Unistellar Messier Marathon Ebook

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Copyright Unistellar Corp. 2021
Copyright Unistellar Corp. 2021
Written by Whitney McChane

Edited by Valerie Klavans
Cover art by Ron Miller
Design and layout by Whitley Mike
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or
by any means, including photocopying, recording,
or other electronic or mechanical methods, without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
PUBLISHED BY U N I S T E L L A R C O R P.
MARSEILLE, FRANCE & MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA
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DEDICATED TO
THE WORLD'S
STARGAZERS,
SCIENTISTS
AND DREAMERS.
WISHING YOU
CLEAR SKIES
AND
WIDE EYES.
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TAB LE of CONTE NTS
CHA PT E R 1: C HARLES MESSIER & HIS CATALOG
CHA PT E R 2 : THE MESSIER MARATHON
C HA PT E R 3 : THE UNISTELLAR MARATHON
C HA PT E R 4: STAR PARTY ETIQUETTE
C HA PT E R 5 : M ESSIER OBJECTS & JOURNAL
CONTRIBUTORS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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CHAPTER ONE
CHARLES
MESSIER
A N D H I S C ATA L O G
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CHARLES MESSIER
D I E D A P R I L 1 2 , 1 8 17, PA R I S
B O R N J U N E 2 6 , 1 7 3 0 , B A D O N V I L L E R (now France)
Messier was the f irst person to compile
a systematic catalog of nebul ae and star
clusters. The Messier catalog includes
110 object s, including star clusters ,
nebul ae and gal a xies.
THE COMET FERRET
Messier rose to fame af ter he discovered the G reat

Comet of 1769 . Messier recieved royal recognition
from the King of Prussia and sent the king a map of
his cometar y discover y. King Louis X V adorned him
with what ultimately became is popul ar nickname,
the “Ferret of Comet s ,” due to his high number of
discoveries. Messier discovered 13 comet s during his
lifetime.
Star chart with the observed path of the comet of 1764, according to
Messier’s positional measurements
12 Image sources: Wikimedia Commons

T H E M E S S I E R C ATA L O G :
A C ATA L O G O F N O N - C O M E T S
The catalog’s purpose was to make comet-hunting easier.

Messier was frustrated when comet-like object s he obser ved
turned out not to be comet s. He kept a log of these object s to
help other comet-hunters avoid wasting their time on them.
On August 28, 1758, Messier discovered his f irst

nebul a . A faint blur in the sk y, which showed promise
as a potential comet , was in fact a nebul a , previously
discovered by John Bevis (English astronomer, doctor,
and electrical researcher) in 1731 . Now commonly
known as the Crab Nebul a , or M1 , it simply appeared
as a non-moving, misty patch in Taurus. If only a
catalog existed, to avoid making this pesk y mistake
again! By 1781 , Messier had documented 103 nebul ae
in his now-famous catalog, including 40 nebul ae
discovered by Messier himself.
Messier’s Drawings of M31/32/110

(1807)
A s chance would have it , the nebul ae Messier

documented have signif icantly more cosmological
signif icance than the comet s he loved and gained
fame for.
Orion Nebula (M42) - graphic by

Charles Messier (1771)
Image sources: Wikimedia Commons 13

OBJECTS IN
MESSIER
THE
CATALOG
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O PE N CLUSTE R
Loose grouping of stars that formed

from the same stellar nursery.
M103, David Rowe
G LO BU L AR CLUSTE R
Region of our galaxy where hundreds of

thousands of stars formed at the same
time from the same dust cloud.
M13: Hercules Globular Cluster,

Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard
STAR CLOU D
Region where stars appear numerous

and close together.
M24: Sagittarius Star Cloud,

Jean-Marie Laugier
A STE RI S M
Small pattern or group of stars, which is not

one of the 88 constellations recognized by
the International Astronomical Union.
M73, Gerd Waloszek
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SU PE RN OVA RE M NANT
Layers of matter that remain after the

explosion of a giant star.
M1: Crab Nebula, Jim Sweitzer
S PI R AL G AL A X Y
Twisted system of stars, dust, interstellar

gas, and dark matter held together by
gravity.
M51: Whirlpool Galaxy, Jon Burton
E LLI P TI CAL G AL A X Y
Galaxy with a generally ellipsoidal shape, and

no apparent internal structure or spiral arms.
M87: Virgo A, David Rowe
LE NTI CU L AR G AL A X Y
Type of galaxy intermediate, between

a spiral and elliptical galaxy.
M102: Spindle Galaxy, Jean-Marie Laugier
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D I FFUS E N E BU L A
An extended interstellar cloud of dust, hydro-

gen, helium and other ionized gases, which
has no well-defined boundaries
M8: Lagoon Nebula, B. Guinement
PL AN E TARY N E BU L A
Type of emission nebula with an expand-

