hehe, messier marathon time

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:56 pm

well guys'n gals,
Mid march is upon us again, who's up on Friday night to try the messier marathon, it's a challange for sure to get through all 110 deepsky objects in one night but there is a plan for it, the weather is currently looking ok for it, what do you think ?

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:49 am

It's something I've wanted to always do.
Ya shure. Why not!

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:31 pm

ok, here is a link describing whats involved.
Its tough going and requires us to be set up at worst at sunset if not earlier ready to catch the ones nearer the sun after sunset.

Here is some info on it
http://www.robhawley.net/mm/

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 2:52 pm

ok, I've made up a list using software given our latitude in Ireland, 101 objects are visible. Its a a small bit hard to read, but basically what's important here is when to see an object.

Num Object RA Dec Begin High End Obs. Alt Az Karkoschka
000 M77 Cetus A 02 42.7 -00 01 20:26 20:26 21:54 20:26 13.29 252.11 E0
001 M79 Globular Cluster 05 24.5 -24 33 20:26 20:26 22:10 20:29 9.25 205.65 E4
002 M74 Spiral Galaxy 01 36.7 +15 47 20:26 20:26 22:14 20:31 15.11 276.39 E1
003 M41 Open Cluster 06 46.0 -20 44 20:26 20:26 23:59 20:34 16.46 188.67 E6
004 M33 Triangulum Galaxy 01 33.9 +30 39 20:26 20:26 0:06 20:36 25.24 288.16 N0
005 M42 Orion Nebula 05 35.4 -05 27 20:26 20:26 0:18 20:39 27.52 211.57 E4
006 M43 De Mairan's Nebula 05 35.6 -05 16 20:26 20:26 0:19 20:41 27.51 212.25 E4
007 M93 Open Cluster 07 44.6 -23 52 20:26 20:56 0:35 20:56 13.73 179.89 E6
008 M78 Diffuse Nebula 05 46.7 +00 03 20:26 20:26 0:58 20:59 31.95 216.09 E5
009 M45 Pleiades 03 47.0 +24 07 20:26 20:26 1:20 21:01 36.70 262.38 E3
010 M47 Open Cluster 07 36.6 -14 30 20:26 20:48 1:29 21:04 23.02 183.96 E8
011 M50 Open Cluster 07 03.2 -08 20 20:26 20:26 1:30 21:06 28.29 194.35 E8
012 M46 Open Cluster 07 41.8 -14 49 20:26 20:54 1:32 21:09 22.71 183.90 E8
013 M1 Crab Nebula 05 34.5 +22 01 20:26 20:26 2:52 21:11 48.91 236.35 E3
014 M48 Open Cluster 08 13.8 -05 48 20:26 21:26 2:54 21:26 31.80 180.12 E10
015 M35 Open Cluster 06 08.9 +24 20 20:26 20:26 3:43 21:29 52.95 233.18 E7
016 M37 Open Cluster 05 52.4 +32 33 20:26 20:26 4:46 21:31 56.99 247.66 N6
017 M36 Open Cluster 05 36.1 +34 08 20:26 20:26 4:53 21:34 55.42 254.73 N6
018 M31 Andromeda Galaxy 00 42.7 +41 16 20:26 20:26 5:01 21:36 19.02 314.09 N0
019 M32 Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy 00 42.7 +40 52 20:26 20:26 5:01 21:39 18.42 314.25 N0
020 M34 Open Cluster 02 42.0 +42 47 20:26 20:26 5:01 21:41 34.26 297.54 N4
021 M38 Open Cluster 05 28.4 +35 50 20:26 20:26 5:01 21:44 53.94 261.18 N6
022 M76 Little Dumbbell Nebula 01 42.4 +51 34 20:26 20:26 5:01 21:46 32.38 314.17 N0
023 M103 Open Cluster 01 33.2 +60 42 20:26 20:26 5:01 21:49 37.53 323.60 N2
024 M110 Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy 00 40.4 +41 41 20:26 20:26 5:01 21:51 17.51 317.15 N0
025 M44 Beehive Cluster, Praesepe 08 40.1 +19 59 20:26 21:52 5:01 21:54 57.58 180.74 E9
026 M67 Open Cluster 08 50.4 +11 49 20:26 22:02 5:01 22:02 49.42 179.97 E9
