From Azzz1588@aol.com Tue Apr 11 07:11:02 2000 Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 17:00:04 EDT From: Azzz1588@aol.com To: spider@seds.org Subject: Re: Messier Marathon Results Request OK, here ya go... Location; Crockett park, Nokesville, VA. Sky; 4.5 - 5.5+ mag. Haze. Clouds built up to end of observing session, approx. 1:00 am EST. Equipment; 1981 C8, and Short Tube 80 Total Messier Objects; 52. 1/3 found using star hopping, the rest with manual setting circles. Was able to finish Virgo cluster as the clouds moved in, to end the observing session. Allan Mayer Alex. Va http://members.aol.com/thetabat/hello.html -------- Original Message -------- From: azzz1588@aol.com (Allan Mayer) Newsgroups: sci.astro.amateur Subject: Messier Marathon (LONG...) Hello all Tried an attempt at my first Messier Marathon last night, at the NOVAC club observing site, Crockett Park (VA) Showed up right before sunset, and was set up while it was still light. The sky had been clear earlier, but @ 3:00 (EST) the sky started getting hazy/cloudy. Still, lot's of clear sky, worth trying. I knew I would not be able to stay all night, (fishing hopefully today) but wanted to see how I could do. My father was very much interested in going, but tired out around 11:00 pm. Skies were nice, maybe 5.5+ mag, to start out with, came and went, and then crapped out totally... Equipment is a 1981 C 8, on a G-11, with a brand new ST 80 riding pigyback. I used the polar scope, and got a great alignment with the G-11, and was able to use the setting circles, VERY successfully to find the vast majority of the objects. (Ok, so I cheated, I'm sorry, I wanted to see these things !!!) Later when I aligned the DEC setting circle, (right before my Virgo hunt) the manual setting circles would put an DSO in the EP, EVERY time !!! A little to the left, and a little down, but all Virgo galaxies fell within the FOV. Only EP used was a Celestron 32mm Plossl, in the C8, and an old (buy nice.) Celestron 25mm Kellener in the ST 80. both OTA's had 90 deg diagonals. One thing that got everyone, (my father was VERY impressed, at views/cost !!) was how well the ST 80's preformed. 99 % of all M's seen were also viewed in the ST 80, to the point when I would use the setting circles, where I would look through the C 8, and then immedately look through the ST 80, and back again. ST 80 makes a great finder also !! A Meade 4000B Broadband filter was used on the nebule in the C 8 I also had the good fortune at viewing through an AP Star 12 ED, and an AP 6", long f/# scope. All M's viewed through them, were also viewed through my C 8. There were several other C 8's there (all Deluxes) the two AP's, two ST 80's (one mine) and my Orange Tube. M 74, and M77 went into the horizion before I even knew what was happening. Before I knew it, I missed seeing M31, 32, 110 as I was busy Ohh, and Ahhing over M42, a poor Jupiter, and M35, 41, 1, 45, 37, 37, 79, 78. M36, 50, 93, 44.Then I realized that I missed some. I took a break, coffee, smoke, and a stroll... After that, I got serious, and really gave it a try. M51, 94, 95, 96 in an AP 6" on a 600 mount (Impressive !! but then so was the AP 130 EDF !!! saw quite a few M's through it also) Back to mine, M104, 65/66 (same FOV) M108, 101 (tough !!!) M 81/82, (same FOV) M40, (Oh boy...) M51 (sky was clearer, could see connection between the two, this in my C 8) M63, 3, 5, M13 (way down in the horizion !!) M64, 53, 68. I was debating to leave at this point as the haze got unbearable. Walked around, talked to the few others, my father, (who figured the clouds would only get worse) Whaddya know, the sky cleared a little (to around 5 mag maybe) So I tried to tackle the dreaded Virgo cluster. (never tried before !) I had only ever seen two galaxies there before, so off I went. My father got a second wind, and wanted to see some of them also. M98, 99, 61, 87, 100, 84/86, (same FOV) M85, 49, 88, 91, 89, 90, 58, 58, and M59/60, (same FOV) WHEW !!! (even with setting circles !!) It was now 12:45am EST, and I was actually the first one done. (thanks to others help, in verifing) At this point the haze/clouds came back with a VENGANCE !! After some more talking (great small group of people !!!) I packed up, and drove the hour home. Most of the others, had to drive further... Father and I talked all the way home, It's 4:00am now, I'm still fired up !! (fishing looks like it's in trouble...) My favorite for the night was, (besides the awsome views of M 42 !!) without a doubt, M 65/66. The sky opened up just right, for me to get a spectacular view of them together !!! Thanks NOVAC for making this able to happen there (even tough all the other people I talked to, were from another club) Our membership dues are going in the mail on Monday !!!!!!!! Allan http://members.aol.com/Thetabat/hello.html "Only a Gentleman can insult me, and a true Gentleman never will..."