From: Sajith T Date: Mar 31, 2026, 12:06 PM Subject: Messier Marathon Results March 2026 Dear Hartmut, I am Sajith T, participated in the Star Party and Messier Marathon organized by the BAS - Bangalore Astronomical Society (https://www.bas.org.in/) on 21st March 2026 from Southern part of India (Place name: Talakaveri - Coorg, Karnataka, India). I started the marathon at 7:30 PM. I decided to skip M110, M31, M32, M103, M33, M74, and M76 because the northwest horizon was foggy and moonlight was interfering. I began the session with M34. The sky was clear until about 9:30 PM , Clouds moved in from 9:30 PM to 12:45 AM, after which the sky cleared again. In the early morning I was unlucky with the eastern sky. I reached near M72 and M73 and traced the star Albali in Aquarius, but a small patch of cloud blocked my view of M73. I also missed four visible objects in Sagittarius (M75, M70, M28, and M24) due to the morning rush and confusion. I had practiced the Messier list on the previous day (20th March), and that practice helped me achieve a higher number of targets on 21st March Equipment: 1. Explore Scientific 12" Dobsonian Truss Tube (D = 305 mm, F = 1525 mm), manual; eyepieces: 40 mm, 20 mm, 9 mm 2. Pentax binocular- 12x50 Method: BAS prepared and distributed the observing list in advance. Used Stellarium (mobile) app to confirm object positions. Used Telrad for approximate pointing. Used the 40 mm eyepiece to locate and center objects, then switched to 20 mm or 9 mm for closer views. Total objects viewed: 90 List of object viewed : ---- ------ -------------- ----------------------------------- # M# Time Comments ---- ------ -------------- ----------------------------------- 1. M34 7.44 pm 2. M45 7.50 pm 3. M36 7.53 pm 4. M37 7.57 pm 5. M79 8.08 pm 6. M42 8.17 pm Orions Nebula & M43 in single frame 7. M43 8.17 pm Used H-beta filter for a better view 8. M78 8.21 pm 9. M1 8.24 pm 10. M35 8.27 pm 11. M41 8.31 pm 12. M50 8.32 pm 13. M47 8.40 pm 14. M46 8.41 pm 15. M38 8.42 pm 16. M93 8.52 pm 17. M48 8.58 pm 18. M44 9.03 pm 19. M67 9.25 pm 20. M81 9.26 pm Bode's & Cigar viewed same FOV 21. M82 9.26 pm 22. M105 9.28 pm NGC 3384 was visible in same FOV 23. M95 1.05 am 24. M96 1.07 am 25. M97 1.12 am 26. M65 1.13 am M65 & M66 in same FOV along with NGC3628 27. M66 1.13 am 28. M108 1.21 am 29. M63 1.29 am 30. M60 1.30 am 31. M3 1.31 am 32. M94 1.39 am 33. M51 1.40 am 34. M88 1.54 am 35. M99 1.55 am 36. M64 1.20 am 37. M40 1.25 am 38. M84 Btw 1.30-2.15 Galaxies in Virgo-Markarian's chain 39. M85 Btw 1.30-2.15 was difficult to differciate. 40. M86 Btw 1.30-2.15 41. M49 Btw 1.30-2.15 42. M87 Btw 1.30-2.15 Lost direction many times with in Markarian's chain of galaxies 43. M91 Btw 1.30-2.15 44. M89 Btw 1.30-2.15 45. M68 Btw 1.30-2.15 46. M59 Btw 1.30-2.15 47. M109 2.13 am 48. M98 2.15 am 49. M61 2.34 am 50. M58 2.54 am 51. M57 2.52 am 52. M104 3.16 am 53. M90 3.20 am 54. M106 3.24 am 55. M100 3.32 am 56. M83 3.43 am 57. M102 3.44 am 58. M53 3.50 am 59. M80 3.58 am 60. M101 4.00 am 61. M5 4.04 am 62. M92 4.08 am 63. M62 4.09 am 64. M13 4.10 am 65. M12 4.11 am 66. M9 4.12 am 67. M4 4.13 am 68. M10 4.14 am 69. M19 4.16 am 70. M107 4.19 am 71. M7 Btw 3.30-4.30 Used Bino12x50 72. M23 Btw 3.30-4.30 Used Bino12x50 73. M20 Btw 3.30-4.30 74. M8 Btw 3.30-4.30 75. M16 Btw 3.30-4.30 76. M14 After 4am 77. M6 After 4am Used Bino12x50 78. M22 After 4am 79. M26 4.27 am 80. M56 4.28 am 81. M27 4.46 am 82. M25 4.46 am Used Bino12x50 83. M18 4.50 am 84. M11 4.53 am 85. M55 4.53 am 86. M17 5.02 am 87. M21 5.03 am 88. M71 5.12 am 89. M29 5.14 am 90. M54 5.15 am Prepared by: Sajith T Date: 21st March 2026 Thanks, SAJITH T