Messier marathon

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Table of images of all 110 Messier objects. Click on the picture for a larger version.
Table of images of all 110 Messier objects. Click on the picture for a larger version.

A Messier marathon is an attempt, usually organized by amateur astronomers, to find as many Messier objects as possible during one night. The Messier catalogue was compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier during the late 18th century and consists of 110 relatively bright deep sky objects (galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters).

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[edit] When and Where a Marathon is Possible

The number of Messier objects visible in any one night varies depending on a few factors, including the location of the observer, the duration of daylight/nighttime, and the season (the positions of the Messier objects relative to the sun varies with the season).

[edit] Location

Because Messier compiled his catalog from a northern latitude, not all of the Messier objects are visible from the southern hemisphere. In particular, M81, M82, M52, and M103 make southern-hemisphere Messier marathons difficult because they are all located at a declination of 60° north or greater. Although a Messier marathon can be attempted from any northern latitude, low northern latitudes are best. In particular, a latitude of around 25° north lends the best possibility to complete a Messier marathon at the right time of year.

[edit] Season

At low northern latitudes, particularly around latitude 25° North, it is possible to observe all Messier objects in one night during a window of a few weeks from mid-March to early April. In that period the dark nights around the time of the new moon are best for a Messier Marathon.

[edit] Other Times of Year

Less complete Messier Marathons can be undertaken at other times of the year, with the actual percentage of Messier objects seen depending upon season and location. In particular, there is a short period around the autumnal equinox when most of the objects can be seen.

[edit] The Marathon

Typically an observer attempting a Messier marathon begins observing at sundown and will observe through the night until sunrise in order to see all 110 objects. An observer starts with objects low in the western sky at sunset, hoping to view them before they dip out of view, then works eastward across the sky. By sunrise, the successful observer will be observing the last few objects low on the eastern horizon, hoping to see them before the sky becomes too bright due to the rising sun. The evening can be a test of stamina and willpower depending on weather conditions and the physical shape of the observer. Particularly crowded regions of the sky (namely, the Virgo Cluster and the Milky Way's galactic center) can prove to be challenging to an observer as well, and a Messier marathon will generally budget time for these regions accordingly.

[edit] Order in Which an Astronomer Should Attempt

The list below provides the order in which the observer can most efficiently find the Messier objects. This corresponds to the order in which the objects set below the horizon. This list is in two columns, with the left column, top to bottom, ordered before the right column.

The first five to ten objects set soon after sunset. The observer needs to sight them as quickly as possible, and therefore will often memorize them and their positions in the sky.

