The following article first appeared in the August 2000 issue of the Reflector, official newsletter of the Astronomical League.  

MESSIER MANIA...Braving the Chill
by Jonathan Casselman

One man's mistakes are another man's treasures.  Most astronomers already know the story.  In 1758, French comet hunter Charles Messier found M1, the Crab Nebula, while following a comet.  Over the next 30 years, he discovered 106 more objects and cataloged them so that other comet hunters wouldn't mistake them for comets.  Today this list contains 107 of the finest deep sky objects in the sky!  Happy Accident!  We now have Messier marathons, Astronomical League Messier observing clubs, and other activities associated with the MESSIER's.

Being 16 years old and an enthusiastic observer, I've recently completed the Binocular Messier and Honorary Messier clubs and can heartily recommend them both.  The Binocular Messier club requires that you observe any 50 Messier objects with any binoculars.  I personally recommend 10x50's.  The Messier club has two awards; the Regular certificate and Honorary certificate.  The Regular certificate requires that you observe 70 objects with any instrument.  The Honorary certificate requires that you observe all 107 objects.

I had been observing the Orion Nebula, Pleiades, Beehive Cluster, Andromeda Galaxy, and other bright objects a year before I officially started the Binocular Messier list.  But finding 50 Messier objects easily was a different story.  Some were faint, like M83 and M110, while others were small and difficult to locate like M57, M56, M15, yet all were interesting in their own way.  By allowing you to choose any 50 objects, the list can be suited to almost any season so you probably wont need to wait around for winter with her long nights.  Overall take it easy, it's all about enjoying the heavens, don't let the weather or cold get you down.

The Messier list is more of a challenge.  Some of the objects are bright like the Pleiades, while others like M98, M 108, M 109 were dim enough (tenth magnitude) to test the light-gathering capabilities of my 80 mm refractor and observing skills like averted vision.  I also tried averted vision on unresolved objects.  Surprisingly, I was able to resolve M13 to its very core using averted vision at 63x.  The trio M98, M99 and M 100, changed from virtually invisible to obviously beautiful at 32x.  Also don't be afraid to use magnification; my best views on many objects were at 63x.  And a light bucket isn't required either-you can complete the Regular certificate with only a 60 mm refractor and if I can complete the Honorary certificate with an 80 mm refractor, I'm sure someone will be able to do it with less.

While you're plumbing the depths of space in search of these interesting objects, don't forget to look up at the skies just using your eyes.  Remember, before the 1600s, they were the only instruments that man studied the heavens with, and no telescope or binoculars made since has made them obsolete for viewing the whole sky at once.  In my opinion, to experience the true majesty of the universe one must not only scrutinize every detail but also view it as a whole. 

In conclusion, the Binocular Messier list can be completed without expensive equipment, making it a wonderful project for beginning astronomers or those on a budget.  The Messier list can be completed with modest equipment from suburban sites, and don't forget that the S.A.S. has a wide variety of club scopes available to members that can show you most if not all the Messier objects from your backyard.

I also suggest that you attend the Messier marathon.  It's not only an excellent chance to look thru big scopes but all the Messier objects can be observed in one night!  The Messier marathon is usually held near the end of March so check the March issue of the Asterisk for the exact date.  Also as a bonus, Mars will be quite a sight this year as it is approaching opposition in March.
Again, I would highly recommend both of these lists as they can add structure to your observing sessions and a wonderful sense of accomplishment.  Thru my experiences I have developed this motto "You must brave the chill to get the thrill !"

         Clear Skies!

Jonathan joined the SAS in January of 1998 and very quickly became our most prolific observer. Using his own 80mm refractor and borrowing club telescopes Jonathan has completed our own "Strang List" plus eight of the Astronomical League's observing clubs including the Herschel 400! He is an amazing young man! Congratulations Jonathan!

Observing clubs completed:
1: A.L. Binocular Messier Club; Certificate #337; 6/22/1998.
2: A.L. Honorary Messier Club; Certificate #1621; 10/4/1998.
3: A.L. Deep Sky Binocular Club; Certificate #85; 12/4/1998.
4: A.L. Double Star Club; Certificate #89; 6/21/1999.
5: A.L. Lunar Club; Certificate #176; 7/4/1999.
6: A.L. Universe Sampler Club; Certificate #6; 9/14/1999.
7: A.L. Planetary Club; Certificate #5; 3/6/2000.
8: S.A.S. Eric Strang Club; Certificate #1; 5/31/2000.
9: A.L. Herschel 400 Club; Certificate #214; 6/19/2000.