2002 Messier Marathon, interrupted

by Jane Houston Jones

Every Messier object holds surpriess which come to light through frequent observations. So, I try to view the Messier objects through every new telescope I own. When we purchased a used Astro-Physics f/9 AP180EDT and drove to Texas to collect it in March 2002, we decided to celebrate with a Messier Marathon at MacDonald Observatory in Fort Davis, TX on the way home. Here are our results, and some very brief and sporadic observing notes.

It is fun to return to the Messier objects over and over through different instruments, if for no other reason than to appreciate their discovery through a small telescope, and to celebrate their beauty. I enjoy the subtle differences I see through different instruments as I observe "M" all. It's no surprise why we all have favorite "M's" to start or end an observing session.

Guidelines for our marathon: We used Don Machholz's "Messier Marathon Observers Guide: Handbook and Atlas" as our guide and object order. For image verification we opened the Night Sky Observers Guide where we found a sketch or image of each Messier object.

Telescope and ocular used: f/9 Astro-Physics 180EDT refractor, 31 mm Nagler type 5, magnification 51x, objects located with Telrad finder and by starhopping only. Mojo and I alternated objects 1-48 in the refractor, then Mojo found all the rest in the refractor, while I kept pace (sometimes) with a 17.5-inch f/4.5 reflector which has already seen "M" all. We each recorded the time spotted and occasional observing notes through the refractor along the way. Now our copy of Don's handbook and atlas (autographed, of course) is all marked up with our notes from this special Messier survey.

Summary

Observing notes and object details - RA, Dec, apparant dimension and visual brightness from SEDS website:

