Messier Marathon 2010

[Amar Sharma]

BAS is planning to hold it's Messier Marathon-2010 on 13th March preferably (if circumstances dont favour then 20th). This is an international race, where observers worldwide get together to observe all Messier objects in one night, because the Sun is placed in such a way, that it is away from these deep-sky objects, making only a couple of twilight objects hard to spot.

Our only first & successful MM was conducted in 2007. I was on a Double Marathon on 15th and 17th March getting 101 & 100 objects out of 110 resp. Akarsh made it at 97 from memory! Naveen at 68 and other BAS members like Pavan and Hemanth had it the following week from CREST, IIAp, Hosakote, with results of 70 from the light-polluted skies.

In 2008 we could not conduct it for some reason. Last year it was scheduled, however Akarsh's mega 17.5" f/5 Discovery made its 'first-light' as a surprise on MM-day itself! We had a star party plus Messier Marathon, a big crowd seeing atleast 50 objects on the very first day! We had 2 'practice sessions' a month before, for other members participating.

This time getting eager again, I plan to host the MM-2010 for BAS. I ambitiously would be doing it completely with my Oberwerk IF 25x100 binocs (personally anticipating to hit atleast the 95-mark when it should be possible to go more than 105) (never having tried before, but only because of - knowing / having faith on my relation with the equipment)

This is not a public event in the sense, we are only inviting those who have some fair clue on what Messiers are, and have - observed atleast half the Messiers. We are also not sure of a location, since we need clear weather, and horizon-obstruction free, dark site.

If you have anything to share, ask or add, please go ahead. More to be followed.

@ Akarsh - what do you have to say on this?

 

**************
Thanking You,

Amar A. Sharma

[Akarsh Simha]

> This time getting eager again, I plan to host the MM-2010 for BAS. I
> ambitiously would be doing it completely with my Oberwerk IF 25x100 binocs
> (personally anticipating to hit atleast the 95-mark when it should be
> possible to go more than 105) (never having tried before, but only because
> of - knowing / having faith on my relation with the equipment)
> This is not a public event in the sense, we are only inviting those who
> have some fair clue on what Messiers are, and have - observed atleast half
> the Messiers. We are also not sure of a location, since we need clear
> weather, and horizon-obstruction free, dark site.

I don't think the pre-requisites are that hard. I agree that it is not
meant for absolute beginners, but I think it is not totally required
that you must have observed at least half the Messiers before hand.

If I remember right, Naveen Nanjundappa hadn't had much experience
observing _Messiers_ and he made a 68 in the Marathon in 2008!
Familiarity with the night sky, and most importantly familiarity with
how to use a star chart and a telescope / binoculars should do.

> If you have anything to share, ask or add, please go ahead. More to be
> followed.
> @ Akarsh - what do you have to say on this?

Yes, for those who need some information on what this is:

http://seds.org/MESSIER/index.html [For info about Messier objects]

http://seds.org/messier/xtra/marathon/marathon.html [For info about Messier Marathon]

Regards
Akarsh

[keerthi kiran]

I'm in. This time, got to hit a good number of messiers...

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[Gautham G Ambekar]

I would surely like to be in on this.....
Though it would be my first.......
comments ??

[Amar Sharma]

Hello All,

I've attached a file I had created for the first official Marathon we performed in 2007. It is the Messier objects order you need to follow through the night, suited for our latitudes of around +13* N. Nothing fancy at all, except the first and last few objects near the Sun have to be manipulated, as per their visibility, for which I used Cartes du Ciel, and sorted by trial and error for our location.

Looking at the spreadsheet, mainly M74 and M76, with M77 & M33 will be the hardest objects in the evening because of their faintness. They are really challenging for their very low altitude and visibility, but if we make through this, we secure 3 'additional' objects. Astonishingly, last time, due to a delay by ~10 mins I completely lost Andromeda galaxy with its 2 companions, in my 2nd Marathon! The result could have been 103 / 110 but settled at 100. However, in the 1st one just 2 days earlier to that I was at 101. Akarsh's only MM resulted him prodigiously 97 from memory!

Then once you are done with the evening-rush, rest of the objects till the morning-rush are a breeze...for all observers world-wide. The assortment comes once again in morning, when M52 (open cluster in Cassiopeia) is an object alternatively with M30 (globular in Capricorn) also missed out by experienced observers due to sunlight very close to it.Only M72 and M73 (both very tiny in Aquarius), objects which we've never observed otherwise in our observing sessions too, would be hard to crack.

It is known that during a Messier Marathon, once you are done with Galaxies in Virgo by midnight, you would even have time for rest (or very short nap!) until the Globular territory of Oph-Sco-Sagi rises. You can have fun finding other objects in this time too.

Somehow with my large binocs 25x100, I am feeling confident for the MM than even when given a 8-inch scope! For reasons it's wide-field, low magnification &  power / ability in my hands. For e.g. M74 would be hard get in evening twilight, and this could serve better than a standard 1-degree f.o.v. telescope (Akarsh?)