ing, glowing shell of ionized gas ejected
from red giant stars late in their lives.
M27: Dumbell Nebula, Ken Meloche
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CHAPTER T WO
MESSIER
THE
MARATHON
T H E M E S S I E R M A R AT H O N I S A F R I E N D LY
COMPETITION TO OBSERVE ALL 110
O B J E C T S I N M E S S I E R ’ S C ATA L O G I N O N E
N I G H T. T Y P I C A L M A R AT H O N S A R E D U S K -
T O - D AW N S O C I A L G AT H E R I N G S T H AT
B R I N G S TA R G A Z E R S O F A L L B A C K G R O U N D S
TO G E TH ER TO ENJ OY TH I S TE S T O F S K I LL ,
FORTITUDE AND GOOD FORTUNE.
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M E S S I E R M A R AT H O N :
MA JOR
SUCCE SS FAC TORS
P H A S E of the M O O N
W E AT H E R LIGHT POLLUTION
T I M E of Y E A R O R D E R of O B S E R V A T I O N S
TELESCOPE + TOOL S O B J E C T S V I S I B L E at your

L A T I T U D E and H O R I Z O N
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M E S S I E R M A R AT H O N :
ITE MS TO B RING TO THE

ME SS IE R MAR ATHON
• UNISTELLAR EVSCOPE
• WA R M C LOT H E S
• COMFY CHAIR OR PICNIC BLANKET
• P O R TA B L E B AT T E R Y C H A R G E R
• FOOD + DRINKS
• RED LIGHT HEAD LAMP OR FLASHLIGHT
• WHITE LIGHT FLASHLIGHT FOR CLEANUP
• TOUCHSCREEN GLOVES
• A D E TA I L E D P L A N F O R Y O U R O B S E R VAT I O N S
• F R I E N D S + F A M I LY
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P R E PA R AT I O N I S T H E K E Y T O S U C C E S S
TOP 1 0 TIP S
M A R AT H O N
PLANNING
MESSIER
FOR
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FORM OR
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JOIN A TEAM
A Messier marathon is meant to be a social activity,

where communities of space -lovers connect and
converse under the stars. A stronomy’s most dif f icult
challenge is signif icantly more rewarding when
you have a group of friends or fellow stargazers to
suppor t , encourage and celebrate your ef for t s.
Reach out to fellow members of the Unistell ar

Network, and see if they want to form a team.
Professional and amateur astronomers alike are active
in the community, which includes 4 ,000 eVscope users
in Europe, Japan and Nor th America . eVscope users
are active, suppor tive members of the astronomy
community, and they frequently host vir tual event s
and obser vations.
If you choose an in-person event , par ticul arly in Covid-19

times , discuss and agree upon safety protocol early on.
Masks make for great face -warmers on chilly night s! If
in-person gatherings don’ t feel safe for you, join or host
a vir tual obser vation event.
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DETERMINE
YO U R
D AT E S
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The full Messier marathon can only be successfully

completed during a limited time of year, typically
mid-March through early April . Because of the
faint nature of these deep -sk y object s , you must
choose a date that is as close as possible to the new
moon. Other wise, some object s will not be visible.
Many astronomy clubs choose a Saturday night for
their Messier marathon, since the event requires
par ticipant s to stay up all night. But f lexibility will be
key, since Mother Nature is unpredictable.
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IDENTIFY
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AN IDEAL
L O C AT I O N
Charles Messier was from France, and so the object s

he discovered are located in the nor thern hemisphere.
A s such, obser vers must al so be in the nor thern
hemisphere —specif ically within cer tain degrees
l atitude —in order to successfully obser ve all 110
object s in one evening. Other wise, some object s will
not be obser vable because they’re too close to the
sun (and therefore too faint ) or located below the
horizon.
Whether you go for the full marathon or a shor ter

race, you must al so consider your horizon, and how
many trees , buildings or other items may obstruct
your view of cer tain object s. Some of the obser vations
are quite low to the horizon during their visible period.
A dr y-run at your chosen location will help you’ll
encounter challenges during your scheduled pl an.
Determine how dark your location is.

The Bor tle scale measures the night sk y’s brightness
in a par ticul ar location using
a 1- 9 scale. Check interactive light pollution maps
online, or use a smar tphone app
to check your sk y quality.
L astly, are there any bright light s in your immediate

area that could unexpectedly pollute your sk y? Check
your location at night , not during the day, just to be
sure.
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INVEST IN
THE
RIGHT GEAR
Most Messier object s are invisible to the naked eye,

so you’ll have to invest in binocul ars or a telescope
to obser ve them. It can be ex tremely complicated
to locate these object s and view their rich color and
detail , so don’ t hesitate to rely on high-tech gear such
as smar tphone apps and automated pointing-and-
tracking systems.
Unistell ar’s eVscope is a power ful par tner for this

thrilling and challenging task. Proprietar y low-light
and imaging technology allows for real-time views
of color ful deep -sk y object s , including nebul ae,
gal a xies, star clusters and more. What previously
required ex tensive knowledge and hours of
obser vation time can now be completed by novices , in
little time.
The eVscope is equipped with Autonomous Field

