tbird Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 (edited) Our March meeting had the first clear skies for a meeting for months. The forecast showed cloud for after midnight but I decided to attempt my sponsored Messier Hunt anyway. Before dark we had some excellent views of Jupiter then I got into searching out those M's. M74 eluded me but up to 11 o'clock I had bagged M77, M33, M31, M32, M110, M52, M103, M76, M34, M45, M79, M42, M43, M78, M1, M35, M37, M36, M38, M41, M93, M47, M46, M50, M48, M44, M67, M95, M96, M105, M65, M66, M81, M82, M97, M108, M109, M40, M106, M94, M63, M51, M101, M102, M53, M64 and M3. I was started to feel cold and the scope had a layer of ice on it. With a bit of moisture in the atmosphere, dewing up was a worry. After a warm up in the car I set about the Coma-Virgo Cluster. It was about midnight, a thin layer of cloud had passed over and a breeze had picked up. M98,M99,M100,M85,M84,M86,M87,M89,M90,M88,M91,M58,M59.M60,M49,M61,M104 and M68. I couldn't locate M83, a galaxy very low on the horizon. Back onto more familiar territory, M5,M13,M92 and M57. Cloud obscured M56 for a short while but I got it about 2am and that was my last as it completely clouded over. I waited unitl 3am but it seemed obvious that it was not going to clear so that was the end of my challenge. The only equipment used was my manual 12" Dob, 13mm Nagler and 32mm Panaview. The only charts I used were from the Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders and Sky & Telescope pocket sky atlas. Thank you to everyone who sponsored me, all proceeds going to the renovation costs of the shelter at Badger Farm. Edited March 2, 2014 by Craig Corrected formatting that was breaking the forum layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stash Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Well done hard work,true dedication and putting the signs out Such knowledge one can only aspire too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Just seen I've got the topic title wrong, should be 01-03-2014, doh. Still tired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibbz2 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 That list is so long it has broken EMS on my computer lol! You certainly got through them by the sounds of it despite the cloud, great work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toymaster Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Fantastic effort - Respect Such expertise - The Astro Knowledge - Think you have passed! Ade Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldfruit Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Great stuff Paul, wish I could have joined you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Title edited. What a night Paul, you bagged all those Virgo galaxies, simply awesome stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic dave Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Good stuff I think we should call the hut the paul cotton building. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Sounds like a brilliant night. You should call it "The Paul Cotton Messier Hunting Hut". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Thanks for the support. I do want to try and get the other possible objects, there's a still 14 I haven't seen mostly in the Sagittarius area. If we get a good forecast in the next couple of weeks we'll have to have an extra meet. The Moon will be out the way by early morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Just discovered I got 5 new M's last night,M41,46,47,87 & 93 ! But Paul got within14 of my 2.5 years total in one night, awesome!! Well done Paul (by the way we bought that car today!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Paul can you list the ones you have not seen, I have 13 more to see they are: M4,6,7,30,54,55,62,68,69,70,79,83,and 93 Just curious to see if they are the same as mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Just discovered I got 5 new M's last night,M41,46,47,87 & 93 ! But Paul got within14 of my 2.5 years total in one night, awesome!! Well done Paul (by the way we bought that car today!!) Well done Ron on seeing M93 pretty hard that one. Must have been murk free night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BAZ Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 That's an awesome effort Paul. Well done mate. I have to be honest, I have never looked at my total Messier bag, I have listed them in a note book so maybe it's time to have a look and see where Iam. This hut's going to be like the Hilton by the time you lot have done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Paul can you list the ones you have not seen, I have 13 more to see they are: M4,6,7,30,54,55,62,68,69,70,79,83,and 93 Just curious to see if they are the same as mine. I'm after M6,7,9,18,19,21,25,54,55,69,70,75,80 and 83. I think M83 is going to be a struggle. My Southern horizon is obscured from home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Cheers Paul. There's a few of the same ones. I will have a look later and compare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibbz2 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Well done Ron on seeing M93 pretty hard that one. Must have been murk free night. I was able to find M93 at the last meet, and if it's hard to find and I'm finding it, then that goes to prove how good the sky is up at Badger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Whenever I've looked it's always been to low down and hidden in the murk, but as you say dark skies help and you must have them there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tibbz2 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Whenever I've looked it's always been to low down and hidden in the murk, but as you say dark skies help and you must have them there. Indeed, the east/west/south horizons are pretty clear up there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic dave Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Only problem is the light from lincoln but thats 25 miles away so not a major problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldfruit Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 If you do have an extra meet Paul, give me a shout. All Birthdays etc out of the way now so I should be available for future meets including extra ones, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted March 2, 2014 Author Share Posted March 2, 2014 Will do Mark, we'll see what the weather brings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest foundaplanet Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Great one Paul... Sorry I could not make it I have not been very well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbird Posted March 3, 2014 Author Share Posted March 3, 2014 Hope your feeling better soon Col Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest foundaplanet Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 Cheers Paul, I think i poisened myself lol.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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