TheSkySearchers

Hello, fellow SkySearchers. Thanks for the help you all gave in trying to prepare for our recent attempt at a Messier Marathon. (Several of you helped figure out which targets we could capture in the same field of view.) I guess we were 60 objects in (toward the entire 110) when a London-like fog descended on our observing location (from the outskirts of Louisville, Kentucky USA). The good news is - it provided us with a good learning opportunity to develop some muscle memory (we trust) for next time. We're watching every night sky, waiting (and hoping) for the next clear-sky opportunity. But for whatever it's worth, here's a four-hour livestream from last Saturday night's attempt (March 2nd, 2024).

Here's just one screenshot from the 60 objects we were able to capture pre-fog. This is the Leo Triplet, after just 3 minutes of integration, M65 (right top), M66 (right bottom), and (a non-Messier object) NGC 3628 (left):



We tried to average 3 minutes per object -- but I confess, I have a little more work to do to learn to keep up that pace. I get carried away sometimes admiring the beauty of all these objects. This was my fourth year in a row to attempt a Messier Marathon. (Fortunately, the weather was better in each of the last three years. I shouldn't complain about the weather this year. We've had great weather each of the past 3 years and were able to catch all 110 objects in 2021 (observing with a group) and catching 109 of the 110 in 2022 (again, with a group). Last year, a friend and I again caught 109 objects (again, missing only M30). My observatory location is great for so many reasons -- but observing M30 in a marathon is not one of them. There's a building *exactly* in the way. I knew it when we chose the location - so I've no one to blame but myself. But it was still the best overall location for everything but M30 in a Messier Marathon. haha true.)

Here's a 4-hour live stream of the entire session on YouTube, in case you might want to scrub through a portion just for fun. The best part is - the price of admission is free -- and you get to see exactly what I was seeing.



https://www.youtube.com/live/TkltKSrO6m ... UxUHT6Ui3-

Live to fight another day. : )

Special thanks to Pete ( @Xio1996 ) for inviting me to this forum, for his assistance with Astroplanner scripts, and for his great encouragement and friendship in continuing in this cool hobby.

Doug

I am glad that someone somewhere is still attempting Messier marathons. Our winters became too wet and I gave up on the idea a few years ago.

Well done Doug!

Looks like you had a great session Doug. Your live view videos are fascinating to watch.

Graeme

Great work Doug. Attempting a marathon is truly a holy Grail moment for amateurs.

You guys are very kind to give encouragement to a fellow-struggler. : )