Detection technology, providing ex tremely accurate
and easy-to -use pointing and tracking, as well as
detailed information about the object s you are
obser ving. The eVscope al so features patented
Enhanced Vision technology that allows for
accumul ation of light that is imperceptible to the
human eye, providing users with an unparallelled live
obser vation of faint object s
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C O N S U LT
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THE
EXPERTS
The Marathon is a test of pl anning and preparedness ,

as much as it is a test of skill . And par t of the fun
in par ticipating is learning the Messier stor y and
savoring the beauty of the object s.
Read a book about the Messier Marathon, such as

this ver y ebook, The Unistell ar Guide to the Messier
Marathon. Other books provide an ex treme level of
detail on each object , including detailed star char t s ,
but can be a cumbersome read. If you have a lot of
time on your hands , consider The Year-Round Messier
Marathon Field Guide by H. C . Pennington or The
Obser ving Guide to the Messier Marathon: A Handbook
and Atl as by Donald Machhol z.
Consult with members of the Unistell ar Network using

the dedicated eVscope user groups on Facebook, or
the private Sl ack channel dedicated to citizen science.
Professional and amateur astronomers alike are active
in the community, which is fun, suppor tive, inspiring
and diverse. You can get encouragement and suppor t
in multiple l anguages , including English, French,
Japanese, and G erman.
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C R E AT E A N
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O B S E R VAT I O N
PLAN
First , refer to the Unistell ar Guide and obser vation pl an, which
of fers a general recommendation for your viewing order and
timing, along with brief descriptions and images of each object.
Save the guide on your smar tphone or tablet , or print a version
for easy reference and notetaking.
Nex t , print a highly detailed pl an based on your obser ving date

and location. We recommend using the online tool
“L arr y McNish’s Messier Marathon Pl anner Version 1 .52 ,” a fast
and detailed web tool that will let you know which object s
cannot be obser ved in your location, and why. View the tool
at https://calgar y.rasc.ca/darksk y/messierpl anner.htm.
You can choose a variety of viewing sequences , input
horizon limit s , and select from a few high- quality viewing
sequences.
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PR ACTICE ,
PR ACTICE ,
PR ACTICE
A s with a traditional marathon, training is essential to

success. You can’ t show up for a highly challenging
marathon and expect to wing it.
Practice key por tions of your obser vation pl an in the

days and weeks leading up to your of f icial event.
You don’ t have to complete the full marathon during
training, simply choose the most challenging legs of
your race. Then, invest a few hours of obser vation time
each week, or whenever Mother Nature provides the
oppor tunity.
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P R E PA R E
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FOR AN
ALL-NIGHTER
Waking up for a middle - of-the -night training

obser vation will give you a keen understanding of how
tired, cold or hangr y you may get during the actual
event. You’ll likely be more tired, cold, hungr y and
thirsty than anticipated. Nocturnal living can be a
challenge!
Don’ t skimp on the warm clothes and bl anket s , comf y

chairs , snacks and beverages. Figure out where
you’ll go when you need to use the restroom. Bring
red l amps to protect your night vision, and white -
light f l ashlight s to help when you drop something or
need to clean up. Invest in power banks and ex ternal
batter y packs.
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BE MINDFUL
O F S TA R P A R T Y
ETIQUETTE
Each astronomy club has it s own rules , or you can

establish your own. Check out Unistell ar’s Star Par ty
Etiquette Guide for ideas. Understanding and adhering
to star par ty etiquette will ensure ever yone has a
good time during a long night of darkness.
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S H A R E YO U R
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LOVE OF
T H E S TA R S
Obser ving a Messier marathon is a thrilling

experience; sharing your obser vations with
other stargazers can be equally gratif ying. Share
your obser vations on social media using the
#Unistell arMarathon hashtag to join a global
conversation about the Messier marathon and
astronomy. Be sure you set your image privacy to
“Public” or this sharing may not be visible to the global
astronomy community.
If you’re competing with an eVscope, don’ t forget

to save and share your images with Unistell ar, and
compete for fun prizes and bragging right s. Fellow
members of the eVscope user groups on Facebook
always appreciate seeing your beautiful captures.
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CHAPTER THREE
THE
UNISTELLAR
MARATHON
I F Y O U H A V E O N E N I G H T, O R I F Y O U O N LY H A V E
O N E H O U R , YO U CAN J O I N TH E U N I S TELL AR MAR-
AT H O N . C H E C K O U T R A C E O P T I O N S A N D P I C K T H E
O N E T H AT ’ S J U S T R I G H T F O R Y O U , D E P E N D I N G O N
T H E D I F F I C U LT Y Y O U P R E F E R A N D T H E T I M E Y O U
H AV E AVA I L A B L E .
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The U N I S T E L L A R M A R AT H O N
NAME THE CHALLENGE TIME DIFFICULTY PRO TIPS
MESSIER Observe all 8 pm Extremely Only observers within specific

