MnAstro Forums

The MAS Mini Messier Marathon (4M) is scheduled for September 27 or September 28. This will be at Cherry Grove Observatory. Please mark your calendars.

We WILL allow GOTO computers for this competition. That being said, I strongly encourage star hopping to these objects if you are able to.

There will be prizes!

This competition can be called ON or OFF on the day off the party. Please watch this forum topic and the website.

Reply to this forum topic if you intend to come, or if you have questions.

I'm planning on it. Can we 'observe' through a camera?! What about using my rig and the aging rig to do it twice as fast?!

Whose rig is aging?

I plan to be there!

Deane Clark wrote: ↑Thu Sep 05, 2019 12:27 am Whose rig is aging?

I plan to be there!

Nick's....but not fast enough!

How many Messier objects can you see in this image?

milky_way_messier.jpg

Count the red circles in this labelled image for the answer.

If you think you can find ANY of these objects with your telescope, you should plan to come to the Mini Messier Marathon.

I plan on being there but the weather forecast better improve.

You tell ‘em Dave

All indications are that we will be at Cherry Grove on Friday night, not Saturday night. I will make the official call tomorrow after the noon forecast rolls, but I think it is probably safe to start planning for the event to occur tomorrow night and not Saturday. I hope to see everybody there!

Also, you can look at individual models using the interface at SpotWX. The Canadian short-term forecast (HRDPS) is already covering tomorrow night and it looks very good on that model. The US 3-day (NAM) model is a little more pessimistic, but it is definitely showing a cloud clearing tomorrow night and rain on Saturday.

I have drafted two check lists assuming the event is tomorrow. The first is the Messier list ordered by M number. The second is the list in an optimized observing order using this Messier Marathon planner. You can use either document for your observations.


Note: The optimized observing order is based on a spring Messier marathon. I then reordered the list to start after the impossible Virgo objects. This might not be a perfectly optimized list for a marathon in the fall. Obviously, you may not want to start the night trying to find M102. That being said, the list does have several bright globular clusters at the top, which is probably a great way to start.

I will be there and will be participating.

The 4M is officially called ON for tonight. I hope to see everybody there!

Friday evening turned out better than many of us expected. It turned into a fun night. I'm glad everybody came out. Here are the results.

Non-Computerized

• 1st Place: Brent Emery -- 18
• 2nd Place: Deane Clark -- 17
• 3rd Place: Dick Jacobson -- 11

Computerized

• 1st Place: Conrad Sanders -- 34
• 2nd Place (tie): Dave Falkner -- 13
• 2nd Place (tie): Scott Hash -- 13

I will have certificates to present at Thursday's meeting... with prizes!

Congratulations everyone.