archived article from: https://saberdoesthestars.wordpress.com/tag/stargazing/

Running the M-Cubed (Messier Marathon from Memory)
Stephen Saber

Running the M-Cubed is an advanced approach to the Messier Marathon requiring 
the observer to already be very familiar with each target’s position.
Sharpshooting the Messiers for a few seasons before even hearing of the 
M-Cubed, my approach included committing the entire sequence to memory.
For easier memorization the 110 Messier objects are broken down into 10 
groups, each corresponding to a specific area of the sky. Numeric patterns 
are added whenever possible while still following the basic search sequence.
I have used this technique to manually hunt and observe all 110 Messiers 
from Arizona, and 109 on four occasions from 41°N latitude without the aid 
of starcharts, notes, or red light. Very liberating.
Begin by memorizing the first string of numbers while visualizing their 
positions. As you become comfortable with these, repeat the process for the 
subsequent groups.

Evening Rush
74, 77, 33, 31, 32, 110, 52, 103, 76, 34, 45

Southern Comfort
79, 42, 43, 78, 50, 41, 93, 46, 47, 48

Early Ecliptic
1, 35, 37, 36, 38, 44, 67, 95, 96, 105, 65, 66

The Big Bear
81, 82, 97, 108, 109, 40, 106, 94, 63, 51, 101, 102

Downtown Virgo
98, 99, 100, 85, 84, 86, 87, 88, 91, 90, 89

Virgo and the ‘Burbs
58, 59, 60, 49, 61, 64, 53, 3, 104, 68, 83

Easy East
5, 13, 92, 57, 56, 39, 29, 27, 71

Got Globulars?
12, 10, 14, 107, 9, 4, 80, 62, 19

Cruising the Milky Way 
11, 26, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 23, 21, 20, 8, 28, 22

Homestretch
6, 7, 69, 70, 54, 55, 75, 15, 2, 72, 73, 30

With repetition the individual strings will eventually link together as the 
entire search sequence is committed to memory. (note: the strings’ titles 
are by no means written in stone, and can be substituted for any phrase the 
observer finds mnemonically helpful. also, the classic m-cubed only requires 
memorization of the target positions- not the search sequence.)

I encourage those interested in attempting this method to practice with 
mini-M-Cubes throughout the year, going over each leg in sections.

Many end up suprised by the number of object locations that are already 
familiar outside of their chart and starhopping routine.

[Left Ascension, Feb ’04]