Go Back   IceInSpace > Beginners Start Here > Beginners Talk

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 3 votes, 2.67 average.
  #1  
Old 25-05-2012, 05:05 AM
iceman's Avatar
iceman (Mike)
Sir Post a Lot!

iceman is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,760
Article: Highlights of the Winter Sky

Suzy has been kind enough to write an article for beginners who are looking for something to observe during Winter. It's called Highlights of the Winter Sky and is available from the IceInSpace Projects page, or directly by clicking the link below:

Highlights of the Winter Sky

Thanks to Suzy for her contribution! We'd love more, of any type of article or review. Get in touch via Write for IceInSpace.

Last edited by iceman; 25-05-2012 at 03:40 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 25-05-2012, 03:40 PM
iceman's Avatar
iceman (Mike)
Sir Post a Lot!

iceman is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,760
Suzy's first article has been uploaded
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 25-05-2012, 04:50 PM
jjjnettie's Avatar
jjjnettie (Jeanette)
Registered User

jjjnettie is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Monto
Posts: 16,738
Well done Suzy
I'll print the list out and if the rain ever clears, I'll work my way though it.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 25-05-2012, 04:58 PM
astroron's Avatar
astroron (Ron)
Supernova Searcher

astroron is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Cambroon Queensland Australia
Posts: 9,313
Well Done Suzy,
I will use this list to add to my pretty picture gallery when I get visitors to Cambroon
Cheers
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25-05-2012, 06:03 PM
Colin_Fraser's Avatar
Colin_Fraser
Registered User

Colin_Fraser is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Porepunkah, Australia
Posts: 329
Thanks very much Suzy.
It's perfect. Exactly what us beginners need
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25-05-2012, 09:20 PM
Wookie's Avatar
Wookie (Ryan)
Registered User

Wookie is offline
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 117
Thanks Suzy,

Having just acquired my first telescope I'll be sure to work my way through this list and enjoy the Highlights of the Winter Sky!!!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 25-05-2012, 10:18 PM
technofetishism's Avatar
technofetishism (Nick)
Registered User

technofetishism is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 194
Great list, made a quick EQTour file attatched for those ASCOM inclined. (rename to .lst)
Attached Files
File Type: txt suzy_wintersky.txt (1.2 KB, 52 views)
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 25-05-2012, 11:34 PM
Suzy's Avatar
Suzy
Searching for Travolta...

Suzy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Posts: 3,700
Thank you so much everyone.
It's been a rewarding experience doing this list knowing it's going to help so many of you. I'm so glad you like it!

I would love to hear everyones observations- please post them here if you get a chance? I can't wait to hear how you all go with them and what you'll think. Some might call me nosey
But you'll also find that reading observing reports are a great way to learn and if people post some here, there might be more to learn.

If you've never posted on this forum before- pleeeease join in.

Happy scoping everyone & clear skies.
Now go get 'em!

P.S. Just saying... If I was to pick first off the rank on that list to observe, it would be Ruby Crucis (& ridiculously easy to find to boot!). Get ready to pick your jaw off the ground though.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 26-05-2012, 12:01 AM
Suzy's Avatar
Suzy
Searching for Travolta...

Suzy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Posts: 3,700
Have a read of this thread- it's filled with loads of helpful advice in helping to find galaxies. Posts #36 &#37 give a fantastic star hop tip to finding M104 (The Sombrero galaxy).

Remember... galaxies are best viewed when the moon isn't around and the object is nice and high in the sky. Avoid Zenith if you have a dob- it can be difficult.

I have a great little app. on my android phone that tells me when the moon is going to buzz off, take a look here.
Even when the moon is in its waning and waxing crescent phases, there are times when it'll rise later in the night allowing you a few hours to observe those galaxies without it.

Last edited by Suzy; 26-05-2012 at 12:25 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 26-05-2012, 05:02 AM
skysurfer's Avatar
skysurfer
Dark sky rules !

skysurfer is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: 52N 6E (EU)
Posts: 1,152
Well, winter constellations are still visible by this time of the year when it is just dark.

Ar lat 34 S (NSW, VIC, ACT, SA, southern WA) the most well known winter constellation Orion is still low in the West, Canis Major above it, Canis Minor, Gemini, etc. Canopus is also a 'winter star', but in most of AU it is visible nearly all year round and in Melbourne and TAS even circumpolar. But for some winter highlights such as the Pleiades, M42 you are too late, they are gone now. They are 'winter constellations' because they are best visible in the winter months Dec and Jan.

Here in Holland (52 N) Orion is gone since mid April and Canopus never rises.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 26-05-2012, 08:11 AM
astroron's Avatar
astroron (Ron)
Supernova Searcher

astroron is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Cambroon Queensland Australia
Posts: 9,313
Skysurfer, I don't know what you are really trying to say
This article is for the coming "Winter Months" up to about August here "In Australia and New Zealand", and is just a presentation of some easy and interesting objects to see in Binoculars and telescopes.
Cheers

Last edited by astroron; 26-05-2012 at 09:55 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 26-05-2012, 02:15 PM
stardust steve's Avatar
stardust steve (Steve)
Registered User

stardust steve is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 779
Well done compiling and submitting this helpful and informative list of Winter delights
I will be hunting hunting these gems down with great eagerness.....
as soon as the is asleep
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-06-2017, 03:10 PM
Suzy's Avatar
Suzy
Searching for Travolta...