027 M81 Bode's Galaxy 09 55.6 +69 04 20:26 23:07 5:01 23:07 73.33 0.03 N8
028 M82 Cigar Galaxy 09 55.8 +69 41 20:26 23:07 5:01 23:10 72.71 359.35 N8
029 M95 Spiral Galaxy 10 44.0 +11 42 20:26 23:55 5:01 23:55 49.30 179.86 E11
030 M96 Spiral Galaxy 10 46.8 +11 49 20:26 23:58 5:01 23:58 49.42 179.94 E11
031 M105 Elliptical Galaxy 10 47.8 +12 35 20:26 23:59 5:01 0:01 50.18 180.51 E11
032 M108 Spiral Galaxy 11 11.5 +55 40 20:26 0:23 5:01 0:23 86.73 359.48 N10
033 M97 Owl Nebula 11 14.8 +55 01 20:26 0:26 5:01 0:26 87.38 0.26 N10
034 M65 Leo Triplet 11 18.9 +13 05 20:26 0:30 5:01 0:30 50.68 179.93 E11
035 M66 Leo Triplet 11 20.2 +12 59 20:26 0:31 5:01 0:33 50.58 180.40 E11
036 M109 Spiral Galaxy 11 57.6 +53 23 20:26 1:09 5:01 1:09 89.02 357.96 N10
037 M98 Spiral Galaxy 12 13.8 +14 54 20:26 1:25 5:01 1:25 52.50 180.03 E14
038 M99 Spiral Galaxy 12 18.8 +14 25 20:26 1:30 5:01 1:30 52.02 180.04 E14
039 M106 Spiral Galaxy 12 19.0 +47 18 20:26 1:30 5:01 1:33 84.89 184.57 N12
040 M40 Double Star 12 22.4 +58 05 20:26 1:33 5:01 1:35 84.31 357.99 N10
041 M61 Spiral Galaxy 12 21.9 +04 28 20:26 1:33 5:01 1:38 42.06 181.52 E14
042 M100 Spiral Galaxy 12 22.9 +15 49 20:26 1:34 5:01 1:40 53.40 182.43 E14
043 M84 Lenticular Galaxy 12 25.1 +12 53 20:26 1:36 5:01 1:43 50.46 182.42 E14
044 M85 Lenticular Galaxy 12 25.4 +18 11 20:26 1:36 5:01 1:45 55.74 183.60 E14
045 M86 Lenticular Galaxy 12 26.2 +12 57 20:26 1:37 5:01 1:48 50.50 183.92 E14
046 M49 Elliptical Galaxy 12 29.8 +08 00 20:26 1:41 5:01 1:50 45.56 183.24 E14
047 M87 Virgo A 12 30.8 +12 24 20:26 1:42 5:01 1:53 49.94 184.04 E14
048 M88 Spiral Galaxy 12 32.0 +14 25 20:26 1:43 5:01 1:55 51.94 184.70 E14
049 M91 Spiral Galaxy 12 35.4 +14 30 20:26 1:46 5:01 1:58 52.04 184.36 E14
050 M89 Elliptical Galaxy 12 35.7 +12 33 20:26 1:47 5:01 2:00 50.06 185.05 E14
051 M90 Spiral Galaxy 12 36.8 +13 10 20:26 1:48 5:01 2:03 50.66 185.64 E14
052 M58 Spiral Galaxy 12 37.7 +11 49 20:26 1:49 5:01 2:05 49.28 186.12 E14
053 M59 Elliptical Galaxy 12 42.0 +11 39 20:26 1:53 5:01 2:08 49.15 185.43 E14
054 M60 Elliptical Galaxy 12 43.7 +11 33 20:26 1:55 5:01 2:10 49.03 185.72 E14
055 M94 Spiral Galaxy 12 50.9 +41 07 20:26 2:02 5:01 2:13 78.57 190.13 N12
056 M64 Blackeye Galaxy, 12 56.7 +21 41 20:26 2:08 5:01 2:15 59.25 183.33 E13
057 M53 Globular Cluster 13 12.9 +18 10 20:26 2:24 5:01 2:24 55.77 180.06 E13
058 M63 Sunflower Galaxy 13 15.8 +42 02 20:26 2:27 5:01 2:27 79.63 180.26 N12
059 M51 Whirlpool Galaxy 13 29.9 +47 12 20:26 2:41 5:01 2:41 84.80 180.35 N12
060 M3 Globular Cluster 13 42.2 +28 23 20:26 2:53 5:01 2:53 65.98 179.96 E15
061 M101 Pinwheel Galaxy 14 03.2 +54 21 20:26 3:14 5:01 3:14 88.05 0.10 N10
062 M102 Galaxy 15 06.5 +55 46 20:26 4:17 5:01 3:24 81.44 61.53 N16
063 M13 Herkules Globular Cluster 16 41.7 +36 28 20:26 5:01 5:01 3:26 59.85 107.22 N14
064 M29 Open Cluster 20 23.9 +38 32 20:26 5:01 5:01 3:29 28.73 63.09 N20
065 M39 Open Cluster 21 32.2 +48 26 20:26 5:01 5:01 3:31 27.89 45.56 N24
066 M52 Open Cluster 23 24.2 +61 35 20:26 5:01 5:01 3:34 29.35 22.56 N22
067 M92 Globular Cluster 17 17.1 +43 08 20:26 5:01 5:01 3:36 60.17 90.68 N14
068 M104 Sombrero Galaxy 12 40.0 -11 37 20:54 1:51 5:01 3:39 21.92 208.57 E12
069 M57 Ring Nebula in Lyra 18 53.6 +33 02 22:15 5:01 5:01 3:41 39.89 85.46 N18
