From: Rick Tejera Subject: 2015 All Arizona Messier marathon official results & report The 2015 All Arizona Messier Marathon By Rick Tejera Well, after two years of Mother Nature being off her meds, she finally got a new prescription as the weather for this year's marathon was excellent. As it has the past 5 years or so, the 2015 All Arizona Messier Marathon was held at Salome Emergency Airfield, off Hovatter Road, 100 miles west of Phoenix. By Saturday evening, there were 68 cars counted on site and an estimated 100 folks ready to enjoy the night. Many had arrived on Friday, but Ma Nature gave one last fit as the recent rains, while keeping the dust down, also let the dew form on everyone's optics. The report I got was most folk gave up by 2100, a few hardy souls pushed on until 2300, but then called it a night. In retrospect, if we had to have a bad night, let it be Friday. Myself, I arrived early Saturday morning, getting there about 0800. Shortly after I got there, a group of model rocketeers arrived and set up along the west end. Turns out the belong to the Superstition Spacemodeling Society (https://sssrocketry.com/) and come here once a month to launch. They were a very nice group of folks and they enjoyed their activities throughout the afternoon, entertaining us with some high powered launches. It was hard not to notice. I spoke with them for a while and a few of them are amateur astronomers as well. One fellow told me, if he'd have known about the marathon, he'd have brought his telescope. I was pleased that we were all able enjoy our hobbies together without any childish turf wars. I enjoyed talking to them and watching them launch. Anyway, as twilight neared, we all gathered at the intersection for the 2nd annual Pre marathon Dinner, graciously organized and catered by Lori & Mitch Prause. After dinner, Jennifer & Tom Polakis held a raffle, again for the second year. Jenn had gotten quite a few donations of prizes, some of which were quite nice (I do not have the complete list of donors yet, so I won't mention them here in order to not omit anyone. I'll post the complete list in the newsletter and Facebook page, once I have it). The dinner was a perfect segue into the twilight pep talk. This year we again were honored to have Don Machholz observe with us, along with his new wife, Michele. Saturday would be Don's 51st Messier Marathon. It's always great to see him. Don put's the "G" in Gentleman. Also observing with us this year were Ben Nagorsen and Julian Braun, from Munchen (Munich) Germany. They were touring the Southwest US and were given the use of Tom & Jenn's telescopes to run the Marathon. They acquitted themselves quite well, observing 110 & 108 objects respectively. With the 110, Ben has become the farthest traveled to the AAMM to observe all 110 objects. Congratulations! After the twilight talk, everyone headed back to their telescopes to begin the evening festivities, whether it be the marathon or just working their observing lists. For me, I decided to try my luck with the 60mm ETX, since my previous best with it was 109, M74 being the missing link. As I usually do, I first get the brighter and easy to see evening objects out of the wan and let the sky darken a bit before trying for M74. This year was ideal as M74 was still quite high (relatively speaking) as twilight deepened. A thin crescent moon did not have any real effect on sky brightness, in fact I thought the Zodiacal light, which reach well into Taurus near the Pleiades posed more interference with observing, How many people can say the Zodiacal light is bright enough to hinder observing? Anyway, after several attempts, which included averted vision and a steady tapping on the telescope, I finally saw M74. I went back to it at least three more time to make sure it really was there (Well I know it was there, but did I really see it?). Once the evening setters were in the book, it was an easy coast through the sky up to the Virgo Cluster and a bit beyond. I don't ever remember getting that far that early. So now was a good time to walk the field and chat with folks and see how they were doing. On my travels I stopped by Doug Weisse & his 9 year old daughter Molly, from Lake Havasu City. Last year Molly observed 5 objects and became the youngest observer at the AAMM, this year she was inspired, using tripod mounted 15x70 binoculars, she was star-hopping her way through the evening objects. I was quite impressed as I watched her. He was quite adept at reading a star chart and then translating that into a star-hop to her target. With the advent of computerized telescopes, Star-hopping is becoming a lost art, it was good to someone her age honing this lost skill. But more than her ability, washer abject joy in what she was doing. You could hear it in her voice how much fun she was having an the pride when she found an object her Dad told her would be difficult. That alone made my evening. Well after walking around and chatting a bit, I availed myself of the hot cocoa generously provided by the East Valley Astronomy Club. As always, on behalf of SAC, I thank them for their continued support and participation in the All Arizona Messier Marathon. After a nice 3 hour nap, I got up around 0200 and started work on the eastern rising objects. As we move away from Virgo and it's galaxies, the objects became much easier to find in the little ETX and it rich field. The telescope performed well holding it's alignment thought the night. Usually I have to shut it down and realign after the midnight nap, but not tonight. As always I took a side tour through Centaurus, visiting Omega Centauri and Centaurus A. Plenty of time to observe them and still stay ahead as by now I'm waiting for thing to rise. As twilight approached it became obvious that M30 would be all that stood in the way of 110 objects. Joan McGue & Steve Perry, set up on either side of me were in the same boat and the three of us anxiously awaited M30's arrival. Turns out even though it rose fairly early, there was a very short, 5 minutes by my reckoning, window where it would be high enough and the sky still dark enough to see it. Fortunately all three of us (and 9 others) were able to catch it during this window. I saw it in both Steve & Joan's Scopes and then when I went back to mine it was lost in the ever brightening twilight. So my second 110 night was in the books this time with the 60mm scope, IIRC, my previous best with Polly was 109. Now to think of the next challenge..... As the night ended, observers started to hand in their checklists, As they did, I began to realize what a great night it was as observer after observer told me they'd gotten all 110. In the end 20 observers & 1 imager qualified for telescope plaques and all who participated qualified for certificates. In closing I'd be remiss if I did not mention those who really did the lion's share of the work in organizing the event: * Jack Jones, who arranged for the Porta potties and t-shirts. * Jennifer Polakis, for gathering up some really great prizes for the raffle. * Lori & Mitch Prause for catering another fine dinner. They put a lot of work & time into this and I really do appreciate it. * David Douglass of EVAC for bringing the canopies under which we set up for the Dinner & raffle. * Claude Haynes, Also of EVAC, for setting up the midnight snacks & Coffee. Till next year, Clear Skies Rick Tejera All Arizona Messier Marathon Coordinator