Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 04:35:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Ken Mallard <kjmalla@yahoo.com>
To: spider@seds.org
Subject: 2001 Messier Marathon Results

Hi from North Carolina:
  This was my first attempt at a Messier Marathon.
Dare I say it, but I used my Meade LX200 w/ computer
to locate the objects. Next year I plan to go solo. I
did my observing on the night of 3/23. It was
beautifuly clear! My observing sites were my front
driveway (to get the first few objects) and then my
back deck for the rest. I live in a light polluted
subdivision, with many tall trees. I had to view many
of the objects (esp. ones in Sag. and Scor.) through
the trees (even waiting for some to peep out from
behind limbs and pinecones). I was able to locate 102
objects. I missed M77,M74 (streetlight casualty),
M110. On the tail end I missed M55,M75,M72,M73, and
M30. My Basset Hound and I had a great time! Maybe 110
next year! -Ken Mallard