Karen Takes on the Messier Marathon!

The Messier Marathon challenges amateur astronomers to view the entire Messier catalogue of 110 deep sky objects in one evening. This is quite a challenge and the ability to achieve this depends on the observer’s latitude and the time of year (owning to the length of the night). In fact, any hope of completing the challenge means that the observing session must take place during the brief windows of moonless nights between mid-March to early April and around the autumnal equinox.

With 110 galaxies, nebulae and globular clusters to image in one night, anyone participating in the challenge has only a few minutes per target. Unfortunately, an observer in Coventry is unlikely to be able to spot all objects – some are simply too close to the horizon. Nevertheless, recording all of the Messier catalogue is an activity that most amateurs don’t achieve this in their entire lifetime let alone one evening!

That said, if I could point to anyone in our club who would relish the challenge it would be our own Karen S – one of the most enthusiastic and prolific imagers in our group.

At a recent observing session, while some of us were looking at just one or two objects, Karen was imaging target after target following her own well-prepared plan. Catching up with Karen after the event, she kindly offered her insights into how she was dealing with the challenge:

When did you first hear about the challenge?

I believe I first heard about the Messier challenge from Galactic Hunter, on YouTube a few years ago. 

What made you take on the challenge?

During the Sky Notes section of the latest CWAS meeting (March 2026), Mark brought up the challenge and mentioned that the best time to try and capture the targets is between the end of March and the start of April.  It sounded like fun, so I decided to give it a go.

How is your progress to date?

I have captured 14 targets, two trees and a building! Unfortunately, the latter three images were targets that had dropped too low on the horizon!

What has been the hardest part of the challenge?

Time! Unfortunately, I started the challenge about an hour after astronomical darkness, so I had already missed several targets, and the ones remaining in the west were setting very quickly! We also could not stay at the observing site past midnight.

I am hoping to continue capturing the Messier objects from my back garden, but the lack of a clear horizon will be the limiting factor there, and of course the UK weather!

What would be your advice to others attempting this challenge?

Find a dark site with a clear horizon, especially towards the West, where the majority of the targets set. 

Have a plan. You can download Messier target lists from the Internet with suggested observing orders, or you could make your own plan using applications like Stellarium.

Know your equipment. For astrophotography, swap filters when necessary, star clusters and galaxies work better with broadband filters, light pollution filters or no filter at all.  Nebulae often work best with dual narrowband filters. For this reason it is also useful for your Messier object plan to include the type of each target.

Have fun! 😃