MessierScott
sage
Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 294
|
|
OK, to start out with, I'm not a huge fan of the Marathon, but it is fun. I see it more as an excellent reason to get people out on the observing field and having people blow off the accumulated winter time dust that has gathered.
I have participated in our club's Marathon every year since 1996. I usually end up in the 100-106 range, although I have got 110 a couple years.
I am the observing activities coordinator in our club, so I try to make it as fun as possible for everyone and ANYone.
We hold the Marathon at our club's dark site during the March New Moon weekend. I allow them to accumulate observations over both nights. I allow them to share the views with others (and they can count it). I even allow GOTO scopes! I then print up personalized club Marathon certificates for everyone, whether they find all 110 or only 4. Their certificates then claim how they accomplished it: "using a GOTO telescope", "viewed through a friend's scope", "over a two night period", etc.
I figured the more people I can get out there, the better. Like I always say at our club meetings "Just get out there under the stars!"
Of course, there are a handful of us who actually do the "official" style Marathon with no GOTO's, must find everything yourself, and find as many as possible in 1 night's time.
We also get a few new members out who get a start on their Astronomical League Messier programs. I advertise it by saying that "when else could you have so many amateurs all looking for Messier objects? If you get lost, or need verification of an object, there's plenty of others out there looking at the same objects!"
We usually get 30 to 40 members out on the field for the weekend and we have a great time!
Personally, it's usually the only time of the year that I even look at the Messiers! It's always nice to see the "old friends", even if it is once a year.
Anyway, how many of you will be participating in the Marathon this year?
--------------------
Scott Kranz
20-inch f/4.3 Starmaster w/Zambuto mirror
7-inch Starmaster
H-alpha Coronado PST
Denkmeier II binoviewers w/24mm Panoptics
16x80 binos
Astronomical Society of Kansas City
Powell Observatory with 30-inch f/4.9 EQ newtonian
Astronomical League Messier, Meteor, Sunspotter, & Asteroid Observing Programs Coordinator
ASKC Dark Sky Site
|
johnfdean
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/04/06
Posts: 1031
Loc: southern tip of Illinois
|
|
I would love to. But so far this year the sky has been covered with clouds....well, except for the that day we had 40mph winds.
--------------------
Celestron C6 f/5 by Vixen with Polaris GEM
14" Tscope dob f/4.7 with Argo Navis
80mm Nighthawk on Eq 2
Celestron C-4 f/10 GEM
Sky Scout
|
stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2648
Loc: Arizona, USA
|
|
Scott;
I am glad to hear that you get a fair number of your club members out to observe, that is the point...and the fun.
I will attend the All Arizona Messier Marathon this year. Lot of fun folks and scopes, some of the usual gang on CN and many more.
Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe
--------------------
TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
|
Sidereus Nuncius
super member
Reged: 03/27/05
Posts: 175
Loc: Chester County, PA
|
|
A couple of friends and I (and our wives) are going to North Carolina's Outer Banks for our first Messier marathon.
I will be cheating, though  My little grab-n-go 80mm does not have a finder (my friend with the big Dob says it *is* a finder) so I bought an Argo Navis for it.
Besides, after I did the AL Messier club and a few others I've given in to convenience and only use GOTO or push-to. I've been completely corrupted 
--------------------
Regards,
Louis Marchesi
TMB 152, WO ZSFD80 Anniversary
AP 1200GTO
SBIG ST-2000XM, CFW9, Astrodon LRGB
|
CESDewar
GorillAstronomer
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 2069
Loc: Morganton, GA, USA
|
|
I will definitely be trying again. 2008 was a totally clouded out. I caught 109 in 2007 in spite of 4 1/2 hours of total whiteout (not a single star visible). I don't think I'll ever best that from here as at 35°N, M30 is really, really difficult!
This year, the evening Messiers will be more difficult than in 2007, but as time goes on, I also get better at finding them so I'm always game for a replay! And if it's warmer than 2007 (was some 17°F at the end) that'll be a big plus too!
--------------------
|
Americal
super member
Reged: 09/14/07
Posts: 144
Loc: Under the L. A. lightdome
|
|
I think 7 of us are going to run it in the north Mojave, it's really good to just get out and it'll be my son's first time with his "new" 13" Coulter. If Los Angeles fogs in the sky is really dark up there but it is almost 36N soooo...
--------------------
Tom
Some's good, more's better...too much is just right
-----------------------
4 1/4" f/5 homebuilt Newt
6" f/8 homebuilt Newt
8" f/5.1 homebuilt Newt
C11 ASGT (no, it's not homebuilt)
|
droid
rocketman
Reged: 08/29/04
Posts: 4041
Loc: ohio
|
|
what days?