Messier objects - Challenging latitudes can complete the task,
MARATHON during mid-March to early April.
in one evening. 6:30 am
1 Your night of observations

must be conducted as close
as possible to the new moon,
otherwise not all objects will be
visible.
Extensive planning and training

are critical to success.
Invite people to join and support

you - it’s going to be a long
night.
MESSIER Observe half 8 pm Extremely Perfect for first-time

of the Messier - Challenging marathoners, or people who
HALF cannot view all objects due to
objects in one 6:30 am
MARATHON evening. their latitude.
(Or a portion of
the evening Don’t let the “half” fool you; it’s
2 depending on
still a long night and extremely
your observation
plan) difficult task.
Plan and train as if it were the

full marathon, but enjoy more
time between observations.
MESSIER Work with a 1-4 hours Challenging Extend a friendly challenge to

team of 2 or to other clubs or teams
RELAY (Depending Approachable
more people to
on the size
complete the of your team)
Strong communication is
(Depending
3 Messier Marathon on the size
critical; be sure to check your
or any Galactic of your team) data and internet connection
Race in one in your observing location
evening.
Practice, practice, practice
to be a strong + prepared
teammate
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NAME THE CHALLENGE TIME DIFFICULTY
BORTLE Messier finishers 8 pm Challenging

in each of the 9 -
CLASS
classes of the Bortle 6:30 am
FINISHERS scale: Good luck,
urban participants!
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YOUNGEST Observe all Messier 8 pm Challenging

objects in one -
& OLDEST
evening, and prove 6:30 am
MESSIER that age is but a
FINISHERS number.
(Individually or as
part of a relay team)
MESSIER Observe as many 8 pm Challenging

Messier objects as -
‘TILL
possible from 8 p.m. Midnight
MIDNIGHT to Midnight.
MESSIER Observe as many 4 am Intermediate

Messier objects as -
IN THE
possible, starting at 6:30 a.m.
MORNING 4 a.m.
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MESSIER Observe 6 Messier 1-3 hours Intermediate

objects in one
6K (Varies depending
evening: one object
on your location
from each category and observation
of the Messier plan)
catalog.
GALAXY Observe as many 2 hours Approachable

Messier galaxies
SPRINT
as possible in two
hours.
NEBULA Observe as many 2 hours Approachable

Messier nebulae
SPRINT as possible in two
hours.
STAR Observe as many 2 hours Approachable

Messier star clusters
CLUSTER
as possible in two
SPRINT hours.
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MAJESTIC Capture the “most No limit. Just for Fun

majestic” image of
CAPTURE
any Messier object;
stitching and other
post-processing is
allowed.
OUTSTANDING Capture the “most No limit. Just for Fun

outstanding”
OBSERVATION
observation of any
Messier object,
without any post-
processing.
STELLAR Share a quality No limit. Just for Fun

stargazing image
STARGAZING of you and/or your
SHOT telescope and/or
your team, taken
from your observing
location.
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CHAPTER FOUR
STAR PARTY
ETIQUETTE
S TA R P A R T I E S A R E S O C I A L E V E N T S . B U T U N L I K E A
T R A D I T I O N A L B O I S T E R O U S PA R T Y, T H E S E E V E N T S
ARE OFTEN QUIET AND SERENE, WITH GUESTS
WA S H E D I N DA R K N E S S . K E E P T H E S E G E N E R A L
G U I D E L I N E S I N M I N D T O B E A G R E AT G U E S T A N D
S N A G A R E P E AT I N V I T E .
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S TA R P A R T Y E T I Q U E T T E
USE RED LIGHTS, POINTED WATCH WHERE

DOWN AND SPARINGLY YOU WALK
White light will destroy a stargazer’s It’s easy to stumble in the darkness ,
hard- earned night vision, which can especially when power cords or other
take 15 or more minutes to develop. wires are spread across the ground.
Even red light s can damage your night If you bring a telescope, consider
vision, so point them down when in using ref lective tape on or around
use, and tr y to use them sparingly. your telescope, to aid guest s who are
navigating the darkness.
WARN OTHERS IF WHITE DON’T RUN

LIGHT MUST BE USED
It’s okay to use a f l ashlight if you drop You might trip over a wire, run into
something, but keep the light focused a fellow stargazer, or create enough
and shout out a warning to your fellow turbulent ground to ruin a prized long-
stargazers. exposure image. Take your time as you
navigate the obser vation site. Remind
children to do the same.
DON’T TAKE FLASH ASK BEFORE

