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by Dave Sworin
Club members are invited to Hidden Hill Observatory on Saturday, March 13, for a Messier Marathon observing party. If the weather is cloudy or rainy, we will try again the next Saturday, March 20. Members who would like to caravan to our club site can leave with me from the corner of Mines and Tesla Roads at 4:30 p.m. If you cannot make it during March, don't worry, you will have plenty of opportunities to try the Messier Marathon challenge any time March 1 -- May 30, 1999.
Just follow the rules printed below, record the data required, and postmark your entry by May 31, 1999. This gives you plenty of chances to do your best. Prizes and certificates will be awarded. You will find more details on the prizes and certificates in future editions of Prime Focus. If you have questions, e-mail Davesw5@aol.com. We're keeping this challenge informal and trying to give everyone an even chance, so come join us.
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Messier Marathon Philosophy
This Messier Marathon has been organized to encourage the broadest participation by amateur astronomers, while maintaining fairness for everyone on a single playing field. In a sense, the rules create a handicapping system for Messier Object observing. Inevitably there will be inequalities, with some favoritism given by this system, but we hope that this Marathon will be an interesting and fun competition for everyone who participates.
Messier Marathon Rules
1. VERIFIED OBSERVATIONS ONLY
Each Messier Object recorded must be witnessed by another person. This person does not have to be a club member or an observer. In the case of a visual observation, this means that another person must look in the eyepiece and see the object. In the case of a CCD observation, the witness may review the picture of the object immediately on a computer screen. In the case (See Messier Marathon, Page 6)
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