This file was contributed by Paul Dickson 1996 All Arizona Messier Marathon by AJ Crayon Saguaro Astronomy Club Phoenix, AZ This years Marathon was held on March 16th at a new location south of an older observing site south of Arizona City. This is a very dark and secluded location about 20 miles past Arizona City. During the middle of the week preceding the Marathon the weather was just great for the farmers but awful for observing - it rained a lot. A whole lot! Fortunately it ended on Friday and started to clear. By Saturday those observing juices were more than flowing, they were gushing. We, Steve Coe and David Fredericksen and myself, left my house about 2:30pm. I wanted an early start in order for the organizer to arrive at the site at a respectably early time. I also wanted some extra time to see old friends and make some new ones. On the way we chatted on the CB radio to help pass the time away. Before getting there we took a poll amongst ourselves to determine how many scopes would be there when we arrived and how many would be there by sunset. Steve got the number right for our arrival at 12 and I was closest for sunset at 58. After passing through Arizona City and getting towards the site we came upon SAC signs pointing the way. They were placed there by Adam Sunshine. Pulling into the site we saw flashing red lights marking the way from the road well into the observing field. This would be a great help for those departing before morning twilight! In the middle of the observing field was the much expected port-a-john. This was initially requested by ladies; but was also well used by men. Mainly because the observing site was so large the port-a-john was closer than any tree or bush! It to was marked by flashing red lights. After darkness the lights proved to be too much of a distraction to observers. So they were placed inside. You could still see the flashing through the side vents near the roof. But, before it got dark I had a chance to chat with Ray Farnsworth. He is the owner of the land we were using for the site. He is a very pleasant person to talk with. Some of the rain damage to the road was cleaned up by him. We owe him a thanks, a big thanks!!! Not just for the site, but also for maintaining the road. I also had a chance to see old friends and make new ones. Space doesn't permit mentioning all. But I had chance to speak with Glen Nishimoto who let me use his camera - loaded with film - and Hazel Lawler; both belong to TAAA. I can't forget new friends Tom McGowan, all the way from Massachusetts, and Tom Bopp of Hale-Bopp fame! Also well represented was EVAC with Tony Ortege, Don Wrigley and the Albers! Thanks to these and all who attended. You made the event a success! By sunset there was much expectation about the marathon and Comet Hyakutake. A good thing the marathon wasn't a week later as this comet turned out to be a spectacular treat! By this time the number of scopes had grown to 65. As darkness descended the marathon, general observing and astrophotography began! By 11pm I had completed the Realm of the Galaxies and decided to take a well deserved break. After midnight I noticed some clouds covering a large area to the north and east. Well away from that part of the sky I needed to observe. Fortunately the clouds weren't a problem for me. As morning approached the clouds became a dreadful problem for others because the covered parts of Pegasus and Aquarius. They caused a number of observers to miss objects in these constellations. Finally it came to the final object, M30! In the minutes before morning twilight I was able to locate the two bright stars to the west of the globular in my 8X50 finder. They were just above a mountain top to the southeast. When I thought M30 was just above the horizon I walked over to David's telescope to have a look. I didn't see it in his telescope either. I scurried back to my telescope, hoping. A few moments later I heard Dave call for me to come confirm his observation of M30. While I head the call, it was ignored for two reasons; 1) the 200 feet distance between us was too far to get there in time to see it before disappearing and 2) I was hoping to see it in my scope. As time passed and daylight began descending upon the observing field, 41 Capricorni appeared in the finder for a few fleeting moments. But, alas, M30 never showed up in my scope. When it was all over, David came by to deliver his check off list and to discuss his fleeting view of M30. While viewing it he jiggled the telescope; the fuzzy blob moved accordingly. After discussing whether his glimpse was enough to qualify for being observed or not he decided it was. The final standings of those 30 who turned in observing forms follows. num name scope organ. missed 110 David Fredericksen 12.5"f6Dob SAC 109 AJ Crayon 8"f6N SAC 30 Tom McGowan 20"f5Dob MA 30 Tony Ortega 10"f5.6Dob EVAC 30 Don Wrigley 10"Dob EVAC 30 108 Carl V. Anderson 8"f6N UofA 73 30 Adam Block 12.5"Dob UofA 73 30 M. Aaron McNeely 8"Dob EVAC 73 30 Ken Reeves 10"f4.5Dob SAC 72 30 Wade Holguin 8"SCT ? 74 30 Jack Jones 10"f4.5N SAC 74 30 107 Paul Dickson 8"f4.5Dob SAC 72 73 30 Bob Gardner 10"f4.5N SAC 72 73 30 Manfred/Diane Alber13.1"f4.5Dob EVAC 74 73 30 Rick Rotramel 16"f4.4N SAC 74 02 30 106 Steve Bell 10"f5.6N EVAC 02 72 73 30 Flynn Haase 4.5"N UofA 74 72 73 30 Steve White 12.5"Dob UofA 74 72 73 30 102 Hazel Lawler 17.5"f4.5Dob TAAA 77 74 75 15 02 72 73 30 101 Rob Smalley 8"SCT EVAC 77 74 33 31 32 110 03 72 30 97 Bob Birket ? ? 96 Rod Lowe 6"f4.5N SAC 94 Glenn Nishimoto 8"f4.5N TAAA 89 Mike Lercy? 4"Refractor ? 84 John Kannarr 13.1"Dob SAC 82 Adam Sunshine 12.5"Dob SAC 60 Regina Lawless 6"f3.6 SAC 56 Angelle Tanner 10X70Binos UofA 55 Charles Whiting ? SAC 22 Matthew Spinelli 8"SCT ?