WILL NOT be available. Closest all night restrooms are 12 miles away in Grayson. Until 10:00 PM there is a gas station 6.7 miles towards Grayson. All the park manager asks is that we do not block access to the boat ramp. There is PLENTY of room.

 

Here's the URL for Grayson Lake State Park:
http://parks.ky.gov/graysonl.htm On the Grayson SP site there is also a green rectangle with the words "Site Map" just above the clickable map on the SP page. It will take you to:
http://parks.ky.gov/graysonl.htm  On the far right side of the map there are two white rectangles that represent the parking lot at the "Boat Ramp" which is labeled as such. That's the exact location of the observing site.

This is THE BEST, DARKEST southern winter sky we have seen! The sky is good all around and is noticeably darker than some other dark sky sites we have used near by. However, there is one street light in the south west area, but you can position your scope and vehicle to block it.

Any questions?

Feel free to contact me, Don Kemper at:

606-836-4165

606-615-5282 cell

Please let me know if you can make it and about how many will be with you.

Brought to you by ~"The Dark Sky Gang"~ of OVAS.

Here is a link to a page with the  Sky and Telescope Messier Marathon Checklist  reproduced as a "jpg" file.  Use this to track your progress and to decide the order in which to find things.

Here is the link to the SEDS site for the 2001 Messier Marathon. This is the link to their "generic" Messier Marathon site. .