  1. 8:35 p.m. 3/14/02 M77, NGC1068 02h 42.7m -00 01', 8.9 mag, 7' x 6' arc min
  2. 8:38 p.m. 3/14/02 M74, NGC628 01h 36.7m +15 47', 9.4 mag, 10.2' x 9.5' arc min
  3. 8:50 p.m. 3/14/02 M33, NGC598 01h 33.9m +30 39', 5.7 mag, 74' x 45' arc min
  4. 8:51 p.m. 3/14/02 M31, NGC224 00h 42.7m +41 16', 3.4 mag, 178' 63' arc min
  5. 8.51 p.m. 3/14/02 M32, NGC221 00h 42.7m +40 52', 8.1 mag, 8' x 6' arc min
  6. 8:51 p.m. 3/14/02 M110, NGC205 00h 40.4m +41 41', 8.5 mag, 17' x 10' arc min
  7. 8:55 p.m. 3/14/02 M52, NGC7654 23h 24.2m +61 35' 7.3 mag, 13' arc min
  8. 8:57 p.m. 3/14/02 M103, NGC581 01h 33.2m +60 42', 7.4 mag, 6' arc min
  9. 9:02 p.m. 3/14/02 M76, NGC650 01h 42.4m +51 34', 10.1 mag, 2.7' x 1.8' arc min
  10. 9:07 p.m. 3/14/02 M34, NGC1039 02h 42.0m +42 47' 5.5 mag, 35' arc min
  11. 9:08 p.m. 3/14/02 M45 (Mel22) 03h 47.0m +24 07' 1.6 mag, 110' arc min
  12. 9:12 p.m. 3/14/02 M79 NGC1904 05h 24.5m -24 33' 7.7 mag, 8.7' arc min
  13. 9:13 p.m. 3/14/02 M42 NGC1976 05h 35.4m -05 27' 4.0 mag, 85' x 60' arc min
  14. 9:13 p.m. 3/14/02 M43 NGC1982 05h 35.6m -05 16' 9.0 mag, 20' x 15' arc min (trapezium break, saw A-G stars)
  15. 9:27 p.m. 3/14/02 M78 NGC2068 05h 46.7m -00 03' 8.3 mag, 8' x 6' arc min
  16. 9:28 p.m. 3/14/02 M1 NGC1952 05h 34.5, +22 01" 8.4 mag, 6' x 4' arc min
  17. 9:30 p.m. 3/14.02 M35 NGC2168 06h 08.9, +24 20' 5.3 mag, 28' arc min (and NGC2158, too)
  18. 9:32 p.m. 3/14/02 M37 NGC2099 05h 52.4 m +32 33' 6.2 mag, 24' arc min
  19. 9:37 p.m. 3/14/02 M36 NGC1960 05h 36.1m +34 08' 6.3 mag, 12' arc
  20. 9:35 p.m. 3/14/02 M38 NGC1912 05h 28.4m +35 50' 7.4 mag, 21' arc min
  21. 9:42 p.m. 3/14/02 M41 NGC2287 06h 46.0m -20 44' 4.6 mag, 38' arc min
  22. 9:44 p.m. 3/14/02 M93 NGC2447 07h 44.6m -23 52' 6.0 mag, 22' arc min
  23. 9:47 p.m. 3/14/02 M47 NGC2422 07h 36.6m -14 30' 5.2 mag, 30' arc min
  24. 9:47 p.m. 3/14/02 M46 NGC2437 07h 41.8m -14 49' 6.0 mag, 27' - planetary NGC2438 is superimposed on the cluster - a foreground object it is. Mag 12.6 cluster NGC2425 in-between the two "M"s
  25. 9:51 p.m. 3/14/02 M50 NGC2323 07h 03.20m -08 20' 6.3 mag, 16.0' arc min
  26. 9:58 p.m. 3/14/02 M48 NGC2548 08h 13.8m -05 48' 5.5 mag, 54' arc min
  27. 10:06 p.m. 3/14/02 M44 NGC2632 08 40.1m +19.59 3.7 mag, 95' arc min - extra time needed to move the OTA to other side of pier!
  28. 10:06 p.m. 3/14/02 M67 NGC2682 08h 50.4m +11 49' 6.1 mag, 30' arc min
  29. 10:14 p.m. 3/14/02 M95 NGC3351 10h 44.0m +11 42' 9.7 mag, 4.4' x 3.3' arc min
  30. 10:14 p.m. 3/14/02 M96 NGC3368 10h 46.8m +11 49' 9.2 mag, 6' x 4' arc min
  31. 10:16 p.m. 3/14/02 M105 NGC3379 10h 47.8m +12 35' 9.3 mag, 2' dia arc min
  32. 10:18 p.m. 3/14/02 M65 NGC3623 11h 18.9m +13 05' 9.3 mag, 8' x 1.5' arc min
  33. 10:18 p.m. 3/14/02 M66 NGC3627 11h 20.2m +12 59' 8.9 mag, 8' x 2.5' arc min
  34. 10:28 p.m. 3/14/02 M81 NGC3031 09h 55.6m +69 04' 6.9 mag, 21' x 10' arc min
  35. 10:28 p.m. 3/14/02 M82 NGC3034 09h 55.8m -69 41' 8.4 mag, 9' x 4' arc min
  36. 10:32 p.m. 3/14/02 M97 NGC3587 11h 14.8m +55 01' 9.9 mag, 3.4' x 3.3' arc min
  37. 10:32 p.m. 3/14/02 M108 NGC 3556 11h 11.5m +55 40' 10.0 mag, 8' x 1' arc min
  38. 10:34 p.m. 3/14/02 M109 NGC3992 11h 57.6m +53 23' 9.8 mag, 7' x 4' arc min
  39. 10:34 p.m. 3/14/02 M40 double star 12h 22.4m +58 05' 8.4 mag, 0.8' arc min - hey! try it! There are two little spiral galaxies, NGC 4290 at mag 12.5 and NGC4284 at mag 13.5 in the same field of view, so M40 is worth a look. Three more galaxies, NGC4362 (mag 15), NGC4364 (mag 14), and NGC4335 (mag 13) are just a half-degree nudge north for those of you with a little more than 7 inches (aperture)