--------------------
12 inch Truss Reflector "John"
102mm Celestron C102HD
Tasco 7TE5 60mm Classic
Tasco 9TE5 60mm Classic
Celestron Ultima 2000 SCT
Remains of an 8 inch dob
Celestron Comet catcher(orange tube)
1960 Edscorp Space Conquerer 6inch f/8
10x50 Bushnell Binoculars.
11T 4.5 inch Tasco reflector Lunograsso?
60mm Telescope Club
|
tmcd
newbie
Reged: 02/24/07
Posts: 3
|
|
Each year the Astronomy Club Of Tulsa holds its marathon at the TUVA club site near Checotah OK. We always have at least 20 attend and everyone brings food, so even if conditions are not ideal, we always have a great time.
We encourage first-timers to come to the event, even though they feel intimidated by the challenge, by stressing that it's about the fun and not competition.
Each year I provide log sheets and finder charts which this year are plotted for March 28, 36°N, CDT
http://astrotulsa.com/pub/Messier/MessierMarathon2009.pdf
Good hunting,
Tom McDonough
|
MessierScott
sage
Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 294
|
|
This year the best weekend is March 27-28. New Moon is on the 26th.
--------------------
Scott Kranz
20-inch f/4.3 Starmaster w/Zambuto mirror
7-inch Starmaster
H-alpha Coronado PST
Denkmeier II binoviewers w/24mm Panoptics
16x80 binos
Astronomical Society of Kansas City
Powell Observatory with 30-inch f/4.9 EQ newtonian
Astronomical League Messier, Meteor, Sunspotter, & Asteroid Observing Programs Coordinator
ASKC Dark Sky Site
|
stevek
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/16/06
Posts: 1289
Loc: west michigan
|
|
Hey Tom McD. - thats a pretty nice chart you put together!
and the font is big enuff to work with.
Clear skies
Steve
--------------------
DSO 8" f6 DOB w/ 8x50 RACI & 2"Crayford
1958 Sears Discoverer 76mm Refractor
GSO SV 30mm 2",21mm Hyp,13mm Strat,BO/TMB 6mm&4mm
1.25"Filters: DGM-NPB, 25%ND
1.25" plossls: 25mm,20mm,15mm,9mm
Orion 2X Shorty Barlow
Garrett Gemini LW 11x56mm binocs
cheap $10 green laser pointer(hongkong express)
"What is that burning in the sky? Tell me y'all..." Jeff Beck/Jan Hammer
|
ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5529
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
|
|
Quote:
I will attend the All Arizona Messier Marathon this year. Lot of fun folks and scopes, some of the usual gang on CN and many more.
Me too! Looking forward to seeing quite a few folks from CN at the AAMM. 
Scott, I thought your name was familiar. Your signature's on a couple of the AL Observing Club certificates that I proudly display on my office wall! 
--------------------
Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
|
MessierScott
sage
Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 294
|
|
Yup, that's me!
ohhhh, and it should already be known, but to everyone else out there.......
you can't use your Messier Marathon check-off list to get the League's Messier certificate. Running a Messier Marathon and completing the Astronomical League's Messier Observing program are two completely different things.
--------------------
Scott Kranz
20-inch f/4.3 Starmaster w/Zambuto mirror
7-inch Starmaster
H-alpha Coronado PST
Denkmeier II binoviewers w/24mm Panoptics
16x80 binos
Astronomical Society of Kansas City
Powell Observatory with 30-inch f/4.9 EQ newtonian
Astronomical League Messier, Meteor, Sunspotter, & Asteroid Observing Programs Coordinator
ASKC Dark Sky Site
|
NotThePainter
sage
Reged: 06/02/07
Posts: 370
|
|
My goal, an ambitious one, is to do the Marathon this year with my 15x50 binoculars. I'm currently at 87 so far, not at one sitting, but I've barely stepped into Virgo. I know I can't get them all, M30 is impossible at my latitude. But it will be fun to try.
--------------------
60mm Swift Refractor
5 inch Burgess 1278 Refractor
6 inch Edmund Scientific Reflector
8 inch Celestron SCT
Celestron ASGT mount
Canon 15x50is
-
Cape Cod Astronomy Society
New Hampshire Astronomy Society
My astronomy blog: http://www.NotThePainter.com
|
ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5529
Loc: Scottsdale, AZ
|
|
Quote:
My goal, an ambitious one, is to do the Marathon this year with my 15x50 binoculars. I'm currently at 87 so far, not at one sitting, but I've barely stepped into Virgo. I know I can't get them all, M30 is impossible at my latitude. But it will be fun to try.
Excellent goal, I've tried it a couple times with 20x80's and if I remember correctly I located 103 objects. My favorite Messier Marathon "weapon" is still my ST80 on a UA Unimount Light Basic, the wide FOV and ease of movement makes locating them fairly effortless.