In any case, I am very expectant of hitting a low of 100, and high of 105! The rest 5-6 are discounted either due to twilight-loss. Or having to spot for the *first* time the faint & tiny M76 planetary in evening twilight, M40 double star, and never-generally-observed M72 & M73 in morning, through the binocs. I really wonder how I will do those. Thanking You. Amar.

---

From: Amar Sharma <amar_u...@yahoo.com>
Subject: [Observers] Messier Marathon 2010

BAS is planning to hold it's Messier Marathon-2010 on 13th March preferably (if circumstances dont favour then 20th). This is an international race, where observers worldwide get together to observe all Messier objects in one night, because the Sun is placed in such a way, that it is away from these deep-sky objects, making only a couple of twilight objects hard to spot.

Our only first & successful MM was conducted in 2007. I was on a Double Marathon on 15th and 17th March getting 101 & 100 objects out of 110 resp. Akarsh made it at 97 from memory! Naveen at 68 and other BAS members like Pavan and Hemanth had it the following week from CREST, IIAp, Hosakote, with results of 70 from the light-polluted skies.

In 2008 we could not conduct it for some reason. Last year it was scheduled, however Akarsh's mega 17.5" f/5 Discovery made its 'first-light' as a surprise on MM-day itself! We had a star party plus Messier Marathon, a big crowd seeing atleast 50 objects on the very first day! We had 2 'practice sessions' a month before, for other members participating.

This time getting eager again, I plan to host the MM-2010 for BAS. I ambitiously would be doing it completely with my Oberwerk IF 25x100 binocs (personally anticipating to hit atleast the 95-mark when it should be possible to go more than 105) (never having tried before, but only because of - knowing / having faith on my relation with the equipment)

This is not a public event in the sense, we are only inviting those who have some fair clue on what Messiers are, and have - observed atleast half the Messiers. We are also not sure of a location, since we need clear weather, and horizon-obstruction free, dark site.

If you have anything to share, ask or add, please go ahead. More to be followed.

@ Akarsh - what do you have to say on this?

 

[Amar Sharma]

TYPES OF MESSIER MARATHON:

Generally its a standard visual affair of an observer with his telescope. However:

(1) Some people go for a Photographic MM, that is imaging as many of M's with their GOTO equipment.

(2) Yes, some even go for a GOTO-MM, where in the mechanical equipment does the work of finding objects. This is a win of Success (result) over Charm.

(3) Further, some cranky but zealous observers go for a Sketching-Marathon, where they try to sketch by hand as much of 110 M's they observe!

(4) There's a type of Marathon called "M-Cube" or "MMM". It refers to 'Messier Marathon by Memory' which involves going to the field prepared all alone, with only the equipment - a one-to-one battle with the sky.

You do not have the finder charts of objects, which means you know where every Messier is in the sky; plus you will not even have the Messier object pattern in hand, you'll know what comes next, all through the night! You will have memorized everything about it! [I had plans to do it last year, but time fell very short of it. But our genius Akarsh succeeded in adhering atleast to the first aspect of M-Cube scoring 97!!]

(5) The exaggeratedly-cranky & exaggeratedly-zealous Marathoners go for a shopping-spree throughout the night. That is they race to observe anything and everything up in the sky. Noted comet-discoverer Don Machholz reports of having spotted 500 objects in one night (as much as my count in my observing career)!!!

I wonder if there's a MM wherein very experienced observers use only a 10x50 or 7x50 binocs to score good.

**************

Amar A. Sharma

[Kiran Tikare]

I am in. Count me too. 

14 th March is Einstein's b'day :)

Thanks

Kiran

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[Akarsh Simha]

Oh, and BTW, for those of you who are on KDE 4.4, KStars has a nice
observation planner now. It should be simple to make a Messier Object
"Session Plan" list and "Execute" it in time order. The feature is
still buggy, but usable, and Marathoners might find it useful :)

Regards
Akarsh

[achyut]

i will try this time....

[keerthi kiran]

A time lapse video of the Messier Marathon.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/image/0804/MM-BT-320px.wmv

Regards,
Keerthi.

On Sat, Feb 27, 2010 at 6:12 PM, achyut <achyutj...@gmail.com> wrote:

 i will try this time....

[Ashwin Nayak]

Che! Such a interestin event right when v hav mid sems!!! :(
Will try and join next time.
Enjoy the nights,
--Ashwin--

[Deepak Mallya]

Do you have a usable virtualbox image or vmware image or qemu image
with kde4.4 and the latest kstars? Dont want to mess with my ancient
box.

-Deepak

On Feb 26, 8:49 pm, Akarsh Simha <akarshsi...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Oh, and BTW, for those of you who are on KDE 4.4, KStars has a nice

<blah />

[Akarsh Simha]

On Thu, Mar 04, 2010 at 08:29:37AM -0800, Deepak Mallya wrote:
> Do you have a usable virtualbox image or vmware image or qemu image
> with kde4.4 and the latest kstars? Dont want to mess with my ancient
> box.

