The following aspects may be the most important for the success of a Messier marathon: · weather conditions during the night · the spot you choose for marathoning ·
your
optical equipment · your
personal experience and
preparation ·
your
team The weather
can not be great enough for the marathon. Since in most parts of German
there are only about 10 nights a year ideal for observation, it is not
very likely that you will be able to run your Messier marathon on the
nights you´ve planned for it. . Absolutely essential
is a suitable, dark spot for observation.You should avoid places
of nearby lightpollution caused by roads or villages, so that the objects
won't be hidden in the skyglow. Also, the observation spot has to offer
you a perfect panoramic view down to the horizon. The technical equipment is not quite as important. Usually, a
suitable pair of binoculars will be fine. Of course, you can also take
any kind of telescope along. The preparation
shouldn´t come off badly; participating in a marathon without some
preparation can be a frustrating experience. It´s rather a good idea to
prepare in adavance by, for example, consulting a turnable starmap or
constructing or consulting an observation plan. Observation is more fun and motivating in a friendly team than by yourself. An invitation for a Messier marathon is a great idea! For technical equipmentI suggest the
following items:
The further
equipment is just as important:
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