Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2006 18:35:19 +0100
From: Paul Clark
Subject: 2006 Messier Marathon result

Hi Hartmut

I'm happy to report my second successful 110 object marathon.  This was during 
the night of 24/25 March.  This was again from 2000m on the slopes of Mt 
Tiede, Tenerife, Canary Islands.

I used a 60mm Borg refractor either on an Alt-Az birding 'hide' mount or 
resting on the car door.  M74 was technically the most challenging also 
confirmed through a separately mounted 101mm refractor.  M31, 33, 110 and M77 
were exciting owing to some troublesome cloud.  The wide field of view makes 
star hopping easy, seeing the object is another matter.  I also used a UHC 
filter to confirm M76.  M30 was not a problem.

At the end of the session I had a marvellous view of the waning crescent moon, 
brilliant Venus, summer Milky Way and dawn sky over the distant but clear 
island of Grand Canaria.

Cheers
Paul