070 M5 Globular Cluster 15 18.6 +02 05 22:20 4:29 5:01 3:44 38.78 165.24 E15
071 M68 Globular Cluster 12 39.5 -26 45 22:35 1:51 5:01 3:46 6.90 205.80 E12
072 M56 Globular Cluster 19 16.6 +30 11 23:12 5:01 5:01 3:49 35.54 85.12 N18
073 M83 Southern Pinwheel 13 37.0 -29 52 0:02 2:48 5:01 3:51 6.58 193.77 E16
074 M12 Globular Cluster 16 47.2 -01 57 0:09 5:01 5:01 3:54 29.68 143.54 E17
075 M10 Globular Cluster 16 57.1 -04 06 0:30 5:01 5:01 3:56 27.00 142.49 E17
076 M107 Globular Cluster 16 32.5 -13 03 0:54 5:01 5:01 3:59 20.76 152.64 E17
077 M27 Dumbbell Nebula 19 59.6 +22 43 1:00 5:01 5:01 4:01 25.43 85.22 E21
078 M14 Globular Cluster 17 37.6 -03 15 1:06 5:01 5:01 4:04 24.42 133.76 E17
079 M71 Globular Cluster 19 53.8 +18 47 1:21 5:01 5:01 4:06 24.10 90.16 E21
080 M80 Globular Cluster 16 17.0 -22 59 1:42 5:01 5:01 4:09 12.66 161.37 E18
081 M9 Globular Cluster 17 19.2 -18 31 2:14 5:01 5:01 4:11 12.94 146.35 E17
082 M4 Globular Cluster 16 23.6 -26 32 2:17 5:01 5:01 4:14 9.11 161.78 E18
083 M11 Wild Duck Cluster 18 51.1 -06 16 2:35 5:01 5:01 4:16 14.41 121.22 E19
084 M16 Eagle Nebula 18 18.8 -13 47 2:45 5:01 5:01 4:19 12.11 132.68 E20
085 M26 Open Cluster 18 45.2 -09 24 2:46 5:01 5:01 4:21 13.11 125.26 E19
086 M19 Globular Cluster 17 02.6 -26 16 2:53 5:01 5:01 4:24 7.76 155.36 E18
087 M23 Open Cluster 17 56.8 -19 01 2:55 5:01 5:01 4:26 10.45 141.50 E20
088 M17 Omega Nebula 18 20.8 -16 11 3:01 5:01 5:01 4:29 10.85 135.56 E20
089 M18 Open Cluster 18 19.9 -17 08 3:06 5:01 5:01 4:31 10.36 136.73 E20
090 M24 Sagittarius Star Cloud 18 16.9 -18 29 3:11 5:01 5:01 4:34 9.70 138.52 E20
091 M21 Open Cluster 18 04.6 -22 30 3:26 5:01 5:01 4:36 7.46 143.39 E20
092 M20 Trifid Nebula 18 02.6 -23 02 3:28 5:01 5:01 4:39 7.38 144.56 E20
093 M62 Globular Cluster 17 01.2 -30 07 3:28 5:01 5:01 4:41 5.13 160.42 E18
094 M25 Open Cluster 18 31.6 -19 15 3:31 5:01 5:01 4:44 8.54 137.84 E20
095 M15 Globular Cluster 21 30.0 +12 10 3:36 5:01 5:01 4:46 10.43 83.56 E23
096 M8 Lagoon Nebula 18 03.8 -24 23 3:39 5:01 5:01 4:49 6.88 146.96 E20
097 M28 Globular Cluster 18 24.5 -24 52 4:04 5:01 5:01 4:51 4.85 143.31 E20
098 M22 Globular Cluster 18 36.4 -23 54 4:08 5:01 5:01 4:54 4.85 140.95 E20
099 M6 Butterfly Cluster 17 40.1 -32 13 4:31 5:01 5:01 4:56 1.75 156.05 E18
100 M2 Globular Cluster 21 33.5 -00 49 4:49 5:01 5:01 4:59 1.56 93.36 E24
101 M75 Globular Cluster 20 06.1 -21 55 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E22
102 M73 Group of 4 Stars 20 58.9 -12 38 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E24
103 M72 Globular Cluster 20 53.5 -12 32 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E24
104 M70 Globular Cluster 18 43.2 -32 18 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E20
105 M69 Globular Cluster 18 31.4 -32 21 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E20
106 M55 Globular Cluster 19 40.0 -30 58 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E22
107 M54 Globular Cluster 18 55.1 -30 29 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E20
108 M30 Globular Cluster 21 40.4 -23 11 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E22
109 M7 Ptolemy's Cluster 17 53.9 -34 49 --:-- ---:-- ---:-- ---:-- --.-- ---.-- E18

