Messier
Club
Visually observe 70
Messier objects and keep a record of your observations.
Your notes must include:
a. Date of observation;
b. Time of observation;
c. Seeing conditions;
d. Aperture size of telescope;
e. Power used;
f. A short description of the
Messier object.
When we last
performed this exercise some years ago, the club included all
the objects in the Messier list toward certification. Although
the League does not require that now, it still is a good idea,
so I encourage you to continue seeking more of the objects as
you get past the 70 required for certification.
Note "F" above.
Tell in your own words how the object appears to you
in your own or a friend/partner's telescope, not just by cutting
and pasting a description of the object from a book or web
page.
Keeping records
including all the annotations in the notes as listed above, will
help you to become a better observer, because you will then be
able to relate each of them to what you actually observed, and
be able to draw on that information when you wish to observe
those or similar objects in the future.
Download Observing Log
Interactive Chart
Observing
Awards
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