--------------------
Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
|
SanDiegoPaul
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/22/05
Posts: 1342
Loc: San Diego
|
|
Our club has it every year in our dark sky site east of San Diego by about 80 miles. It's a lot of fun. They won't let ya enter the contest though if your using a computerized mount. They want you to star hop - something I barely know.
I do always have a blast though.
--------------------
Meade 10" Lx200-R with Mitty Evolution Wedge
Moonlight SCT Focuser
Stellarvue Raptor 90 Triplet
SBIG ST2000 XM Imager
SBIG ST402ME CCD Guider
Canon Digital Rebel DSLR
Meade DSI-c CCD Guide Cam
Please visit my gallery!
http://www.pbase.com/sandiegopaul/
|
NotThePainter
sage
Reged: 06/02/07
Posts: 370
|
|
Quote:
They won't let ya enter the contest though if your using a computerized mount. They want you to star hop - something I barely know.
I don't want to start a flame war but I have a hard time understanding that attitude, and yes, it is one that I've encountered also. I figure if you get one more person looking through a scope it is better.
But, with that said, the goto/non-goto divide will be with us always. So what I did with my club (which does NOT prohibit goto scopes) was to start up an October NOVICE messier marathon, where goto was actually encouraged and novices were encouraged to show up. (I even snarkily said the experienced members could show up and help!)
Sadly I moved away from that area so we only did it once and it was clouded out 15 minutes after it started, but we had a good time anyhow.
And if you are using a Celestron goto scope with a NexStar hand controller, check out the NexStar 50 list, I just finished it in marathon format at the Winter Star Party, see http://notthepainter.com/2009/02/nexstar-50-marathon/ for details.
--------------------
60mm Swift Refractor
5 inch Burgess 1278 Refractor
6 inch Edmund Scientific Reflector
8 inch Celestron SCT
Celestron ASGT mount
Canon 15x50is
-
Cape Cod Astronomy Society
New Hampshire Astronomy Society
My astronomy blog: http://www.NotThePainter.com
|
kroum
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/28/08
Posts: 630
Loc: Santa Clara, CA
|
|
Quote:
Our club has it every year in our dark sky site east of San Diego by about 80 miles. It's a lot of fun. They won't let ya enter the contest though if your using a computerized mount. They want you to star hop - something I barely know.
I do always have a blast though.
Letting go-to equipped people enter would be like letting a person on a motorcycle enter in the Tour de France. That being said, I don't see the motivation to jump from object to object all night instead of lingering and enjoying them.
--------------------
10in Hardin Optical Dob
100mm f6 Orion Achromat
6in Orion Short Tube Reflector
15X70 Barska Binoculars
32mm Astrola (Boo!)
25mm, 12.5mm Sterling Plossls
20mm Orion Expanse
9mm Hardin (GSO) Plossl
7.5mm Orion Ultrascopic
Ultima 2X shorty barlow
Turn on, tune in, and look through the eyepiece.
|
MessierScott
sage
Reged: 06/18/07
Posts: 294
|
|
ahhhh yes, but the rest of the year is time for lingering and pulling out everything you can of an object.
We only allow GO-TO telescopes out in the field because it gets them out under the stars and instead of being plopped down in front of a television set. The more people we get out there, the better!
Like someone said before me here, I don't want a flame war of star-hopping vs GO-TO.
and then don't get me started on the people who are imaging with CCD's - they aren't really observing either 
.....to each his own! Just have fun at whatever you are doing.
--------------------
Scott Kranz
20-inch f/4.3 Starmaster w/Zambuto mirror
7-inch Starmaster
H-alpha Coronado PST
Denkmeier II binoviewers w/24mm Panoptics
16x80 binos
Astronomical Society of Kansas City
Powell Observatory with 30-inch f/4.9 EQ newtonian
Astronomical League Messier, Meteor, Sunspotter, & Asteroid Observing Programs Coordinator
ASKC Dark Sky Site
|
Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
|
|
Quote:
Our club has it every year in our dark sky site east of San Diego by about 80 miles. It's a lot of fun. They won't let ya enter the contest though if your using a computerized mount. They want you to star hop - something I barely know.
I do always have a blast though.
I feel for ya man. Personally, I believe this hobby is exactly that and should be taken as that. People need to let others enjoy themselves the way they want to. As long as your happy, let freedom ring.
--------------------
Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
|
Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Our club has it every year in our dark sky site east of San Diego by about 80 miles. It's a lot of fun. They won't let ya enter the contest though if your using a computerized mount. They want you to star hop - something I barely know.
I do always have a blast though.
Letting go-to equipped people enter would be like letting a person on a motorcycle enter in the Tour de France.
Korum,
Not quite. To each their own in choosing however they want to observe. If someone wants to look at the Messiers in 30 minutes, who am I to tell them? Let's keep this a hobby and exactly that. Thanks.
--------------------
Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 