The weather experts believed that the unprecedented cold weather stream which was crossing the whole country of Iran will be disappeared in the middle of Bahman (January and February) but as we see now the predictions failed. The weather is mainly cold and in some parts of country we have alternative raining and snowing conditions. It was mentioned before that any change and delay in holding the 8^th National Messier Marathon due to the weather condition or financial issues will be announced.

According to the reports the temperature is 8 Celsius degrees below the zero in Meser and snow had covered the whole village. In accord with the latest weather predictions in Iran there will be no considerable change (increasing the temperature) in weather condition in the middle of Isfand. In addition the sky will be mainly cloudy; so there is now way to hold the competition in the supposed time.

Due to the conditions described above, in order to reach an accepted standard and keep the required quality of the National Messier Marathon in Iran and finally to prepare the best condition for the observers, the Amateur Committee of Astronomical Society of Iran (ASIAC) has decided to postpone the competition for a month.

According to the latest decision of ASIAC the 8^th National Messier Marathon in Iran will be held on April 3^rd 2008 (15 Farvardin 1386).

The observers from different cities of Iran should be present in Isfahan city in the morning of Thursday April 3^rd 2008 (15 Farvardin 1386) and they will be sent to the Meser village by buses. Besides the Amateur Committee prepared some accommodations in order to facilitate the trip for observers.

For those individuals that couldn't participate in previous time now it's an opportunity to take part in this competition. Those individual who can't participate in the competition are kindly requested to announce their resignations to the Amateur Committee via electronic mail. 

For more information contact: Messier.Marathon@gmail.com

Further information about completing the registration, paying the sum, how the marathon will be held, terms and rules, how to make a group, required accessories and equipments, announcing the qualified accepted competitors and etc.. Will be announced till March 7^th 2008 (17 Esfand 1386).

Please Note:

·         Registering period is limited to February 29^th 2008 (10 Esfand 1386) and there will be no extension.

·         Each person is responsible for his/ her registration at once, avoid multiple registering at the same time otherwise these forms will be left unread.

·         Due to the possibility of direct questioning via phone please verify and confirm your number.

·         If the Capacity of competitory group is over, the inexperienced observers will be transferred to the didactic- competition group.

·         Please visit the ASIAC website and check your mail box every day in order to rich the most recent news.

Any change and delay in holding the 8^th National Messier Marathon due to the weather condition or financial issues will be announced.

More information about Messier Marathon at:

Click here to register

Iran Astronomy Society Amateur Committee

Charles Messier Biography  

Messier Catalogue

http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/marathon/marathon.html

http://www.astras-stargate.com/holdm.htm

List of Messier objects at WikiPedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Messier_objects

Source : ASIAC.ir/en
Author  : Smaeil Moraveji