PHOTOGRAPHY AFTER YOU TOUCH
SUNSET
This seems obvious , but is easy to A stronomy equipment can be

forget when you want to take a proud expensive and precisely positioned;
group shot or the per fect self ie. Learn you don’ t want to accidentally damage
nighttime photography, or take a someone’s telescope or obser vation.
group photo before sunset. Set your Of ten, if you ask, people are happy
smar tphone’s f l ash to “of f ” if you pl an to let you enjoy a view through their
to use it. telescope. A reminder: Never touch
any gl ass optical sur face.
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S TA R P A R T Y E T I Q U E T T E
KEEP FOOD, DRINK AND ASK

CIGARETTE SMOKE AWAY QUESTIONS!
FROM EQUIPMENT
Walking around with food and Don’ t feel shy about your l ack of
beverage in the dark is not advised, experience. Even professional
and cer tainly not recommended near astronomers will tell you: There’s
expensive telescopes. Find a safe always someone smar ter than
pl ace to sit and enjoy yourself. Event you about something. Learning
organizers may designate special and expanding your knowledge
areas for smoking; if not , ensure you is something to be proud of. Most
are downwind from obser vers. amateur astronomers appreciate
the oppor tunity to share, teach and
coll aborate.
REMEMBER:
SOUND TRAVELS
In calm, open spaces , noises tend to

carr y. Learn the par ty’s rules regarding
music. Avoid conversations that could
be of fensive to children or other par ty
guest s … they can likely hear you, even
if you are speaking in a hushed tone.
PARK AWAY FROM THE

OBSERVING SITE
Headlight s are the worst , but even

backup light s or interior dome light s
can quickly erode night vision. If you
have a telescope or other heav y gear,
it’s okay to park near the viewing site,
but orient your headlight s away from
obser vers when you arrive, park and
depar t.
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CHAPTER FIVE
THE
MESSIER
OBJECTS &
JOURNAL
AN OVERVIEW OF THE 110

MESSIER OBJECTS, LISTED IN
M A R AT H O N O B S E R V I N G O R D E R ,
WITH R O O M FO R N OTE S .
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The M E S S I E R M A R A T H O N O B J E C T S
1
M 74 2
M 77 3
M 33
Type Constellation Type Constellation Type Constellation

Spiral Galaxy Pisces Spiral Galaxy Pisces Spiral Galaxy Triangulum
95,000 light years in diameter 50 million light years from Earth Triangulum Galaxy Common Name
4
M 31 5
M 32 6
M 110

Spiral Galaxy Andromeda Elliptical Galaxy Andromeda Elliptical Galaxy Andromeda
Andromeda Galaxy Common Name Satellite galaxy of the Andromeda galaxy 17,000 light years in diameter
7
M 52 8
M 103 9
M 76

Open Cluster Cassiopeia Open Cluster Cassiopeia Planetary Nebula Perseus
Contains around 1,200 stars 15 light years in diameter Little Dumbbell Nebula Common Name
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NOTES
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M 34 M 45 M 79
10 11 12

Open Cluster Perseus Open Cluster Taurus Globular Cluster Lepus
Diameter of 22 light years Pleiades Common Name 40,000 light years from Earth
13
M 42 14
M 43
15
M 78

Diffuse Nebula Orion Diffuse Nebula Diffuse Nebula Diffuse Nebula Diffuse Nebula
Orion Nebula Common Name De Mairan’s Nebula Common Name Member of a group of 4 nebulae
M1 M 38 M 36
16 17 18

Supernova Remnant Taurus Open Cluster Auriga Open Cluster Auriga
Crab Nebula Common Name Contains about 500 stars Contains about 60 stars
48
NOTES
49
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M 38 20
M 35 21
M 41

Open Cluster Auriga Open Cluster Gemini Open Cluster Canis Major
Diameter 26 light years Diameter of 22 light years Diameter of 25 light years
22
M 50 23
M 47 24
M 46

Open Cluster Monoceros Open Cluster Puppis Open Cluster Puppis
Heart-Shaped Cluster Common Name Contains about 500 stars 250 million years old
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M 93 26
M 48 27
M 44

Open Cluster Puppis Open Cluster Hydra Open Cluster Cancer
Contains around 80 stars Contains about 400 stars Beehive Cluster Common Name
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NOTES
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M 67 29
M 81 30
M 82

Open Cluster Cancer Spiral Galaxy Ursa Major Spiral Galaxy Ursa Major
Contains around 1,100 stars Bode’s Galaxy Common Name Cigar Galaxy Common Name
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M 108 32
M 97 33
M 109

Spiral Galaxy Ursa Major Planetary Nebula Ursa Major Spiral Galaxy Ursa Major
110,000 light years in diameter Owl Nebula Common Name 180,000 light years in diameter
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M 106 35
M 40 36
M 95

Spiral Galaxy Canes Venatici Optical Double Star Hydra Spiral Galaxy Leo
135,000 light years in diameter Winnecke 4 Common Name Diameter: 50,000 light years
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NOTES
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M 96 38
M 105 39
M 65