  40. 10:43 p.m. 3/14/02 M106 NGC4258 12h 19.0m +47 18' 8.4 mag, 19' x 8' arc min
  41. 10:50 p.m. 3/14/02 M94 NGC4736 12h 50.9m +41 07' 8.2 mag, 7' x 3' arc min - and Cor Caroli
  42. 10:52 p.m. 3/14/02 M63 NGC5055 13h 15.8m +42 02' 8.6 mag, 10' x 6' arc min
  43. 10:56 p.m. 3/14/02 M51 NGC5194&5 13h 29.9m +47 12' 8.4 mag, 11' x 7' arc min
  44. 10:59 p.m. 3/14/02 M101 NGC5457 14h.03.2m +54 21' 7.9 mag, 22' arc min
  45. 11:04 p.m. 3/14/02 M102 NGC5866 15h 06.5m +55 46' 9.9 mag, 5.2' x 2.3' arc min
  46. 11:07 p.m. 3/14/02 M53 NGC5024 13h 12.9m +18 10' 7.6 mag, 12.6'arc min
  47. 11:13 p.m. 3/14/02 M64 NGC4826 12h 56.7m +21 41' 8.5 mag, 9.3' x 5.4' arc min
  48. 11:15 p.m. 3/14/02 M3 NGC5272 13h 42.2m +28 23' 6.4 mag, 16.2' arc min - clouds obscured the Virgo Sky, and our battery died at the same time, so our Messier Marathon was interrupted. Location and seeing details at end of report
  49. 12:18 a.m. 4/7/02 M98 NGC4192 12h 13.8 min +14 54' 10.1 mag, 9.5 x 3.2' arc min
  50. 12:19 a.m. 4/7/02 M99 NGC4254 12h 18.8m +14 25' 9.9 mag, 5.4' x 4.8' arc min
  51. 12:20 a.m. 4/7/02 M100 NGC4321 12h 22.9m +15 49' 9.3 mag, 7' x 6' arc min
  52. 12:25 a.m. 4/7/02 M85 NGC4382 12h 25.4m +18 11' 9.1 mag, 7.1' x 5.2' arc min
  53. 12:30 a.m. 4/7/02 M84 NGC4374 12h 25.1m +12 53' 8.8 mag, 5' arc min - Nine galaxy view through 31 Nagler outstanding!
  54. 12:30 a.m. 4/7/02 M86 NGC4406 12h 26.2m +12 57' 8.9 mag, 7.5' x 5.5' arc min - Showed all the observers the view for 10 minutes
  55. 12:40 a.m. 4/7/02 M87 NGC4486 12h 30.8m +12 24' 8.6 mag, 7' arc min
  56. 12:45 a.m. 4/7/02 M89 NGC4552 12h 35.7m +12 33' 9.8 mag, 4' arc min
  57. 12:50 a.m. 4/7/02 M90 NGC4569 12h 36.8m +13 10' 9.5 mag, 9.5' x 4.5' arc min
  58. 1:00 a.m. 4/7/02 M88 NGC4501 12h 32.0m +14 25' 9.6 mag, 7' x 4' arc min
  59. 1:00 a.m. 4/7//02 M91 NGC4548 12h 35.4m +14 30' 10.2 mag, 5.4' x 4.4' arc min
  60. 1:05 a.m. 4/7/02 M58 NGC4579 12h 37.7m +11 49' 9.7 mag, 5.5' x 4.5' arc min
  61. 1:08 a.m. 4/7/02 M59 NGC4621 12h 42.0m +11 39' 9.6 mag, 5' x 3.5' arc min
  62. 1:08 a.m. 4/7/02 M60 NGC4649 12h 43.7m +11 33' 8.8 mag, 7' x 6' - It was freezing, our friends wanted to go home, our handwarmers didn't. Location and seeing details at end of report
  63. 11:02 p.m. 5/11/02 M49 NGC4472 12h 29.8m +08 00' 8.4 mag, 9' x 7.5' arc min - Before 11:00 p.m. we observed the Sun, Omega Centauri and Earth's horizon, Moon, crescent Mercury, Venus, Mars. Jupiter, Saturn - 3 planets to go!
  64. 11:13 p.m. 5/11/02 M61 NGC4303 12h 21.9m +04 28' 9.7 mag, 6' x 5.5' arc min
  65. 11:20 p.m. 5/11/02 M104 NGC4594 12h 40.0m -11 37' 8.8 mag, 9' x 4' arc min
  66. 11:33 p.m. 5/11/02 M68 NGC4590 12h 39.5m -26 45' 7.8 mag, 12' arc min
  67. 11:35 p.m. 5/11/02 M83 NGC5236 13h 37.0m -29 52' 7.6 mag, 11' x 10' arc min
  68. 11:38 p.m. 5/11/02 M5 NGC5904 15h 18.6m +02 05' 5.6 mag, 17.4' arc min
  69. 11:40 p.m. 5/11/02 M13 NGC6205 16h 41.7m -36 28' 5.8 mag 16.6' arc - also Comet Ikeya-Zhang nearby
  70. 11:42 p.m. 5/11/02 M92 NGC6341 17h 17.1m +43 08' 6.4 mag, 11.2 arc min - now a two-hour break for the summer constellations to get higher, and to locate Pluto, which we did, and which we sketched, and verified. We also observed Pluto in our 17.5-inch f/4.5 Litebox reflector at the same time. 8 planets down, two to go!
