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The Astronomical League's
BINOCULAR
MESSIER CLUB
Rules and Regulations
Appendices
Messier List
THE APPENDICES
 For those of you who are uncertain as to which Messier
objects to observe, or who need a formal program to follow, we have included Appendix
A and Appendix B for
your use. Appendix A is for
binoculars between 20MM and 50MM in diameter. Appendix
B is for binoculars between 56MM and 80MM in diameter.
Each appendix lists the appropriate Messier objects that can
be observed with that size instrument, and is divided into three categories:
Easy, Tough, and Challenge objects.
are
those that appear large and bright in the field of view, and are easily located.
Tougher objects are
small and dim in the field of view and require identifying the fields around
them with the help of some sort of star chart to verify their location.
Challenge objects are
those that are small and faint, sometimes requiring averted vision, and need to
be pinpointed exactly on a good star atlas to identify.
You'll notice that in the small binocular category (Appendix
A), 42 objects are classified as easy. You need only choose 8 of the
objects in the tougher category to receive your certificate. For larger
binoculars (Appendix B), all 50
objects needed to receive the certificate can be chosen out of the easy
category. The point is that anyone, with any pair of binoculars, no matter what
their size, shape, condition, or cost, can do serious astronomy, and acquire a
Binocular Messier Club certificate. To prove that point, all 76 objects in Appendix
A (Easy, Tough, and Challenge objects) were observed with a pair of
7x35 Tasco binoculars purchased at Wal-Mart for $19.00.
Appendix C is
for reference purposes, listing all 110 of the Messier objects, the times when
they are best observed, and in constellation sequence. So, if you are wondering
what is the best time of the year to observe a Messier object, refer to Appendix
C. Appendix C tells
by season each object's coordinates, their NGC numbers, the constellation they
are located in, and their sizes and magnitudes. Appendix
C also lists all of the Messier objects in the exact same order as
the Astronomical League's Observe manual Observe:
A Guide to the Messier Objects, in case you are using that as an
observing aide.
APPENDIX A
Messier Objects for 7x35, 7x50, and 10x50 BINOCULARS
I. EASY MESSIER OBJECTS:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22,
23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 31, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42,
44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 52, 55,67, 92, 93,103
TOTAL = 42
II. TOUGHER MESSIER OBJECTS:
14, 19, 28, 30, 33, 40, 49, 53, 62, 63, 64, 78, 79, 80,
81, 82, 83, 94
TOTAL = 18
III. CHALLENGE MESSIER OBJECTS:
1, 9, 26, 32, 51, 54, 56, 65, 66, 68, 71, 75, 97, 101,
104, 106
TOTAL = 16
GRAND TOTAL = 76
APPENDIX B
Messier Objects for 11x80 BINOCULARS
I. EASY MESSIER OBJECTS:
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35,
36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 52,
53, 55, 62, 67, 71, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 92, 93, 94,103
TOTAL = 58
II. TOUGHER MESSIER OBJECTS:
1, 9, 33, 49, 51, 54, 56, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 75,
77, 83, 87, 97, 101, 102, 104, 106
TOTAL = 23
III. CHALLENGE MESSIER OBJECTS:
20, 58, 59, 69, 70, 72, 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 95, 96,
99, 100, 105, 107, 108, 109, 110
TOTAL = 21
GRAND TOTAL = 102
[ Home ] [ Binocular Messier ] [ Binocular Deep Sky ] [ Double Star Club ] [ Urban Club ] [ Lunar Club ] [ Universe Sampler ] [ Planetary Observers Club ] [ Asteroid Club ] [ Southern Skies Binocular Club ] [ New AL Observing Programs ] [ Arp Peculiar Galaxies ] [ AL Observing Program Contact Info ] [ Observing Forms and Sketch Log ]
You MUST be a member of the Astronomical League, either through membership in an affiliated
astronomical society or as a Member-at-Large, to receive certification for the Planetary Observers Club.
As a member of the AAAA, not only are you eligible to earn this observing award, but you will
also get your own subscription to the Astronomical League's newsletter, the REFLECTOR, as well as our own quarterly
newsletter, The American Astronomer.
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