Suzy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Posts: 3,700
Bump!
Winter's here so I thought this worthy of a bump to help with showing beginners some easy to see targets .
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 12-06-2017, 12:01 PM
cadman342001 (Andy)
Registered User

cadman342001 is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Posts: 95
Thanks for this Suzy !

Andy
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-06-2017, 01:38 PM
Suzy's Avatar
Suzy
Searching for Travolta...

Suzy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Posts: 3,700
My pleasure Andy, thank you.

Actually... I'd like to throw in another object on that list, it's not a "highlight" as such though, but in Vela there a really interesting globular cluster- NGC3201. It's like none other I've seen yet. Instead of being a condensed ball like most globs are, it looks like someone has taken a shot gun to it and smashed it to pieces. It's so loose, it resembles a star cluster.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 12-06-2017, 06:13 PM
Nebulous's Avatar
Nebulous (Chris)
Registered User

Nebulous is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Perth Hills
Posts: 272
Thanks for another great list Suzy.

I've duly printed it out and have been pleased to note that I can already put ticks next to a few of them

This looks like a good list for me to work through, track down, and then take a quick happy snap, just to prove to myself later that I've been there.

i remember our family going to a very large zoo in a parkland setting when I was a kid, and we came across an elderly couple trudging round the perimeter road. The old man was moaning to his wife and asking why they were there at all. She replied "'cos it's somewhere to say you've bin!" (been).... And that became a family saying for ever afterwards...

So if friends ever ask me what I saw of interest in Ruby Crucis, or the Jewel Box, I'll be able to say "'cos it's somewhere to say you've bin!."

Cheers,

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 13-06-2017, 06:02 AM
MichaelSW's Avatar
MichaelSW (Michael)
Registered User

MichaelSW is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Albion, Brisbane.
Posts: 146
Suzy,

G'day.

I have some first-time observing friends coming over for a look in the Direction of Up on June 30th. Was thrilled to find Ruby Crucis on your list - it is my favourite star. When I do my sky tours, I set people up to look at the brilliant Blue-White of Mimosa. And then I draw their attention to the little BLOOD RED one.

Thanks for putting together this list.
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 13-06-2017, 04:09 PM
Suzy's Avatar
Suzy
Searching for Travolta...

Suzy is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Brisbane, Australia.
Posts: 3,700
Hi Chris,

Quote:
"'cos it's somewhere to say you've bin!
Great story .
Starting out, it's great to have a list of easy to find, bright objects hey.
It feels like you're achieving at a quicker pace which is a big buzz when first using a telescope. And like you I enjoyed ticking off, it was very rewarding. I've listed below a few more objects to add to your list .

Hi Michael,
It's unfortunate isn't it that Ruby Crucis doesn't get more of a mention. Is it because people think oh carbon star whoopie ? . But once seen for oneself it's something so special and it deserves to be grouped in with the rest of the eye candy objects, that's for sure. I really hope more people will come to know this beautiful star. It's so great that you show it off, all the best on your observing night .

Seeing as some people are enjoying the list, how about I add a few more? I'll include the GC I mentioned in a previous post seeing as it's so weird , and three really gorgeous star clusters listed below which are all visible now:

NGC3201 - Globular Cluster.
Very interesting GC like none other I've seen yet. Instead of being a condensed ball like most globs are, it's loosely scattered, as if it's been blown up and smashed to pieces!
Constellation: Vela

Collinder 399 - The Coat Hanger Cluster / Brocchi's Cluster.
I'm not kidding- it *really* does look like a coat hanger!
Constellation: Vulpecula

M11 - The Wild Duck Cluster.
Huge spray of bright stars, very impressive.
Constellation: Scutum
http://earthsky.org/clusters-nebulae...by-eagles-tail

Mel. 111.
Large open cluster.
Constellation: Coma Berenices.
and while there ....
It'd be interesting to see if through 6" and 8" apertures if this is visible.... the crazy awesome galaxy lineup of Markarian's Chain. It's visible with my 10" through light pollution. And pay close attention to "The Eyes" in that chain which are interacting galaxies. They look spooky as they really do look like a set of eyes; visible in the same FOV (field of view) of the eyepiece with no stars between and around... just eyes in the dark! It's one of my favourite patches of sky. Do some googling on the super giant galaxy M87 there- it's very special.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 23-06-2017, 11:57 AM
sil's Avatar
sil (Steve)
Not even a speck of dust

sil is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Canberra
Posts: 1,474
Thanks for continued support on the list Suzy its been a help over time on nights i'm willing and able to get outside and look but dont have inspiration of something to find. I'm woefully ignorant of our skies
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 03:57 PM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement
Testar
Advertisement