The Messier Marathon

The Messier Marathon 110 Objects in One Night (??)

Messier Objects • 110 fairly bright objects scattered around the sky • Cataloged by Charles Messier and assistants starting in the late 1700’s • Great objects for beginners (and everyone else)

Viewing the Messiers • Any telescope will show them all • From a real dark site, and with patience, they can all be ‘seen’ with 7x50 binoculars*

Messier Marathon? • During late March or early April of each year, all the Messier objects are visible in one (long) evening • First noted in the late 1970’s and now accomplished by many • Great way to learn the sky

Messier Marathon 2007 • Best time to view this year is March 17March 25 • New Moon on March 19

Viewing them All • Plan ahead • Find a place with a great horizon all the way around • Best with a buddy • Evening and morning are hectic, don’t linger • …or, try on multiple nights • Remember to have fun

Resources • • • • •

http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/marathon/marathon.html http://www.richardbell.net/marathon.html http://www.astronomical.org/astbook/messier1.htm http://www.messiermarathon.com/ http://www.robhawley.net/mm/