Running the M-Cubed is an advanced approach to the Messier Marathon requiring the observer to already be very familiar with each target's position.
Sharpshooting the Messiers for a few seasons before even hearing of the M-Cubed, my approach included committing the entire sequence to memory.
For easier memorization the 110 Messier objects are broken down into 10 groups, each 'leg' corresponding to a specific area of the sky. Numeric patterns are added whenever possible while still following the basic search sequence.
I have used this technique to manually hunt and observe all 110 Messiers from Arizona, and 109 on three occasions from 41N latitude without the aid of starcharts or notes.
Begin by memorizing the first string of numbers while visualizing their positions. As you become comfortable with these, repeat the process for the subsequent groups.
Evening Rush
74, 77, 33, 31, 32, 110, 103, 52, 76, 34, 45
Southern Comfort
79, 42, 43, 78, 41, 50, 93, 46, 47, 48
Early Ecliptic
1, 35, 37, 36, 38, 44, 67, 95, 96, 105, 65, 66
The Big Bear
81, 82, 97, 108, 109, 40, 106, 94, 63, 51, 101, 102
Downtown Virgo
98, 99, 100, 85, 84, 86, 87, 88, 91, 90, 89
Virgo and the 'Burbs
58, 59, 60, 49, 61, 64, 53, 3, 104, 68, 83
Easy East
5, 13, 92, 57, 56, 39, 29, 27, 71
Got Globulars?
12, 10, 14, 107, 9, 4, 80, 62, 19
Cruising the Milky Way
11, 26, 16, 17, 18, 24, 25, 23, 21, 20, 8, 28, 22
Homestretch
6, 7, 69, 70, 54, 55, 75, 15, 2, 72, 73, 30
With repetition the individual strings will eventually link together as the
entire search sequence is committed to memory. (note: the strings' titles are by no means written in stone, and can be substituted for any phrase the observer finds mneumonically helpful.)
I encourage those interested in attempting this method to practice with 'mini-M-Cubes' throughout the year, going over each leg in sections.
Many end up suprised by how many are already familiar outside of their 'chart and starhopping' routine.
[Left Ascension, Feb '04]
*****
google top searches weather dictionary dogs cats pets american idol cars mapquest map directions games tattoo piercing horoscopes airport taxicab free song lyrics ipod chat singles blog text ringtones 50 cent bmw jessica simpson alba movies amazon oprah martha stewart hobby beads jewelry weddings marriage nascar virus protection ebay britney big brother star trek pizza tickets concert spears lindsay lohan rachael ray miley cyrus world cup wikipedia wiki video comedy jobs tax return stocks money loans insurance gifts furniture medicine drugs hospital schools simpsons homes rent classifieds sale discount new used television wholesale spyware repair nude yahoo paris hilton nfl att ups fedex wwe food hotels poems baby names music google msn hotmail books cd cnn sports sex shoes download bands new york los angeles chicago