  71. 1:36 a.m. 5/12/02 M57 NGC6720 18h 53.6m +33 02' 8.8 mag, 1.4' x 1.0' arc min
  72. 1:37 a.m. 5/12/02 M56 NGC6779 19h 16.6m +30 11' 8.3 mag, 7.1' arc min
  73. 1:41 a.m. 5/12/02 M29 NGC6913 20h 23.9m +38 32' 7.1 mag, 7' arc min
  74. 1:45 a.m. 5/12/02 M39 NGC7092 21h 32.2m +48 26' 4.6 mag, 32' arc min
  75. 1:47 a.m. 5/12/02 M27 NGC6853 19h 59.6m +22 43' 7.4 mag, 8.0' x 5.7' arc min
  76. 1:48 a.m. 5/12/02 M71 NGC6838 19h 53.8m +18 47' 8.2 mag, 7.2' arc min
  77. 1:52 a.m. 5/12/02 M107 NGC6171 16h 32.5m -13 03' 7.9 mag, 10' arc min
  78. 1:54 a.m. 5/12/02 M12 NGC6218 16h 47.2 m -01 57' 6.7 mag, 14.5' arc min
  79. 1:55 a.m. 5/12/02 M10 NGC6254 16h 57.1m -04 06' 6.6 mag, 15.1 arc min
  80. 2:02 a.m. 5/12/02 M14 NGC6402 17h 37.6m -03 15' 7.6 mag, 11.7' arc min dia
  81. 2:03 a.m. 5/12/02 M9 NGC6333 17h 19.2m -18 31' 7.7 mag, 9.3' arc min
  82. 2:05 a.m. 5/12/02 M4 NGC6121 16h 23.6m -26 32' 5.6 mag, 26.3' arc min
  83. 2:07 a.m. 5/12/02 M80 NGC6093 16h 17.0m -22 59' 7.3 mag, 8.9' arc min
  84. 2:08 a.m. 5/12/02 M19 NGC6273 17h 02.6m -26 16' 6.8 mag, 13.5' arc min
  85. 2:12 a.m. 5/12/02 M62 NGC6266 17h 01.2m -30 07' 6.5 mag, 14.1' arc min
  86. 2:13 a.m. 5/12/02 M6 NGC6405 17h 40.1m -32 13' 5.3 mag, 25' arc min
  87. 2:13 a.m. 5/12/02 M7 NGC6475 17h 53.9m -34 49' 4.1 mag, 80' arc min
  88. 2:20 a.m. 5/12/02 M11 NGC6705 18h 51.1m -06 16' 6.3 mag, 14' arc min - stunning in the Starfire!
  89. 2:29 a.m. 5/12/02 M26 NGC6694 18h 45.2m -09 24' 8.0 mag, 15' arc min
  90. 2:29 a.m. 5/12/02 M16 NGC6611 18h 18.8 m -13 47' 6.4 mag 7' arc min - O111 on the Eagle nebula associated with this cluster, IC4703 - we liked what we saw!
  91. 2:29 a.m. 5/12/02 M17 NGC6618 18h 20.8m -16 11' 6.0 mag, 11.0' arc min
  92. 2:30 a.m. 5/12/02 M18 NGC6613 18h 19.9' -17 08' 7.5 mag, 9' arc min
  93. 2:31 a.m. 5/12/02 M24 starcloud with NGC6603, IC4715 18h 16.9m -18 29' 4.6 mag, 90'arc min
  94. 2:32 a.m. 5/12/02 M25 IC4725 18h 31.6m -19 15' 6.5 mag, 40' arc min
  95. 2:33 a.m. 5/12/02 M23 NGC6494 17h 56.8m -19 01' 6.9 mag, 27' arc min
  96. 2:34 a.m. 5/12/02 M21 NGC6531 18h 04.6m -22 30' 6.5 mag, 13' arc min
  97. 2:34 a.m. 5/12/02 M20 NGC6514 18h 02.6m -23 02 9.0 mag, 28' arc min
  98. 2:34 a.m. 5/12/02 M8 NGC6530 18h 03.8, -24 23' 6.0 mag, 90' x 40' arc min
  99. 2:35 a.m. 5/12/02 M28 NGC6626 18h 24.5m -24 52' 6.8 mag, 11.2' arc min
  100. 2:36 a.m. 5/12/02 M22 NGC6656 18h 36.4m -23 54' 5.1 mag, 24' dia - my fave! Crisp colorful stars appeared to dot the outer surface, giving a three dimensional appearance!
  101. 2:43 a.m. 5/12//02 M69 NGC6637 18h 31.4m -32 21' 7.6 mag, 7.1' arc min
  102. 2:43 a.m. 5/12/02 M70 NGC6681 18h 43.2m -32 18' 7.9 mag, 7.8' arc min
  103. 2:44 a.m. 5/12/02 M54 NGC6715 18h 55.1m -30 29' 7.6 mag 9.1' arc min
  104. 2:46 a.m. 5/12/02 M55 NGC6809 19h 40.0m -30 58' 6.3 mag 19' arc min
  105. 2:51 a.m. 5/12/02 M75 NGC6864 20h 06.1m -21 55' 8.5 mag, 6' arc min
  106. 2:54 a.m. 5/12/02 M15 NGC7078 21h 30.0m +12 10' 6.2 mag, 12.3 arc min
  107. 2:56 a.m. 5/12/02 M2 NGC7089 21h 33.5m -00 49' 6.5 mag, 12.9' arc min
  108. 2:57 a.m. 5/12/02 M72 NGC6981 20h 53.5m -12 32' 9.3 mag, 5.9' arc min
  109. 2:58 a.m. 5/12/02 M73 NGC6994, 4 stars 20h 58.9m -12 38' 9.0 mag, 2.8' arc min
  110. 3:01 a.m. 5/12/02 M30 NGC7099 21h 40.4m -23 11' 7.2 mag, 11.0' arc min - then we observed Neptune and Uranus for a nine-planet night as well. A friend stopped by at 3:15 a.m. and we had M30 in one telescope and Pluto in the other!