Spiral Galaxy Leo Elliptical Galaxy Leo Spiral Galaxy Leo
100,000 light years in diameter 40 million light years from Earth 35 million light years from Earth
40
M 66 41
M 51 42
M 63

Spiral Galaxy Leo Spiral Galaxy Canes Venatici Spiral Galaxy Canes Venatici
35 million light years from Earth Whirlpool Galaxy Common Name Sunflower Galaxy Common Name
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M 101 44
M 94 45
M 102

Spiral Galaxy Ursa Major Spiral Galaxy Canes Venatici Lenticular Galaxy Draco
Pinwheel Galaxy Common Name Contains around 40,000 billion stars Spindle Galaxy Common Name
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NOTES
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46
M 53 47
M 64 48
M3

Globular Cluster Coma Berenices Spiral Galaxy Coma Berenices Globular Cluster Canes Venatici
220 light years in diameter Black Eye Galaxy Common Name 33,900 light years from Earth
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M 98 50
M 85 51
M 99

Spiral Galaxy Ursa Major Lenticular Galaxy Coma Berenices Spiral Galaxy Coma Berenices
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M 100 53
M 84 54
M 86

Spiral Galaxy Coma Berenices Lenticular Galaxy Virgo Lenticular Galaxy Virgo
55 million light years from Earth 55 million light years from Earth 135,000 light years in diameter
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NOTES
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55
M 87 56
M 89 57
M 90

Elliptical Galaxy Virgo Elliptical Galaxy Virgo Spiral Galaxy Virgo
Virgo A Common Name 60 million light years from Earth Diameter 90 light years
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M 88 59
M 91 60
M 58

Spiral Galaxy Coma Berenices Spiral Galaxy Coma Berenices Spiral Galaxy Virgo
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M 59 62
M 60 63
M 49

Elliptical Galaxy Virgo Elliptical Galaxy Virgo Elliptical Galaxy Virgo
60 million light years from Earth 60 million light years from Earth Has 5,900 globular clusters
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NOTES
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M 61 65
M 104 66
M 68

Spiral Galaxy Virgo Elliptical Galaxy Virgo Globular Cluster Hydra
60 million light years from Earth Sombrero Galaxy Common Name 140 light years in diameter
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M 83 68
M5 69
M 13

Spiral Galaxy Ursa Major Globular Cluster Serpens Globular Cluster Hercules
Southern Pinwheel Galaxy Common Name Made up of 100,000 to 500,000 stars Hercules Globular Cluster Common Name
70
M 92 71
M 57 72
M 56

Globular Cluster Hercules Planetary Nebula Lyra Globular Cluster Lyra
Around 14 billion years old Ring Nebula Common Name 60 light years in diameter
60
NOTES
61
73
M 29 74
M 39 75
M 27

Open Cluster Cygnus Open Cluster Cygnus Planetary Nebula Vulpecula
Moving closer to Earth at a speed of 28 km/s Contains about 30 stars Dumbbell Nebula Common Name
76
M 71 77
M 107 78
M 10

Globular Cluster Sagittarius Globular Cluster Ophiuchus Globular Cluster Ophiuchus
26 light years in diameter 80 light years in diameter 60 million light years from Earth
79
M 12 80
M 14 81
M9

Globular Cluster Ophiuchus Globular Cluster Ophiuchus Globular Cluster Ophiuchus
Contains 80,000 stars Contains 1 million stars 60 million light years from Earth
62
NOTES
63
82
M4 83
M 80 84
M 19

Globular Cluster Scorpius Globular Cluster Scorpius Globular Cluster Ophiuchus
Diameter 70 light years 95 light years in diameter Contains 1 million stars
85
M 62 86
M6 87
M7

Globular Cluster Ophiuchus Open Cluster Scorpius Open Cluster Scorpius
Contains more than a million stars Butterfly Cluster Common Name Ptolemy’s Cluster Common Name
88
M 11 89
M 26 90
M 16

Open Cluster Scutum Open Cluster Scutum Diffuse Nebula Serpens
Wild Duck Cluster Common Name Diameter of 22 light years Eagle Nebula Common Name
64
NOTES
65
M 17 M 18 M 24

Diffuse Nebula Sagittarius Open Cluster Sagittarius Star Cloud Sagittarius
Omega Nebula Common Name Contains about thirty blue giants Sagittarius Star Cloud Common Name
M 25 M 23 M 21

Open Cluster Sagittarius Open Cluster Sagittarius Open Cluster Sagittarius
Contains around 80 stars Is located at 2000 light years Very young, only 5 million years old
M 20 M8 M 28

Diffuse Nebula Sagittarius Diffuse Nebula Sagittarius Globular Cluster Sagittarius
Trifid Nebula Common Name Lagoon Nebula Common Name Contains 500,000 stars
66
NOTES
67
M 22 M 69 M 70

Globular Cluster Sagittarius Globular Cluster Sagittarius Globular Cluster Sagittarius
Sagittarius Cluster Common Name Contains around 200,000 stars 70 light years in diameter
M 54 M 55 M 75

