MAS
Fall Messier Marathon @ Cherry Grove
Sept 14th-15th, 2007
Images shot on Sept 14th, 2007.
Shot with a Nikon D40
(Click on any thumbnail to see a larger 1504x1000 JPEG image)
Fri Sept 14th, 2007
Warming house glow |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
Big dipper & Scope |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
Sign-in sheet and prizes |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
Summer Triange |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
Big Dipper |
Checking Charts |
Bill Kocken @ MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
Bill Kocken @ MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
Bill Kocken @ MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
MAS Fall Mini-Messier Marathon |
Auriga/Mars Rising |
Auriga/Mars Rising |
Auriga/Mars Rising |
Cassiopeia & Andromeda |
Time Lapse 10:42pm-11:13pm CDT
9.76 M animated GIF |
CG Results:
Most important. We had an excellent turnout and superb skies. Not a cloud in the sky, very good transparency and above average seeing. The wind died down and the temp dropped to about 30 degrees by the time I left. It was a great night for amateur astronomy. Everyone had a good time! Laughing
First, is the important competition of which site had the most participants. We had 17 people sign in at CG, but I think we had several more who never signed in. They arrived late and I didn't get a chance to solicit their names.
The most-observed competition was a war of attrition as one by one, astronomers fell prey to frost. The winner was my brother Dave who stayed late enough to observe 51 objects. The final push ended at about 3:15 AM as he knocked off some easy winter objects, M34, 35,36, 37,38, 42,43,76,78.
The ever-popular Messier Bingo was.... not so popular. Embarassed, I only had 2 cards turned in. Mine and Steve Emert's. Neither of us had a complete card, Crying or Very sad so I'm going to declare the M-bingo at CG a bust. Instead, I'm going to award the M-Bingo prize to the 2nd place in the most-observed category.
So the Prize winners are:
- 1st prize Dave Kocken, 51 objects. Dave wins a 12volt hairdryer/anti frost gun.
- 2nd prize: Jeff Burrows, 49 Objects. Jeff wins a very nice 12oz ceramic coffee mug. The mug is blue and black and features a drawing of pine trees, a rustic cabin and lots of stars. The words, " Starry, Starry Nights in Minnesota" are printed around the top of the mug.
- Door prize. I threw 17 names in a hat and drew out Hawlel Brink's name. Hawlel wins a book from Radio City, "Observing for the Fun of It", by Melanie Melton. The book was donated by Radio City, in Mounds View. Thanks to Dan Fish for his generous donation.
The LLCC 4M had just 4 particpants. They had great skies but heavy frost.
Jim Tabot wins the most objects observed, with 25 objects. He gets a $25 gift card.
There were no contestants in the not-so-ever-popular Messier Bingo. The door prize winner was Bob Abramson (sp?). He selected the Creamic Coffee mug.
FYI, the SP at LLCC for tonight is ON, but it will not be a 4M event.
If anyone else has a review of the night, or comments post it here. If you have ideas on how to improve next year's events let us know.
Thanks for a great night
Bill
Web Pages by Ben
Photos by Ben Huset
Last revision Sept-14th, 2007
by Ben
Counter started Sept-14th, 2007 
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