SJAA 2006 Don Machholz Messier Marathon

Henry Coe State Park

March 24/25, 2006 or March 25/26, 2006

Sat. Weather Update:

Are you an optimist or pessimist?
Our weather reports indicate that the weather will be mostly clear, with popcorn clouds, 29 percent coverage, clearing to 25% coverage on Sunday Morning.
Bob Havner has other plans, and will be up at Coe on April 29th.
I'll be at Coe tonight for the optimist.
Come on up and find a few Messier Objects and cloud formations!

Weather Update:

Event Cancelled for Friday Night, March 24th.
There is no hope of seeing anything tonight.
However, things are looking much better for Saturday, March 25th.
The current forcast is:
Saturday night: Becoming mostly clear. Lows in the mid 30s to upper 40s. Northwest evening winds 5 to 15 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 50s and 60s. Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph.
Check back Saturday at 3 PM for a cancellation notice.

Weather

We are hoping for clear skies on 3/25, but as most of us know, this is the wet season. If weather prospects look better for Friday, a few hearty soles will head up Friday Night to help guarantee a successful marathon. Please Email me if you intend to go up on Friday and I'll post it here on this webpage. If the weather is totally dismal, A cancellation notice will be posted on Friday at 3 PM and Saturday at 3 PM at this web page or check the hotline message at 408-559-1221. If we have bad weather, we will reschedule for April 29th.

Current Weather	Forecast
Clear-Sky Clock: Conditions:	3/24/06 Friday	3/25/06 Saturday	3/26/06 Sunday
	Click Image	Click Image	Click Image
	Cancelled for Friday Night. Looking possible for Sat!	If Saturday is a go, Look for a message here by 3PM on Saturday

Description of the Marathon

Check out the article in this month's Ephemeris!

Information On Henry Coe State Park

The State's Website
Site sponsored by the Pine Ridge Association (Better)
Directions to the Coe Overflow Parking Lot

There is a $4.00 per vehicle night use fee. It is a $75 ticket if you do not have a paystub. Bob Havner will have envelopes available in the overflow parking lot.
Please arrive by 6:30 PM

Lists and Charts

Full Marathon (110 items) This list is for the diehards. This list is available in two editions:

Observing List Only - a two-page list with correct ordering, rise and set times.
Observing Forms - Bob Havner's list with space for notes.

Rob Hawley's Messier Guide

Rob has created an excellent Messier Guide, updating the work that Don did some 20 years ago.
His charts are very well thought out.
I can not think of an easier way to go through the Virgo Cluster.
Print out a copy and try it for yourself!

Copies of Don Machholz's The Messier Marathon Observer's Guide will be for sale at Coe (while supplies last) for $10.00. We also have one copy of Don's new book, The Observing Guide to the Messier Marathon : A Handbook and Atlas published by Cambridge Books for $25.00.

Messier Marathon
Henry Coe State Park
March 25/26, 2006

March 24th Friday Night Sunset 18:23 Civil Twilight 18:49 Nautical Twilight 19:20 Astronomical Twilight 19:51 March 25th Saturday Morning Moonrise 4:03 Astronomical Twilight 4:36 Nautical Twilight 5:07 Civil Twilight 5:38 Sunrise 6:04

March 25th Saturday Night Sunset 18:24 Civil Twilight 18:50 Nautical Twilight 19:21 Astronomical Twilight 19:52 March 26th Sunday Morning Moonrise 4:39 Astronomical Twilight 4:34 Nautical Twilight 5:06 Civil Twilight 5:36 Sunrise 6:02

Mike Koop / Bob Havner ; last updated: 2006 Mar 20