MnAstro Forums

Greetings Observers,

The 2017 MAS Mini-Messier Marathon (4M) will be held at the Cherry Grove facility on Friday/Saturday, Sept 22/23rd. This is the last 'official' star party of the season, so consider attending. Also, as this is an 'official' star party, it will be 'officially' called ON or OFF in response to the weather conditions. The goal for this star party is to observe as many of the Messier Objects as possible; GOTO systems are acceptable. Typically, about 85+ (out of the 110) can be found in the fall at CGO. As always, consider posting to this thread if you are planning on attending.

LLCC will also be available to MAS members for that weekend.


I've attached the observing list below.

Clear Skies, all!

Wouldn't miss it! My record for fall MM is 50 objects, and I only stopped because I was the last one observing and already in the lead........

Not that I am competitive or anything......

Cool, I'd really like to check out that LLCC location...

Just clarifying; the 4M is "officially" only at CGO, right?

I am considering this, depends on what scope I have available that night.

Greetings all,

To answer Deane's question - yes; the 'official' 4M is at CGO, but LLCC is also available to us this weekend.

Regarding the 4M's weather: things are looking quesitonable for this weekend. ClearOutside is predicting 70% clouds starting at 8:00 for Friday, and 90% clouds for Saturday. NOAA is more encouraging (!) with predicting 21 -41% clouds for Friday and 53% clouds for Saturday. Let's hope the Americans win this one. I'll post a GO-NO GO Friday afternoon.

Thanks for Rob for taking care of the organizational stuff for this 4M!

Remember - fantastic, wonderful, MAS goodies will be awarded to the 1st and 2nd place observers, so download your forms and give them to Rob before leaving the field.

I guess we call it "Mini" for a reason. An hour and a half is not a lot of sky time.

Looking forward to it. I haven't been able to get out observing as much as I'd like and this is always a fun event.

Hi Jerry,

I may be able to make it, if it's on Saturday night.

May be returning from the North Dakota trip a day early (Friday) if the weather forecast holds. And the 16" is already in the car!

Suresh

Well hello everyone. I was out at CGO last night for a little warm up for the big event. I got my fingers on the new, at least to us, 16" Meade and what a beauty. I would also say that the place looks great. Haven't been there in a while but somebody has the warming/cooling shack clean and the field is in great shape so come on down. We have plenty of room and I think Friday night just might work. I'm even bringing cookies. We will be posting the go/no go by 3 pm Friday. See you there, Rob
Any questions you can use the forum to ask and I will respond asap

Greetings all,

Despite the somewhat questionable agreement with the prediction services, I'm calling the 4M ON FOR TONIGHT - FRIDAY. It looks as if the skies will be clear in the early evening, but will cloud up as early morning approaches. The temps shouldn't be cold, but the wind may be nuts - NOAA is predicting 18 mph winds with gusts to 25mph. Consequently, the seeing will be nasty - probably not the evening to split tough double stars (you should be doing the 4M list anyway!). ClearOutside is predicting 100% high clouds from 10:00 pm to about 1:00 am (they seem frustratingly accurate about these sorts of things). Chances are that may interrupt seeing faint fuzzies. Please be aware of these issues as you plan to come out tonight. The sun sets around 7:00 pm and it is fully dark around 9:00 pm - lots of time for some great observing before the clouds roll in.


Remember to download your list and give it to Rob Zylka before leaving the field. If you do forget to hand it in, you can email it to me at jjones7777@aol.com. Unbelievably fabulous MAS prizes await you...

That's it! Let's have a great time tonight!

I'm hoping to get down there and double dip the Mini with some key holder training!

How does one reserve the BAD?

"How does one reserve the BAD?" What, already outgrown the 14" you just got????? Actually, I think just posting that you intend to use it is enough - but also usually it's kinda shared if more than one person wants to use it. If we are having a windy night, it might not be the best situation for the BAD.

Lol. I think i might outgrow it by next summer maybe but need to keep an open mind. I finally stepped outside and felt the wind. I agree it might not be the best choice for tonight.

I have other plans tonight now. This is really odd weather. At least nobody down there will be cold.

The forecasts are contradicting each other. Hopefully everybody has a good time. I'll see everybody next time.

I am passing as well. Have a great time all.

Report: Sky conditions high clouds moving around, seeing terrible, transparency poor at best. Sucker-hole observing at twilight - Saturn and the thin crescent moon were good targets but affected by seeing. As far as chasing faint fuzzies - not a good night. But better for fuzzies than for double stars.......between the seeing and the scope vibration from the wind, I wasn't able to even focus cleanly at higher mags much less split anything less than about 3 arcsecs. Best option for the night was to chase bright open clusters with binoculars.....

But besides the sky conditions, I have a lot of good to report. It did clear up for about two hours between 11 and 1, and the few of us remaining at that point did get some serious observing in. The wind kept the dew away. Dave had first light for a new scope that is one I aspire to own in the future. We had the parking lot full and loaner scopes out. We had a couple groups of new people at their first star party. I was delighted to see one of our newer BSIG members pointing out sky candy to the new people like a longtime veteran - maybe he's learning from good teachers? We're definitely into the fall constellations now. And, chivalry is alive and well in the MAS - my personal thanks to the next-to-last person to leave, who felt uncomfortable leaving me there by myself and chose to stick around until I was ready to leave....

Nancy

Glad to hear you at least had a couple good hours. We had a private event at ELO, and except for one brief glimpse of Saturn we were completely skunked.

I also had a great time at the MM. I got to see both a satellite and a shooting star go thru my field of view. First time for either of those. Just a shame the weather wasn't a little better.