To qualify for the CIAA Messier Certificate, you need only be a member of the CIAA, through either an affiliated club or amateur group. You have to observe 50 or more Messier objects using only binoculars or telescopes. Any 50 of the 110 recognized Messier objects may be observed. You may use any pair of binoculars, but we recommend those with objectives between 20MM and 80MM in diameter.

To record your observations, you may use the log sheets as prescribed.

Your own log sheets should include: object, date, time, power, seeing, type of binocular, and observing notes.

To receive your Messier Certificate, simply send your observations along with your name, address, phone number, and club affiliation to The General Secretary CIAA, T-15 Sunrise Park Tenements, PO Bodakdev, Ahmedabad 380054.

Upon verification of your observations, your certificate will be forwarded either to you or your club, whomever you choose.

The program will be coordinated by Mr. C B Devgun. Once a participant has registered with the CIAA for the program, he/she will be assigned a Registration Number. The participant will have to use this number to seek the guidance from the coordinator. He can be communicated via email at cb@space-india.org or www.space-india.org/messier

If you need to become a member of the CIAA as a Member please contact Mr. Nilesh Vayada, Asst. Secretary at nileshv@vsnl.com A list of astronomy clubs and amateur groups are also given in the CIAA website at the following link. http://www.ciaa.net/

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 50MM 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.

Easy 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.

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 binoculars.

Registration and Program Fees:

Participants can join this program by filling the prescribed application form along with the fees. The application forms can be obtained from the following addresses:-

1. Mr. CB Devgun, (Program Coordinator)
431 Dhruva Apartments, 4 IP Extention
Patparganj, Behind Mother Diary plant
Delhi 110 092

2. Mr. Nilesh Vayada (Asst. Secretary)
503 A Prem Kunj Navroji Lane
Ghatkopar West
Mumbai 400 086

3. Mr. Manoj Pai (General Secretary)
T-15 Sunrise Park Tenements
Sargam Road, PO Bodakdev
Ahmedabad 380 054

The fees for the CIAA Messier Certificate program would be Rupees One Hundred and Fifty (Rs. 150/-) payable by cash in Ahmedabad or Demand Draft drawn in the name of “Confederation of Indian Amateur Astronomers”, payable at Ahmedabad. Or Click here to pay the fees online by credit card on secure server. All forms duly filled in with registration fees must reach the the General Secretary, CIAA latest by 20th March, 2005. The fee includes registration fee for the programme and supply of support material for the Messier Marathon.

Last date of submission of observation of log sheet will be 10th April, 2005. All successful participants will be awarded with certificates on or after the Astronomy day 2005.