Dates for the 2005 EAAS Messier Marathon.
27th Feb. - 11th March 100 Visible Messier Objects
12th - 16th March 101 VMOs
17th - 25th March 102 VMOs
26th - 29th March 103 VMOs
30th March - 2nd April 102 VMOs
3rd April - 8th April 101 VMOs
14th - 16th April 102 VMOs
17th - 19th April 101 VMOs
20th April 100 VMOs
These figures are calculated on a Latitude of 54degrees20minutes North, i.e. Slieve Croob, and on the sun being 15degrees below horizon.
www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=-67000...mp;coordsys=mercator
The moonless nights are from 5th - 13th March and 4th - 9th April so keep these dates free.
Even if you do not want to stay up all night and observe all the Messier Objects, around 70 can be seen before 11pm !!! so do plan to attend this event and if you are doing a Messier Marathon, then please do prepare yourself with the necessary finder charts etc.
Everyone will be made most welcome to this observing event but it will not be a time to become familar with your scope - you will need to come to one of our more relaxed observing sessions scheduled every few weeks if you want advice and help with your scope.
The location of the Messier Marathon will probably be Slieve Croob again and possibly even a 2nd location for the later observations. We may start at Slieve Croob and then move at around 12am somewhere close by to observe the rising Messier objects in the East. This has yet to be finalised.
At present the location is set for Slieve Croob, County Down. From Dublin, you come up the Motorway towards Belfast, past Newry then take the turn off to ballynahinch. It's not too far from there.
Clear, Dark and Steady Skies
Mark Stronge
MM taly 98.
www.eaas.co.uk/news/20040317_mm.html
  