The Observing Guide to the Messier Marathon: A Handbook and Atlas (2002)(en)(157s)

The Messier Catalogue is a list of one hundred and ten galaxies, star clusters and nebulae, and includes many of the brightest and best-known objects in the sky. Amateur astronomers can challenge their abilities by attempting to find all the objects on the list in one night, and thus complete the Messier Marathon. This book contains over 90 easy-to-use star maps to guide the observer from one object to the next, and provides tips for a successful night of observing. The book also tells the story of the eighteenth-century astronomer, Charles Messier, and how he came to compile his extensive catalogue. This complete guide to the Messier Marathon will help the amateur astronomer to observe the Messier Objects throughout the year, using a small telescope or even a pair of binoculars. Half-title......Page 3 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Tables......Page 9 Preface......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 14 Part 1 Handbook......Page 17 1 Charles Messier......Page 19 Notes......Page 26 2 The Messier Catalogue......Page 27 M24......Page 31 M91......Page 32 M102......Page 34 The ‘add-on’ Messier Objects......Page 37 Putting it all together......Page 38 Notes......Page 43 3 The Messier Marathon......Page 45 A short history of the Messier Marathon......Page 47 Factors affecting the Messier Marathon......Page 51 Moon Phase......Page 52 Weather......Page 53 Latitude......Page 55 Local horizons......Page 56 Light pollution......Page 57 Instrument......Page 79 Experience......Page 81 Messier Marathons during other times of the year......Page 82 Getting your astronomy club involved......Page 88 Hints for running the Marathon......Page 91 Notes......Page 93 Photographic or CCD Marathon......Page 95 Bordering on the bizarre......Page 96 Messier-plus Marathon......Page 97 Herschel Marathon......Page 98 Caldwell Marathon......Page 99 Lacaille Marathon......Page 100 Notes......Page 105 Appendix:The Greek alphabet......Page 106 Glossary......Page 107 Magazine articles......Page 109 Books......Page 110 Web sites......Page 111 Part 2 Atlas......Page 113 Atlas index of Messier Objects......Page 115 The Messier Marathon Search Sequence Atlas......Page 117 Half-title 3 Title 5 Copyright 6 Contents 7 Tables 9 Preface 11 Acknowledgments 14 Part 1 Handbook 17 1 Charles Messier 19 Notes 26 2 The Messier Catalogue 27 Defining the ‘nebulous’ objects 31 M24 31 M40 32 M47 32 M48 32 M73 32 M91 32 M102 34 The ‘add-on’ Messier Objects 37 Putting it all together 38 Notes 43 3 The Messier Marathon 45 A short history of the Messier Marathon 47 Factors affecting the Messier Marathon 51 Date 52 Day of the Week 52 Moon Phase 52 Weather 53 Latitude 55 Local horizons 56 Light pollution 57 Instrument 79 Experience 81 Search sequence 82 Messier Marathons during other times of the year 82 Getting your astronomy club involved 88 Hints for running the Marathon 91 Notes 93 4 Other Marathons 95 Ideas for different Messier Marathons 95 Photographic or CCD Marathon 95 Unaided-eye Marathon 96 Small telescope or binocular Marathon 96 Bordering on the bizarre 96 Mini Messier Marathon 97 Messier-plus Marathon 97 Make your own Marathon 98 Massive Marathon 98 Herschel Marathon 98 Caldwell Marathon 99 Lacaille Marathon 100 Notes 105 Appendix:The Greek alphabet 106 Glossary 107 Bibliography and further reading 109 Magazine articles 109 Books 110 Web sites 111 Part 2 Atlas 113 Atlas index of Messier Objects 115 The Messier Marathon Search Sequence Atlas 117

The Messier Catalogue is a list of one hundred and ten galaxies, star clusters and nebulae, and includes many of the brightest and best-known objects in the sky. Amateur astronomers who find all the objects on the list in one night have successfully completed the Messier Marathon. The Observing Guide to the Messier Marathon contains over 90 easy-to-use star maps to guide the observer from one object to the next, and provides tips for a successful night of observing. Don Machholz also tells the story of the eighteenth-century astronomer, Charles Messier, and how he came to compile his extensive catalogue. His complete guide to the Messier Marathon will help the amateur astronomer to observe the Messier Objects throughout the year, using a small telescope or even a pair of binoculars. Don Machholz is an engineer in Auburn, California. Interested in astronomy since childhood, he is a renowned comet hunter, having discovered nine comets that bear his name. He writes articles for local California newspapers and radio stations for special astronomical events. Between 1988 and 2000, Don Machholz was the Comets Recorder for the Association of Lunar and Planetary Recorders.

"The Messier Catalogue is a list of 110 galaxies, star clusters and nebulae, and includes many of the brightest and best-known objects in the sky. Amateur astronomers can challenge their abilities by attempting to find all the objects on the list in one night, and thus complete the Messier Marathon. This book contains over ninety easy-to-use star maps to guide the observer from one object to the next, and provides tips for a successful night of observing. The book also tells the story of the eighteenth century astronomer, Charles Messier, and how he came to compile his extensive Catalogue. This complete guide to the Messier Marathon will help the amateur astronomer to observe the Messier objects throughout the year, using a small telescope or even a pair of binoculars."--Jacket. The Messier Catalogue lists one hundred and ten galaxies, star clusters and nebulae. With over 90 easy-to-use star maps, and tips for a successful night of observing, this book will help amateurs with a small telescope to complete the Messier Marathon, or to observe the Messier Objects throughout the year Offers advice, illustrations, and celestial maps to aid astronomers seeking to complete the "Messier marathon," a tradition which attempts to locate, in one night, the 110 galaxies, star clusters, and nebulae cataloged by the French astronomer some two hundred years ago. Charles Messier lived and worked during a pivotal point in visual astronomical history.