The last page of Don Machholz's book says "Good Morning!" Thanks, Don, it was a very good morning, indeed!

DateMarch 14th, 2002 - first 48 Messiers
LocationMcDonald Observatory, Ft. Davis TX, Lat 30 40' 12"N, Long 104 1 2W
Altitude6,200 ft.
InstrumentAstro-Physics 180EDT (7 inch) refractor
Ocular31 Nagler type 5 for 51x
Seeingsteady but not excellent
TransparencyLM 6.5 using LM Area 8 Alpha-Beta-Zeta Tau, 20 stars

DateApril 6, 2002 - next 13 Messiers
LocationLone Rock Flat, Lake Sonoma, California 38 42' 90" N , 123 02' 43.7"
Altitude1,139 ft.
InstrumentAstro-Physics 180EDT (7 inch) refractor
Ocular31 Nagler type 5 for 51x
SeeingAlmost good to somewhat variable (got worse as evening progressed)
TransparencyLM 6.0 using LM Area 8 Alpha-Beta-Zeta Tau, 11 stars

DateMay 12, 2002 - last 49 Messiers
LocationFremont Peak Observatory, San Benito County, CA 38 42' 54.7" , 123 02' 43.7"
Altitude2,700 ft.
InstrumentAstro-Physics 180EDT (7 inch) refractor
Ocular31 Nagler type 5 for 51x
SeeingGood, improving over the hours
TransparencyLM 6.1 at midnight 5/11 - 11 stars in IMO area 10 chart, alpha-zeta-gamma Virgo. LM 6.4 at 3:00 a.m. 5/12 - 14 stars using IMO area 12 chart, Alpha Ser, Beta Lib, Delta Oph

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