Globular Cluster Sagittarius Globular Cluster Sagittarius Globular Cluster Sagittarius
87,000 light years from Earth Contains 270,000 stars 135 light years in diameter
M 15 M2 M 72

Globular Cluster Pegasus Globular Cluster Aquarius Globular Cluster Aquarius
Great Pegasus Cluster Common Name Contains 150,000 stars Contains around 170,000 stars
68
NOTES
69
M 73 M 30
109 110
Type Constellation Type Constellation

Asterism Aquarius Global Cluster Capricornus
4 stars, independent of each other Contains 150,000 stars
NOTES
70
NOTES
71
72
CONTR IB U TOR S
A ND
BIBLIOG R A P HY
73
CONTR IBUTOR S
Messier # Contributor Messier # Contributor
1 M 74 Michael McCann 56 M 89 Jean-Marie Laugier

2 M 77 Jean-Marie Laugier 57 M 90 Gerd Waloszek
3 M 33 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard 58 M 88 Gerd Waloszek
4 M 31 Romain Girard 59 M 91 Gerd Waloszek
5 M 32 Romain Girard 60 M 58 Gerd Waloszek
6 M 110 Gerd Waloszek 61 M 59 Jean-Marie Laugier
7 M 52 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard 62 M 60 Jean-Marie Laugier
8 M 103 David Rowe 63 M 49 Jean-Marie Laugier
12 M 79 Jean-Marie Laugier 67 M 83 Jean-Marie Laugier
13 M 42 Gary Wingerd 68 M 5 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard
14 M 43 Romain Girard 69 M 13 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard
15 M 78 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard 70 M 92 David Rowe
16 M 1 Jim Sweitzer 71 M 57 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard
17 M 37 Jean-Marie Laugier 72 M 56 Mike McCann
18 M 36 Gerd Waloszek 73 M 29 Gerd Waloszek
19 M 38 Gerd Waloszek 74 M 39 David Rowe
20 M 35 Jean-Marie Laugier 75 M 27 Ken Meloche
21 M 41 Gerd Waloszek 76 M 71 David Rowe
24 M 46 Ian Storrs 79 M 12 Gerd Waloszek
26 M 48 Gerd Waloszek 81 M 9 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard
28 M 67 Jim Sweitzer 83 M 80 Gerd Waloszek
32 M 97 Gary Wingerd 87 M 7 Jean-Marie Laugier
33 M 109 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard 88 M 11 Yann Dufaut
34 M 106 Michael McCann 89 M 26 Gerd Waloszek
35 M 40 Jean-Marie Laugier 90 M 16 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard
36 M 95 Gerd Waloszek 91 M 17 B. Guinement
39 M 65 David Rowe 94 M 25 Gerd Waloszek
41 M 51 Jon Burton 96 M 21 Jean-Marie Laugier
42 M 63 Jon Burton 97 M 20 Nicole Ruel & Jacques Bérard
43 M 101 Gerd Waloszek 98 M 8 B. Guinement
51 M 99 Duane Morse 106 M 15 David Rowe
55 M 87 David Rowe 110 M 30 Gerd Waloszek
74
SOURCES
1 . “Charles Messier.” A stronomy & Space: From the Big Bang to the Big Crunch, Gale, 2008.
2 . “Charles Messier.” Brittannica .com. https://w w w.britannica .com/biography/Charles-Messier.

Accessed Feb. 7, 2021 .
3 . “E xplore - The Night Sk y | Hubble’s Messier C atalog” NASA .com. https://w w w.nasa .gov/content /
goddard/hubble -s-messier- catalog. Accessed Feb. 7, 2021 .
4 . “L arr y McNish’s Messier Marathon Pl anner Version 1 .52 .” https://calgar y.rasc.ca/darksk y/

