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If you have attended the last several
OCA meetings you would have heard mention of the
upcoming Messier Marathon to be held at our March
24th Star Party at Anza. March is the ideal month
to attempt to observe all 110 of the Messier Objects
in just one night. This year it is the best time
to experience a Messier Marathon at the Anza star-party
as it coincides perfectly with the new moon.
The specific details of the program
for the Messier Marathon (MM) will be released in
a short while - but a major focus of the night will
be around the setup of some scopes on the new Public
Pads in the football field.
Many members who attend a MM will
want to concentrate on their own task of locating,
viewing and logging their personal tour through
the objects. This year we want to make the event
accessible to as wide a group of our members as
possible. Having a set of public scopes available
will make it possible for everyone (even those without
a telescope) to experience many of the most beautiful
dark sky objects available for your eyes to see.
Jim Benet and James Thorpe will
also be operating the Kuhn Telescope as a public
MM scope for the evening.
Everyone who attends the March
star-party and observes any of the Messier objects
will receive their own Certificate from the club
celebrating the event.
At the February meeting (my first
as OCA president) I did a little experiment and
asked the audience to raise their hands if they
were members and had never been down to Anza. Quite
a few members did indeed raise their hands.
I want to extend a request to everyone
who has not had an opportunity to visit our Anza
site to come down to the March star party. This
is the perfect time to make the effort to experience
one of the most amazing opportunities afforded to
us all through the clubs fantastic Anza site resource.
Those at the February meeting will
remember my offer to drive some of you down to Anza
for the Messier Marathon if that will help. I was
serious. If you need a lift - just send me an email
and we'll arrange something.
Don't miss this opportunity. Just
dress warm and bring the whole family!
"The universe is full of magical things patiently
waiting for our wits to grow sharper"
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