Messier Number Constellation NGC Number Type Magnitude Messier Number Constellation NGC Number Type Magnitude
M77 Cetus 1068 Galaxy 8.9 M89 Virgo 4552 Galaxy 9.7
M74 Pisces 628 Galaxy 8.5 M90 Virgo 4569 Galaxy 9.5
M33 Triangulum 598 Galaxy 5.7 M88 Coma Berenices 4501 Galaxy 9.6
M31 Andromeda 224 Galaxy 3.4 M91 Coma Berenices 4548 Galaxy 10.1
M32 Andromeda 221 Galaxy 8.2 M58 Virgo 4579 Galaxy 9.6
M110 Andromeda 205 Galaxy 10.0 M59 Virgo 4621 Galaxy 9.6
M52 Cassiopeia 7654 Open Cluster 6.9 M60 Virgo 4649 Galaxy 8.8
M103 Cassiopeia 581 Open Cluster 7.4 M49 Virgo 4472 Galaxy 8.4
M76 Perseus 650 Planetary Nebula 10.1 M61 Virgo 4303 Galaxy 9.6
M34 Perseus 1039 Open Cluster 5.2 M104 Virgo 4594 Galaxy 8.0
M45 Taurus --- Open Cluster 1.5 M68 Hydra 4590 Globular Cluster 7.6
M79 Lepus 1904 Globular Cluster 7.7 M83 Hydra 5236 Galaxy 7.5
M42 Orion 1976 Nebula 3.7 M5 Serpens 5904 Globular Cluster 5.7
M43 Orion 1982 Nebula 6.8 M13 Hercules 6205 Globular Cluster 5.8
M78 Orion 2068 Nebula 8.0 M92 Hercules 6341 Globular Cluster 6.5
M1 Taurus 1952 Super Nova Remnant 8.0 M57 Lyra 6720 Planetary Nebula 8.8
M35 Gemini 2168 Open Cluster 5.1 M56 Lyra 6779 Globular Cluster 8.4
M37 Auriga 2099 Open Cluster 5.6 M29 Cygnus 6913 Open Cluster 6.6
M36 Auriga 1960 Open Cluster 6.0 M39 Cygnus 7092 Open Cluster 4.6
M38 Auriga 1922 Open Cluster 6.4 M27 Vulpecula 6853 Planetary Nebula 7.3
M41 Canis Major 2287 Open Cluster 4.5 M71 Sagitta 6838 Globular Cluster 8.0
M93 Puppis 2447 Open Cluster 6.2 M107 Ophiuchus 6171 Globular Cluster 7.8
M47 Puppis 2422 Open Cluster 4.4 M12 Ophiuchus 6218 Globular Cluster 6.1
M46 Puppis 2437 Open Cluster 6.1 M10 Ophiuchus 6254 Globular Cluster 6.6
M50 Monoceros 2323 Open Cluster 5.9 M14 Ophiuchus 6402 Globular Cluster 7.6
M48 Hydra 2548 Open Cluster 5.8 M9 Ophiuchus 6333 Globular Cluster 7.8
M44 Cancer 2632 Open Cluster 3.1 M4 Scorpius 6121 Globular Cluster 5.4
M67 Cancer 2682 Open Cluster 6.0 M80 Scorpius 6093 Globular Cluster 7.3
M95 Leo 3351 Galaxy 9.7 M19 Ophiuchus 6273 Globular Cluster 6.8
M96 Leo 3368 Galaxy 9.2 M62 Ophiuchus 6266 Globular Cluster 6.4
M105 Leo 3379 Galaxy 9.3 M6 Scopius 6405 Open Cluster 4.2
M65 Leo 3623 Galaxy 8.8 M7 Scorpius 6475 Open Cluster 3.3
M66 Leo 3627 Galaxy 9.0 M11 Scutum 6705 Open Cluster 5.3
M81 Ursa Major 3031 Galaxy 6.9 M26 Scutum 6694 Open Cluster 8.0
M82 Ursa Major 3034 Galaxy 8.4 M16 Serpens 6611 Nebula 6.0
M97 Ursa Major 3587 Planetary Nebula 9.9 M17 Sagittarius 6618 Nebula 7.0
M108 Ursa Major 3556 Galaxy 10.0 M18 Sagittarius 6613 Open Cluster 6.9
M109 Ursa Major 3992 Galaxy 9.8 M24 Sagittarius 6603 Star Cloud 2.5
M40 Ursa Major Win 4 Double Star 9.0/9.6 M25 Sagittarius IC 4725 Open Cluster 4.6
M106 Canes Venatici 4258 Galaxy 8.3 M23 Sagittarius 6494 Open Cluster 5.5
M94 Canes Venatici 4736 Galaxy 8.2 M21 Sagittarius 6531 Open Cluster 5.9
M63 Canes Venatici 5055 Galaxy 8.6 M20 Sagittarius 6514 Nebula 9.0
M51 Canes Venatici 5194 Galaxy 8.4 M8 Sagittarius 6523 Nebula 6.0
M101 Ursa Major 5457 Galaxy 7.9 M28 Sagittarius 6626 Globular Cluster 6.9
M102 Draco 5866 Galaxy 10.0 M22 Sagittarius 6656 Globular Cluster 5.2
M53 Coma Berenices 5024 Globular Cluster 7.7 M69 Sagittarius 6637 Globular Cluster 7.4
M64 Coma Berenices 4826 Galaxy 8.5 M70 Sagittarius 6681 Globular Cluster 7.8
M3 Canes Venatici 5272 Globular Cluster 6.3 M54 Sagittarius 6715 Globular Cluster 7.2
M98 Coma Berenices 4192 Galaxy 10.1 M55 Sagittarius 6809 Globular Cluster 6.3
M99 Coma Berenices 4254 Galaxy 9.9 M75 Sagittarius 6864 Globular Cluster 8.6
M100 Coma Berenices 4321 Galaxy 9.3 M15 Pegasus 7078 Globular Cluster 6.3
M85 Coma Berenices 4382 Galaxy 9.1 M2 Aquarius 7089 Globular Cluster 6.6
M84 Virgo 4374 Galaxy 9.1 M72 Aquarius 6981 Globular Cluster 9.2
M86 Virgo 4406 Galaxy 8.9 M73 Aquarius 6994 Open Cluster 8.9
M87 Virgo 4486 Galaxy 8.6 M30 Capricornus 7099 Globular Cluster 6.9

[edit] Organized Marathons

Marathons are typically organized by a local astronomy organization or astronomical society as a special type of star party. These are usually attempted at least once every year. Some clubs issue certificates either for participation or for achieving a set number of objects.

[edit] Criticism of Messier Marathons

While many amateur astronomers relish the challenge of completing a Messier Marathon, others do offer criticism, particularly that undertaking such an observing race does not allow for much time to enjoy or study any one object. (During the springtime marathon window, the rate of observing averages out to finding more than a dozen objects per hour of the night.) Proponents counter that the marathon is designed along the lines of a sprint to complete a checklist rather than to offer thorough study, and that undertaking a marathon can help hone an observer's ability to relocate an object later for further study. An additional benefit posited is that an observer will see the entire catalog of Messier objects, which they might not otherwise do even over a span of months or years.


[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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