The Messier Marathon: 110 Objects. One Night.

Saturday, March 21 (sunset) to Sunday, March 22 (sunrise). This is a full night event!

Join Custer Observatory for our first-ever Messier Marathon! This is the ultimate deep-sky challenge: we’ll attempt to locate all 110 objects in Charles Messier’s famous catalog—from galaxies to nebulae—between sunset and sunrise. Because of the timing of the sun’s path, March is the only time of year when it's possible to see all 110 objects in one go.

The Messier objects are a set of 110 astronomical objects catalogued by the French astronomer Charles Messier. This list, which Messier created in collaboration with his assistant Pierre Mechain, is known as the Messier Catalogue. The Messier catalogue is one of the most famous lists of astronomical objects, many of which are still referenced by their Messier numbers today. The catalogue includes most of the deep-sky objects (nebulae, star clusters, galaxies) that can be easily observed from Earth's northern hemisphere. If you’ve never participated in a Messier Marathon before, this is a great opportunity to challenge yourself and experience the wonders of the night sky just as Charles Messier did over 200 years ago! This isn't just a viewing—it’s a marathon. We’ll be hunting down all 110 nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies in the Messier Catalog in a single dusk-to-dawn session!

This is a hands-on, outdoor observing event and requires that participants bring their own telescope and have a working knowledge of the night sky. Please also bring a red flashlight or headlight. Expect cold March nights; bring a blanket and/or warm clothing for comfort during viewing. The observatory facility will be open all night as a warming center for breaks, resting and conversation. Light refreshments will also be available.

This event is weather-dependent and requires clear skies. If cloud cover greater than 40% is forecast, the event will be canceled. A final weather determination will be made the morning of the event (there is no rain date for this event). Cancellation will be announced on Custer Observatory's website event listing and an email notification will be sent to those who have pre-registered. Full refunds will be issued in the case of cancellation.

$10 General Admission, Custer Observatory Members FREE. Due to limited space, registration is strongly encouraged. All event updates including weather cancellations will be sent to the email address used at ticket checkout. Please check your email and/or Custer Observatory's website the morning of the event in case a cancellation is announced.

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