Date: Tue, Apr 5, 2011 at 5:13 PM
From: Jim Jackson
Subject: Report of Messier marathon for April 1 at AAMM site

Hello Hartmut!
 
I talked to AJ Crayon, and he suggested we (Jim Jackson and Greg Haider) 
report our results to you. This report is for April 1, and is NOT for the 
"official" AAMM April 2 results. 
 
We were at the 2011 All Arizona Messier Marathon site this year. This is 
a NEW site for the AAMM. As you no doubt know, the AAMM is sponored by 
the Saguaro Astronomy Club in Phoenix, Arizona. It is now at the Hovatter 
Airstrip (Salome Field), sometimes called the Airstrip Antenna Site, 
located at N 33 degrees 34' 50'' W 113 degrees 35' 53'' Elevation 1,378 FT.  
The site offers very flat views in all directions with a moderate light 
dome from Phoenix to the east 90 miles away, and a minimal light dome from 
Yuma in the south-west. Interstate highway10 is 2 miles away to the north, 
and of course has traffic headlights, but minimal affect on the marathon. 
There are red lights on several "Antennas" to the west, but again offers 
minimal problems for the marathon.
 
Data listed by the AAMM web site for April 2 shows Astronomical evening 
twilight at 20:45 MST, and astronomical morning twilight at 5:14.

"Challenge" objects: ( From AAMM website)
  Early Setters at the beginning of Astronomical Twilight:
    Object    Elevation Above Horizon
      M74     7deg BELOW horizon - not available
      M77     3deg BELOW horizon - not available
      M33        3deg
      M31        3deg
      M76       17deg
      M34       21deg
  Early Risers at the end of Astronomical Twilight:
    Object    Elevation Above Horizon
      M15       32deg
       M2       23deg
      M72       23deg
      M73       22deg
      M30        8deg

This result is for Friday, April 1, NOT Saturday April 2, when the 
"official" AAMM was held. The weather for Friday was 100 degrees 
Fahrenheit during the day, and 60's at night, completely clear, little 
wind, low humidity, excellent transparency (5/5), good seeing (3/5), and 
Sky Quality Meter readings overhead in the 21.8+ range. 
Note: The April 2 weather for the "official" SAAMM was poor, with cloudy 
skies, and gusty winds, hence the report by us here for April 1.

THE REPORT for APRIL 1

Since M77 and M74 were below the horizon at AT, these objects were not 
attempted. Highest total count for the site and day was considered to be 
108 possible objects.
 
Result:
 
Jim Jackson ( Eugene, Oregon Astronomical Society) with a Fujinon 16X70 
binoculars on a Universal Astronomics binocular mount found 108 messier 
objects (manual). M33 found at 8:15, while M31,M32,M110 found at 8:20. 
M30, the last object, found at 5:01. M77 and M74 not looked for.
 
Greg Haider (Eugene, Oregon Astronomical Society) with a Celestron 8" S-C 
and a 60mm Ultima eyepiece found 107 messier objects (manual), missing 
only M33. M77 and M74 not looked for.
 
We believe the 108 count is the current field record for the new AAMM site.

Thanks Hartmut!

Jim Jackson
Greg Haider