This is to announce two tables to aid in the use of manual setting circles when slewing equatorial mounts to popular Messier list targets and Caldwell list targets about S38 degs declination at: Table: Messier and Caldwell list slews from bright stars above -38° dec by bright star name http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/plan/mansetcir/html/Messier... Table: Messier and Caldwell list slews from bright stars above -38° dec by right ascension http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/plan/mansetcir/html/Messier... For alt-az mounted scopes, a dynamic spreadsheet is also provided in Excel 2003: Spreadsheet (Excel): Messier and Caldwell list for alt-az slews from bright stars above -38° dec by bright star (2.5 megs) http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/plan/mansetcir/xls/MessierS... The Messier and Caldwell lists are the core of beginner and beginner-intermediate observing programs. Those lists also cover the majority of objects target at public outreach star parties of local astronomy clubs. Pre-computed RA and Dec slews from nearby bright stars for the Messier list and the Caldwell list (above -38° declination) can be of use for owners of manual setting circle mounts when participating in such events or observing programs. Of the above slew lists, the one organized by bright star name is more useful for beginners and for star parties. The primary sort of the bright star ordered list is by constellation. Once a constellation at a favorable altitude is located, the bright star ordered table can be consulted for which bright stars to center on. Usually there are one or two per constellation. The table lists the corresponding slews to popular Messier and Caldwell list entries. These lists are an expansion of my previous amateur webdoc on the use of manual setting circles at: Manual setting circles - basic use http://members.csolutions.net/fisherka/astronote/plan/mansetcir/ManSettingCi... This weekend is the first of two 2008 Messier Marathon windows. The second is in April. (A full Moon washes out the traditional mid-March date.) The slewing tables may be of use for practice during your personal marathon. Peace - Kurt ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