Event

The Astronomy Club of Tulsa board decided that it was best to combine the Friday, March 20th Members night event into a single event on Saturday night March 21st for the Messier Marathon. We want to invite all club members who want participate to join us for an all-nighter at the Mounds Observatory for the Messier Marathon Event. The event will be a pot-luck style (bring food and snacks to share) event with the club providing drinks, including coffee and hot chocolate (depending on the temperatures).

Long-time club member David Stine holds the current record for our club, capturing the most Messier object during this event so the challenge is on! We will use the white board in the classroom to keep a running total of your captures so all participants can see where they stand.

A suggested list of targets to maximize your success can be found here: messier-objects.com/messier-marathon/

Remember to use the directions to the observatory on our website at https://www.astrotulsa.com/files/2022-Observatory-Map.f9frtco9hlogdkqu.pdf

Date: Saturday, March 21 - Sunday, March 22, 2026

Time: 6 p.m. - 7 a.m. Central

Location: Astronomy Club of Tulsa Observatory
858 Ferguson Rd #200
Mounds, OK 74047

Information for Visitors

2026 Messier Marathon 1.62 MB

Location Details

Astronomy Club of Tulsa Observatory

Note: GPS & Google maps DO NOT give accurate directions! You must arrive from the east on Ferguson Rd, many area roads listed in Google Maps are private and not accessible. Use Printable Map link below. The observatory and grounds are closed and secured unless we have a scheduled event. Approximately 45 minute drive from Tulsa: --> Go South on Hwy 75 past Glenpool. Continue South after the Glenpool traffic light for 10 more miles. Just after the Mounds exits look for 241st. Turn west/right on 241st Street.(the Duck Creek Casino will be on the left while you turn right). Stay on 241st which will lead you to the Observatory. Just after the first stop sign, cross over the old Hwy 75, the road will turn to gravel/dirt. Continue for another 3.5 miles and around a curve and up a hill. At the top of that hill the road turns to pavement again. One more mile and you will see a white gate that is open when the observatory is open. If the gate is open, go on up the hill. Visitor parking is in the lot near the building with a large tower.

Event Report

Comments and anecdotes about the event:
Great turnout for this event! Most left before midnight, a few stayed until daylight. Member Justin Faulk ended up with 103 Messier Objects, Brad Young was able to get 99, and Scott Bratt got 54. Good weather for the event with an occasional wind gust around 20mph. Good food, good fellowship, and everyone enjoyed themselves!
Photo From Members Night/Messier Marathon
Sunset at observatory grounds for Messier Marathon 2026
Photo From Members Night/Messier Marathon
Pot luck carry in for Messier Marathon 2026

UPCOMING EVENTS

Fri 4/17/2026
7:30 p.m. Central
Member's Night @ Observatory Astronomy Club of Tulsa Observatory
858 Ferguson Rd #200
Mounds, OK
Fri 4/24/2026
7 p.m. - 10 p.m. Central
Interstellar Night @ Guthrie Green Guthrie Green
111 E. Reconcilliation Way
Tulsa, OK
Sat 4/25/2026
7:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Central
Case Community Center Sidewalk Astronomy Case Community Center
1050 W. Wekiwa Rd
36.13917277814012, -96.12801032413758
Sand Springs, OK
Fri 5/1/2026
7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Central
Astronomy Club of Tulsa Meeting Jenks Planetarium
205 E B St
Jenks, OK