We have completed our Messier Minutes series. If you missed any episodes, want to rewatch, or looking for our guides, check out the table below! In each episode, we review the Messier objects visible in the sky in the next two weeks, including tips and tricks on how to find them. The dates are from the year 2022, when our series aired. However, you can observe the objects at approximately the same time each year. Follow along in observing the 110 targets from one of the most famous lists of Deep Sky Objects and work towards your RASC Messier Observing Certificate!
Check out resources and links to past episodes in the table below:
| Episode | Description | Resources |
|---|---|---|
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Introduction: |
An introduction to all the RASC Observing Programs, including the Messier Certificate. General Questions about working towards and receiving an RASC observing certificate are answered here! |
Messier Minutes Guide Part 1 - Intro To Messier Certificate
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Episode 1: |
Early and Late evening targets to view over the next two weeks following the new moon. If you are lucky you can catch some "Autumn" targets in the early evening! | |
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Episode 2: |
Early evening targets to view over the next two weeks when the Moon is prominent in the sky. We are focusing on Open Star Clusters, including the well-known Pleiades! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 3 |
| Episode 3: March 1st - 14th, 2022 |
Early evening targets that are visible in the winter sky over the next two weeks. Another viewing list full of open clusters! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 4 |
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Episode 4: |
Late evening targets that are visible over the next couple of weeks around the full and waning moon. | Messier Minutes Guide Part 5 |
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Episode 5: |
A whole bunch of targets for the next two weeks. In this episode, we focus on the Virgo Cluster and Markarian’s Chain. As well as review five objects in Leo! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 6 |
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Episode 6: |
It's a short list this week, with only two targets! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 7 |
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Episode 7: |
We are moving into summer targets this week. As the weather gets warmer and stargazing more comfortable be sure to look for these objects when you head out! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 8 |
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Episode 8: |
Four targets to look out for this week. Including the classic summer targets M13 (Hercules Star Cluster)! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 9 |
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Episode 9: |
This week's target list completes the last of the Spring Messiers! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 10 |
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Episode 10: |
We focus on westerly summer messier targets you can see over the next month! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 11 |
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Episode 11: |
We focus on the southerly summer Messier objects in Sagittarius and Scorpius. | Messier Minutes Guide Part 12 |
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Episode 12: |
We focus on the northerly summer messier objects in this week's episode! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 13 |
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Episode 13: |
The last of the summer messier objects are covered in this week's episode! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 14 |
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Episode 14: |
Only four messier objects left after this week! | Messier Minutes Guide Part 15 |
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Episode 15: October 11th - October 24th, 2022 |
This is the end of the Messier Minutes! We will cover the final four targets this week. | Messier Minutes Guide Part 16 |
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 MessierMinuteGuidePart1-Intro.pdf | 704.89 KB |
| MessierMinute_GuidePart2.pdf | 1.28 MB |
| MessierMinute_GuidePart3.pdf | 681.09 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide_Part4.pdf | 615.33 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide_Part 5.pdf | 619.33 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide_Part6.pdf | 650.18 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide_Part7.pdf | 513.86 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part8.pdf | 531.4 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part9.pdf | 927.51 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part10.pdf | 500.93 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part11.pdf | 556.29 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part12.pdf | 602.69 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part13.pdf | 1.4 MB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part14.pdf | 590.55 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part15.pdf | 526.45 KB |
| MessierMinutesGuide-Part16.pdf | 518.54 KB |