Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 18:24:47 -0700 From: AJ Crayon Subject: Messier Marathon - final results 2002 All Arizona Messier Marathon by A. J. Crayon While this years event, with 107 possible, wasn't expected to be as well attended as last year with all 110 possible - there was still a surprisingly large turnout. No doubt due to weather and Tom Polakis' timely e-mail posting of Saturday's great weather report. Most came just to observe and visit, but there was the die hard group of Marathoners that weren't to be denied. Thanks to Jennifer Keller and Jack Jones for canvassing the site between sunset and twilight. They counted 66 vehicles, 75 telescope and 84 people; including Dave Ingram from the Boeing Astronomers in Seattle Washington and Mark Blackford from the Astronomical Society of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Dave made the trip just for the marathon but Mark happened to be in Arizona and learned about the Marathon from the web. Before twilight everyone was treated to a very slim sliver of a 1.6 day old moon. But, nearer to twilight many marathoners were already on their way finding the brighter entries. Several observers spent some time with Hazel Lawler and her new 4.7 inch (120mm) f5 refractor - one of the two smallest telescopes. This surprising instrument, with RA and Declination controls, showed very nice star images to the very edge of the field of few. In fact Hazel used this instrument, rather than her 20 inch (500mm), for the marathon! Speaking of ladies please note there have been a number of them participating in the Marathon over the years, three for this event, and they have been finding more and more each year. So far the SEDS site (http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/marathon/hall.html) doesn't show an individual lady finding all 110 in a marathon. Who will be the first? I can't wait to congratulate her! The other 120mm refractor belonged to Matt Luttinen; his first marathon but not his first telescope. That goes back to his Edmund 4.25 inch, to which he named "Palomar, Jr." Finding 75 objects is a great start! Although there wasn't the all night chirping marking bird as in last years marathon, there were some interesting side distractions. At one time, the dull rushing sound of absolute quietness was interrupted by an automobile alarm sounding off, startling some of us at first but then the humor sank in and there were some muffled laughs. Quickly followed by silence as observers got back to the task at hand. We also kept an eye out for some late night four wheelers exploring the wonders of the Sonoran Desert as we enjoyed the celestial treats above. Hope they had just as good a time. This was the first marathon Rick Scott used his 9.8 inch (250mm) Lurie-Houghton, a telescope with all-spherical surfaces and a 2-element corrector lens, at the front of the tube, to adjust for coma and spherical aberrations. This design is excellent for astrophotography and wide field viewing. All who viewed this intriguing instrument would agree the viewing was excellent; now Rick has to decide about the astrophotography? As twilight approached the marathon was once again interrupted - by Ikeya-Zhang! The comet is still beautiful, no matter how it was observed - naked eye, binoculars or telescope. It bluish tint was seen in all optical instruments regardless of size. The final results appears in table form; but suffice it to say that 107 objects netted first place for eight observers; three found 105 and was good enough for second and one got 104. Looks like 11 got between fifty and 102 and that gets them a certificate. Three were brave enough to turn in lists with less than 50 object found. Congratulations to all, especially the three! I managed 52 objects in my 14.5 inch (370mm) Dobsonian, mainly because of taking my time on many of the Messier show piece objects in order for detail observations and drawings to be completed. Near twilight Steve Coe came over and found Snyder-Murakami. The biggest feat here was Steve Coe's ability to find this very very faint comet - a challenge even in the 14.5 inch. This was the first Marathon with two members from Sun City West Astronomy Club; namely Darrin Strosnider (104) and Al Stiewing (53). There were a number of observers, myself Steve Coe and Matt Luttinen and about 20 other vehicles, that showed up for a Friday night session. It was enjoyable, but the skies for the Marathon were considerable better! AJ Crayon SAC Marathon Coordinator Jack Jones SAC Marathon Coordinator SAC web site: http://www.saguaroastro.org 2002 All Arizona Messier Marathon Standings April 13, 2002; Arizona City, Arizona. NUM NAME SCOPE ORGAN. MISSED 107 Bob Birket GPS11 EVAC 33 74 77 107 Jim & Delia Brix 16"Dob TAAA 33 74 77 107 Steve Dodder C8 SAC 33 74 77 107 Michael Evans C8 EVAC 33 74 77 107 Tom Mozdzen 14.5" Dob EVAC 33 74 77 107 Rick Scott 9.8" LH EVAC 33 74 77 107 Ken Sikes 10" LX50 n/a 33 74 77 107 Don Wrigley 12.5" DOB EVAC 33 74 77 105 Mark Blackford 15X80 Binocs ASNSW 33 74 77 76 40 105 Wade Holguin LX200 n/a 33 74 77 76 110 105 Brian Page 9.25" SCT EVAC 33 74 77 76 34 104 Darrin Strosnider 10" SCT SSWAC 33 74 77 31 32 110 102 Jim Gutman unk EVAC 33 74 77 15 2 72 73 30 96 Howard Israel unk EVAC 92 Jennifer Keller 10" DOB SAC 82 Steve Coe 8X42 binos SAC 75 Matt Luttinen 120mm ref SAC 64 Dean Newton 6" Newt EVAC 55 AJ Crayon 14.5" DOB SAC 53 Hazel Lawler 4.7" ref TAAA 53 Al Stiewing C8 SSWAC 52 Joan McGue 8" Dob SAC 50 Jack Jones 14.5" Newt SAC 41 John Doll 10" DOB SAC 21 Mary Keller Mom's scope SAC 13 Beth Holguin 20X80 binos n/a unk *Dave Ingram unk WA ASNSW = Astronomical Society of New South Wales; Sydney, Australia LH = Lurie-Houghton SSWAC = Sun City West Astronomy Club WA = Boeing Astronomers, Seattle Washington specifically came here for the MM! * check off list not received.