messier cert
TRANSCRIPT
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• Charles Messier (1730-1817)
• Comet hunter (13)
• Speculum metal mirror telescope
• 80 mm (3”) – 100 mm (4”) aperture
• Paris 48.8742° N
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• Appreciation of traditional methods
• Sense of history
• Experience the sky
• Begin an observingprogram
• Learn to use yourequipment
• Get a nice certificate
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• Well-known objects like:– Pleiades(M45)
– Andromeda Galaxy(M31)
– Orion Nebula(M42)
– Sagittarius Cluster(M22)
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• And tougher ones like:– M89 5x5 arc minutes11th magnitude
– M595x4 arc minutes11th magnitude
(Pleiades 110 arc minutes 2nd magnitude)
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• New Moon is best
• Mid-March to early-April (at 25° N) view all the objects in one night!
• Late September to view most of the objects over a night (43.6° N)
• Impossible to view all from any parts south of 30° S
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• You need to be a member in good standing (paid-up membership, no parking tickets) over your observationtime and your submission time
• Tell a couple of members of RASC (in good standing) that you will need them to review your logs and activities, and witness your application
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• At least 3” Telescope on (no binos) – an equatorial mount (best)– an alt azimuth mount (good)
• If mount is manual (you are applying for the traditional certificate)
• If computer-assisted (digital cert)• (using a calculator to take RA and decand turn it into alt az on a manual mount is “traditional”)
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• Print out the 115-page Messier log and guide (or just the pages you need for the night you will be observing)
• Pick a few targets for your first night
• This time of year you could choose Orion (M42, M43, M78)
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• Typical session (90 mins 6 Ms):– Preparation time (15 mins.)
• Printing, pencils, red lights, picking targets
– Telescope setup no GOTO – (15 mins.)• Align scope on North, Level setting circles
– Each object – (7½ mins.)• Star hop, align• Observe• Enter log data• Observe some more!
– Pack up (15 mins.)
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• Typical duration:– Minimally 19 evenings at around 6 objects a night and 45 minutes at the scope
– About 3 months in the winter at any hour
– About 2 months in the late fall any hour
– About 11 months if you want to observe after sunset only
Who? Why? What? When? How?
1. Show your log book to 2 members
2. Fill in the Affidavit
3. Have the members witness
4. Mail the Affidavit to the Observing Committee in Regina
5. Wait
Who? Why? What? When? How?
• 309 Members throughout Canada
• Randy 2005 (at Toronto)
• Chris 1995 (at Toronto)
• NO RECIPIENTS AT THE MISSISSAUGA CENTER YET
• Why not be the first ?