Nope. :-(

Look around if you might have a Live CD.

Regards
Akarsh

[Amar Sharma]

TIPS FOR ALL MARATHONERS:

With the Messier Marathon due just a weekend from now, I hope we are able to achieve what hoped for, without any actual practice. Please find the same file attached as last time.

We will follow the same Messier order of objects that follows for our latitude, created by me for MM Three years ago. Only a shuffle of couple objects has occurred.

We start with Andro gal and it's 2 companions. Immediately on task are two next hardest objects, M76 planetary nebula and M74 faint spiral galaxy, since they will be low in the horizon, and we have no clue of the amount of lights / horizonal haze. It should be a dilemma, which one first. Next, the large M33 galaxy should be relatively easy in the same altitude as these 2, however not to be taken for granted for the low altitude. The last challenge object would be the small M77 galaxy in Cetus. Then once you're done with the weird open M103 and the very easy open cluster M34, you're on for a smooth sail throughout the night.

Follow the list that appears in the Excel spreadsheet, from Pleiades onwards, until dawn when the sister globulars M15 & M2 signal the oncoming of hardship. M72 & M73 in Aquarius are tiny objects seldom observed by us, and M30 globular in Capricornus pretty very low by even 05:45am. I wonder, is the last object an open cluster M52 even worth attempting, or better foregoing? Its darn low in both evening and morning.

These are the ~ 5 + ~ 4 evening + morning objects at maximum which are demanding, and need extra scrutiny and planning to deal with. There's nothing more to "discuss" about Messiers; we only have to get on the field and combat for the finale.

Best of luck to Keerthi and others who would be with me. And to Akarsh individually, who would be doing it separately (17.5" ?)

[Amar Sharma]

I sincerely thought of highlighting a fact before anything else:

We're seeing a clear spell of very blue and transparent skies for past 2-3 weeks atleast. The last entire week was blue until Friday only when Bangalore and the 140-km away Black Buck Sanctuary was _completely_ covered on Saturday, during our trip.

Well the skies regained sensibility and their complete blueness from Sunday until yesterday, only when today I'm astonished to see a complete haze-cover after weeks! However, this fact does not dishearten me since our Messier Marathon is 80km away. But I only hope Nature doesn't attempt to aggravate and de-moralize us further. Please note, tomorrow onwards it would be blue!

Our prayers are on for no nonsensical natural turmoils; weather inconsistency, fog, haze, rain, clouds, thunder, lightning and the undesirable light pollution!

[ravi babu]

hey.. you'll have nice skies people...

dont worry...

all the best to all of you who wants to make it big tonight..

[Narendra Gor]

Wish you very clear sky

Here in Bhuj sky is very clear today and tonight we are doing MM-2010 fourth time

we are using One 8 inch reflector, One 6 inch reflector and one 25X100 Binocular 

wish you all clear sky

Narendra 

KAAC

Bhuj 

 

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[Udayan Pandharipande]

Hi,

 

Amar, I think it is going to rain once in this month.The sky is one day good and the other day cloudy. Usually, a shower or two are expected in March. Even if you go for a marathon the cloudy haze will remain. 

I suggest that you wait and see the conditions for another 5 days or so and if the skies are quite cloudless and especially hazeless then you might get vibrant skies!

If you remember  we had gone to the marathon on 27th last year. It was cloudy till 22nd; and it had poured on 22nd night. After that there were clear skies!

 

Regards,

Udayan

 

[anur puniyani]

Hi, I need some help. I need to keep track of the upcoming events of BAS but not receive daily updates and discussions in BAS, as the volume of mail is very high and I  really have to sift through a ton of mail to get to my important ones. I had earlier sent a mail to unsubscribe address as well but it was to no avail. I really love what BAS is doing and participate in activities from time to time. Thanks and Regards Anur Ram Puniyani

--- On Fri, 5/3/10, Amar Sharma <amar_u...@yahoo.com> wrote:

[Akarsh Simha]

Hi Anur

> I need some help. I need to keep track of the upcoming events of BAS but not receive daily updates and discussions in BAS, as the volume of mail is very high and I  really have to sift through a ton of mail to get to my important ones.

This is precisely the reason why we created the mailing list called
bas-announce: http://groups.google.com/group/bas-announce -- that's
probably what you're looking for. We announce only events on that
group, and no other discussion happens. However, it will still take
some time for event organizers to get used to posting on both mailing
lists, so you chance on missing out on some notifications. I'll try to
forward as many event notifications to bas-announce as possible.

> I had earlier sent a mail to unsubscribe address as well but it was to no avail.

Have you tried using the unsubscribe feature: "To unsubscribe from
this group, send email to b-a-s-un...@googlegroups.com". If that
doesn't work, let me know and I'll do the needful.

Regards
Akarsh