Gripped by an astronomical spring fever [
http://www.zzotto.c…], it's once again time for many amateur stargazers to embark on a Messier Marathon [
http://www.seds.org…]! The Vernal Equinox [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] occurs March 20, marking the first day of Spring for the Northern Hemisphere. It also marks a favorable celestial situation [
http://www.reflecto…] for potentially viewing all the objects in 18th century French astronomer Charles Messier's catalog [
http://www.seds.org…] in one glorious dusk to dawn [
http://www.seds.org…] observing run. This year [
http://www.seds.org…] a bright full moon will interfere with dark skies near the actual equinox, so good nights near new moon for weekend marathoners are March 11/12 and April 1/2. (As an added bonus all the planets [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] in the solar system can be viewed on these dates.) Astronomer Paul Gitto has created this masterful Messier Marathon [
http://www.cometman…] grid with 11 rows and 10 columns of Messier catalog objects [
http://www.seds.org…]. In numerical order, the grid begins with M1, the Crab Nebula, [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] at upper left and [
http://www.seds.org…] ends with M110 [
http://www.seds.org…], a small elliptical galaxy in Andromeda (lower right). Gitto's images were made with a digital camera and a 10-inch diameter reflecting telescope.
Explanation
Gripped by an astronomical spring fever [
http://www.zzotto.c…], it's once again time for many amateur stargazers to embark on a Messier Marathon [
http://www.seds.org…]! The Vernal Equinox [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] occurs March 20, marking the first day of Spring for the Northern Hemisphere. It also marks a favorable celestial situation [
http://www.reflecto…] for potentially viewing all the objects in 18th century French astronomer Charles Messier's catalog [
http://www.seds.org…] in one glorious dusk to dawn [
http://www.seds.org…] observing run. This year [
http://www.seds.org…] a bright full moon will interfere with dark skies near the actual equinox, so good nights near new moon for weekend marathoners are March 11/12 and April 1/2. (As an added bonus all the planets [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] in the solar system can be viewed on these dates.) Astronomer Paul Gitto has created this masterful Messier Marathon [
http://www.cometman…] grid with 11 rows and 10 columns of Messier catalog objects [
http://www.seds.org…]. In numerical order, the grid begins with M1, the Crab Nebula, [
http://antwrp.gsfc.…] at upper left and [
http://www.seds.org…] ends with M110 [
http://www.seds.org…], a small elliptical galaxy in Andromeda (lower right). Gitto's images were made with a digital camera and a 10-inch diameter reflecting telescope.
Explanation
