20 years ago I completed the Astronomical League’s Messier Observing Program while a member of the Fort Worth Astronomical Society. So what’s the Messier (pronounced MEH-see-yay) Observing program? I’m glad you asked.
The Messier List is an exceptional list of brighter deep-sky objects primarily made up of open and globular clusters, galaxies, planetary nebulae and other nebulae. In my opinion it’s the perfect list to learn your way around the sky. I highly recommend this program for those new to the hobby. It’s a fantastic way to learn how to star-hop using a telescope in order to find all 110 Messier objects.
You’ll learn a great deal about the different objects that you locate, how to find those objects in the sky and since there are new objects on the list coming into view with the passing of the seasons, it helps maintain the excitement and anticipation of not only your next observing session but of new objects to observe over a calendar year.