Conan Mc Donnell · Post by **Conan Mc Donnell** » Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:07 pm

jees dave, all i can say is best of luck. i don't think friday is any good for me. the choir i sing in were selected for an rte programme recorded last year and its on Friday evening on RTE 1 , not sure yet if i'll be having a few pints with the rest of the group or not. i almost hope that friday isn't clear so you have to re-schedule, its sounds like a really interesting challenge.

So for now, best of luck....!

Rachel Clancy · Post by **Rachel Clancy** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:10 pm

Wow haha! Count me in anyway! Might bring along my sis to give her an idea of what the sessions are like

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:35 pm

Great!!, so if the weather's good we'll go for it, we'll have to start earlier then normal, its gonna be an looooong night as you have to wait till the last of them rise before sunrise. You'd be very well to bring alot of food and a flask if not 2 and wear as much clothes as you can find.

The messier marathon is one of the most recognised marathons in astronomy and would be a super achievment if we could all get in as many of these messiers as possible, I'll be bringing the binos for objects where my scope cant point at, such as the low western horison where the fence will block us.

Michael Treacy · Post by **Michael Treacy** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:33 pm

Hi all,

I'd love to join you tomorrow night if possible. I have a couple of queries:

1. Is it at Boher and if so, what time are you meeting at Pa McGraths?

2. Do I need to bring a scope with me? I have an 8" LXD75 which I could bring - I've invested in a power suppy today which is charging away in the garage. I could bring the scope, although I have to admit that despite getting it last June, I've had VERY little time to use it, so I'm still a novice at setting it up, etc.

Mike

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:25 pm

Dang!
Can't go - work!

Best of luck to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:27 pm

Hi Michael,
I'd encourage you to bring the scope along, basically if you dont then you'll be scopeless for the night and you'll be doing alot of standing around, your call.
With all the fog happening around the place, we'll really have to stick to Boher for it, I'd figure that the Burren would be fog bound as soon as the sun goes down.
This is all assuming that the weather is looking defo good, otherwise we'll postpone until Saturday night. We'll see how it goes.

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 10:33 pm

I must put a link to this on the main page.
How about sending out a text?

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:06 pm

I'll send a text when I'm certain the weather is gonna be good tomorrow afternoon.

Michael Treacy · Post by **Michael Treacy** » Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:16 pm

Dave Lillis wrote:Hi Michael,
I'd encourage you to bring the scope along, basically if you dont then you'll be scopeless for the night and you'll be doing alot of standing around, your call.
With all the fog happening around the place, we'll really have to stick to Boher for it, I'd figure that the Burren would be fog bound as soon as the sun goes down.
This is all assuming that the weather is looking defo good, otherwise we'll postpone until Saturday night. We'll see how it goes.

OKee dokee, will do. Hopefully, it won't be Saturday - I can't make it...

Dave Lillis · Post by **Dave Lillis** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 4:59 pm

well, the weather has gone to pot, so tonight is out, we'll see about tomorrow.

Frank Ryan · Post by **Frank Ryan** » Fri Mar 12, 2010 8:19 pm

Tomorrow looks a bit better alright.
So is using go to allowed!?