Join us for Messier Marathon at Sariska, 4th and 5th March, 2011

Invitation to join SPACE for Messier Marathon

at Sariska on March 4^th and 5^th

SPACE invites you to join in a ‘Messier Marathon’ observation weekend on March 4^th and 5^th at Sariska Tiger Den in Sariska. Observe all Messier deep sky objects in one night! Learn how to point and guide a telescope hands on from experts, and see celestial objects in detail! The observations will be complemented by the location Sariska, one of the darkest sites away from city lights and close to a wildlife sanctuary thus offering other recreation such as safaris.

M-51 captured by SPACE during Messier Marathon, 2010

The French Astronomer Charles Messier discovered and catalogued the Messier objects while he was looking for comets! The Catalog consists of 110 bright deep sky objects - galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters scattered across the sky. Amateur astronomers across the world try to find the maximum of such objects in one night annually, thus called ‘Messier Marathon’. 

The 2 day program will incorporate workshops and training to learn about these Messier objects as well as in the observing techniques and astrophotography. A Registration fee in the amount of Rs.1000 includes workshops and training. The registration fee will not include any equipment cost, boarding and lodging and transport. Rooms of different levels are available at this workshop venue, Sariska Tiger Den. The participants will have to reach their own travel arrangements to Sariska, to and fro. The equipment such as camera, telescopes, filters, eyepieces shall be available for purchase for the interested participants who do not own any equipment. We can arrange/coordinate with groups for arranging to and fro transport from Delhi and negotiate with the hotel on your behalf on request basis, which will not be binding on us.

This program is suitable for all from novice to experts, no prior knowledge of astronomy is necessary. Please join us in this wonderful opportunity to observe and learn about the Messier objects and observe them first hand in a Marathon session to find all 110! Please register by Feb 25^th as this is on a first cum first served basis. Write to info@space-india.org or call Ravinder Rawat, SPACE at 9212669913 for more information on this program.