messierpl anner.htm. Accessed Feb. 7, 2021 .
5 . A drawing of Saturn by Charles Messier. Stoyan R . et al . Atl as of the Messier Object s: Highlight s of
the Deep Sk y. — C ambridge: C ambridge Univercity Press , 2008. — P. 34
6. Bakich, Michael . “Take a deep -sk y treasure hunt: one special night can show you the nor thern
sk y’s 109 best object s.” A stronomy, vol . 34 , no. 3 , Mar. 2006, p. 74 .
7. Charles Messier, French astronomer, at the age of 40, circa 17 70. Stoyan R . et al . Atl as of the
Messier Object s: Highlight s of the Deep Sk y. — C ambridge: C ambridge Univercity Press , 2008. — P.
15 .
8. Charles Messier, por trait. The Royal Librar y: The National Librar y of Denmark and Copenhagen
University Librar y
9 . Drawing of the Hôtel de Cluny, from the beginning of the nineteenth centur y. The wood an gl ass
structure at the top is the Marine Obser vator y where astronomer Charles Messier discovered
15 comet s and obser ved object s he compiled into his “Messier catalogue” of 110 astronomical
object s. Stoyan R . et al . Atl as of the Messier Object s: Highlight s of the Deep Sk y. — C ambridge:
C ambridge Univercity Press , 2008. — P. 16.
10. Messier’s Drawings of M31 /32/110 (1807). SEDS from the Recueil de l’ Institute, Vol . 8, p. 213
11 . Occultation of Saturn by the Moon on the 18th of Februar y 17 75 . Drawing by Charles Messier.
Stoyan R . et al . Atl as of the Messier Object s: Highlight s of the Deep Sk y. — C ambridge: C ambridge
Univercity Press , 2008. — P. 34 .
12 . Orion Nebul a (M42) - graphic by Charles Messier (17 71 ). An addition to the 1 st version of the
Messier C atalog in the Histoire de l’Académie royale des sciences avec les mémoires de
mathématique & de physique for 17 71 , between pages 460 & 461 .
13 . Star char t with the obser ved path of the comet of 1764 , according to Messier’s positional
measurement s. Stoyan R . et al . Atl as of the Messier Object s: Highlight s of the Deep Sk y. —
C ambridge: C ambridge University Press , 2008. — P. 30
1 4 . Stoyan, Ronald. “ Who was the real Charles Messier? His catalog of deep -sk y object s may be world
famous , but most people don’ t know much about the man behind it.” A stronomy, vol . 37, no. 8,
Aug. 2009 , p. 5 4 .
15 . The f irst catalog page of Messier’s third version from 1781 with the object s M 1 to M 5 . Stoyan R . et
al . Atl as of the Messier Object s: Highlight s of the Deep Sk y. — C ambridge: C ambridge Univercity
Press , 2008. — P. 39 .
16. The Year-Round Messier Marathon Field Guide: With Complete Maps , Char t s and Tips to Guide You
to Enjoying the Most Famous List of Deep -Sk y Object s. H. C . Pennington. July 1 , 19 97.
75
76

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Copyright Unistellar Corp. 2021

Written by Whitney McChane

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be

CHA PT E R 1: C HARLES MESSIER & HIS CATALOG

CHA PT E R 2 : THE MESSIER MARATHON

C HA PT E R 3 : THE UNISTELLAR MARATHON

C HA PT E R 4: STAR PARTY ETIQUETTE

C HA PT E R 5 : M ESSIER OBJECTS & JOURNAL

THE COMET FERRET

Messier rose to fame af ter he discovered the G reat

12 Image sources: Wikimedia Commons

The catalog’s purpose was to make comet-hunting easier.

On August 28, 1758, Messier discovered his f irst

Messier’s Drawings of M31/32/110

A s chance would have it , the nebul ae Messier

Orion Nebula (M42) - graphic by

Image sources: Wikimedia Commons 13

Loose grouping of stars that formed

M103, David Rowe

Region of our galaxy where hundreds of

M13: Hercules Globular Cluster,

Region where stars appear numerous

M24: Sagittarius Star Cloud,

Small pattern or group of stars, which is not

M73, Gerd Waloszek

Layers of matter that remain after the

M1: Crab Nebula, Jim Sweitzer

Twisted system of stars, dust, interstellar

M51: Whirlpool Galaxy, Jon Burton

Galaxy with a generally ellipsoidal shape, and

M87: Virgo A, David Rowe

Type of galaxy intermediate, between

M102: Spindle Galaxy, Jean-Marie Laugier

An extended interstellar cloud of dust, hydro-

Type of emission nebula with an expand-

M27: Dumbell Nebula, Ken Meloche

FORTITUDE AND GOOD FORTUNE.

TELESCOPE + TOOL S O B J E C T S V I S I B L E at your

ITE MS TO B RING TO THE

• COMFY CHAIR OR PICNIC BLANKET

• RED LIGHT HEAD LAMP OR FLASHLIGHT

• WHITE LIGHT FLASHLIGHT FOR CLEANUP

A Messier marathon is meant to be a social activity,

Reach out to fellow members of the Unistell ar

If you choose an in-person event , par ticul arly in Covid-19

The full Messier marathon can only be successfully

Charles Messier was from France, and so the object s

Whether you go for the full marathon or a shor ter

Determine how dark your location is.

L astly, are there any bright light s in your immediate

Most Messier object s are invisible to the naked eye,

Unistell ar’s eVscope is a power ful par tner for this

The eVscope is equipped with Autonomous Field

The Marathon is a test of pl anning and preparedness ,

Read a book about the Messier Marathon, such as

Consult with members of the Unistell ar Network using

Nex t , print a highly detailed pl an based on your obser ving date

A s with a traditional marathon, training is essential to

Practice key por tions of your obser vation pl an in the

Waking up for a middle - of-the -night training

Don’ t skimp on the warm clothes and bl anket s , comf y

Each astronomy club has it s own rules , or you can