How many of the 110 Messier objects can you see in a single night?

This year’s ASN Messier Marathon will be held at Robbin’s house. Let’s hope for good
weather! Sunset is about 7:20 pm, and forecasts for the sky conditions are, shall we say,
typical for Spring in northern Nevada. Saturday, we should see a break between a series of
storms and hopefully clear skies, at least for the early evening hours.

An email will be sent to ASN members with additional information and directions to the
observation site. Also, members can watch for day-of updates on the ASN Discord app site
on the “Official Star Parties” channel.

WHAT IS THE MESSIER MARATHON?

The Messier Marathon was started in the 1970s independently by several amateur
astronomers, including Tom Hoffelder, Ed Flynn, Tom Reiland, and Don Machholz. All
who realized that it could be possible to observe all of the 110 Messier Catalogue objects
on a single night in late March! In 1977, the Amateur Astronomers of Pittsburgh started
marathoning on this idea and the March 1979 issue of Sky & Telescope magazine column,
“Deep Sky Wonders” first discussed these “Messier Marathons”.

I was a member of the San Jose Astronomical Association (SJAA) at the time when the
SJAA’s first Messier Marathon was held. Four observing nights were scheduled by Don
Machholz on Friday and Saturday nights of two consecutive weekends at the end of March
1979. About 50 club members turned out!

Today the Messier Marathon has become an annual event held generally on the same
weekend by local astronomy clubs in northern latitudes around the world.

ASN Members watch for an email with details and check the Discord app for updates.

Clear skies!
-Brad Carlson
President, Astronomical Society of Nevada