Messier Marathon in March 2013

Messier Marathon
9 – 10 Mar 2013
A Messier marathon is an attempt, usually organized by amateur astronomers, to find as many Messier Objects as possible during one night. The Messier catalogue was compiled by French astronomer Charles Messier during the late 18th century and consists of 110 relatively bright deep sky objects (galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters).
 

Messier Marathon is a term describing the attempt to find as many Messier objects as possible in one night. Messier Marathon was invented independently by several North American (including Tom Hoffelder, Tom Reiland and Don Machholz) and perhaps one Spanish amateur astronomers and groups, in the 1970s.

Depending on the location of the observer, and season, there is a different number of them visible, as they are not evenly distributed in the celestial sphere. There are heavily crowded regions in the sky, especially the Virgo Cluster and the region around the Galactic Center, while other regions are virtually empty of them. In particular, there are no Messier objects at all at Right Ascensions 21:40 to 23:20, and only the very northern M52 is between RA 21:40 and 0:40. This chance effect leads, at considerably low northern latitudes on Earth (best around 25 degrees North), to the chance to observe all 110 Messier objects in one night! This opportunity occurs once every year, around mid- to end-March; the best time to try is of course when the Moon is near its new phase. 

In the year 2013, New Moon will occur on March 11, and thus provide a good primary opportunity for a Messier Marathon on the weekend of March 09/10, and a secondary option the weekend after, on March 16/17, 2013. 

Details here: http://messier.seds.org/xtra/marathon/marathon.html

Messier Marathon Tips: http://messier.seds.org/xtra/marathon/mm-tips.html