This is the first of five posts on easy deep sky objects.
All of these objects are south of declination +40 so they are visible from all of Australia including Tasmania.
Open Clusters (OC) are the easiest deep sky objects for beginners to see. I think the best OC are:
M45, M37, M35, M41, NGC 2477, NGC 2516, NGC 3114, NGC 3293, NGC 3532, NGC 3766, NGC 4755, NGC 6231, M6, M7, M23, M25 and M11.
All of these are visible with binoculars tonight. The list above is in RA order.
When I started out I used a star map to identify the 20 brightest stars in the sky then I used a map and binoculars to find bright deep sky objects like these.
Not when there's a storm blowing like here! But, seriously, thanks for that - it's kind of what I was trying to do last night, except I was skipping the open clusters, as I've never found them that exciting (though I have spent some time looking at the Pleiedes and Hyades). I shall search them out when the sky is clear and look forward to the next instalment.
I have my copy of Hartungs on order, but it's not turned up yet......
it's kind of what I was trying to do last night, except I was skipping the open clusters, as I've never found them that exciting (though I have spent some time looking at the Pleiedes and Hyades).
I'm glad I'm not the only one not overly excited by open clusters! I only like a few. The rest, I must admit, I find rather boring
I've also found that open clusters are not very high on the 'oooohhh, aaaahhhhh' scale at public viewing nights.
This is the second of five posts on easy deep sky objects. All of these objects are south of declination +40 so they are visible from all of Australia including Tasmania.
Globular Clusters (GC) are easy deep sky objects for beginners to see. I think the best GC are:
47 Tuc, NGC 362, NGC 2808, Omega Cen, M 3, M 5, M 4, M 13, M 12, M 10, M 62, NGC 6388, NGC 6397, NGC 6541, M 22, NGC 6752, M 55, M 15, M 2
The list above is in RA order. Most of these are visible with binoculars tonight.
This is the third of five posts on easy deep sky objects. All of these galaxies are south of declination +42 so they are visible from all of Australia except M31 is difficult from Hobart. (maximum altitude 6 degrees)
Most of these galaxies (GXY) are easy deep sky objects for beginners to see. I think the best GXY are:
NGC 55, M 31, NGC 253, SMC, NGC 300, M 33, M 77, NGC 1291, NGC 1313, NGC 1316, LMC, NGC 2903, NGC 3115, NGC 3521
M 66, M 84, M 85, M 86, M 49, M 87, M 104, M 60, M 64, NGC 4945, NGC 5128, M 83, NGC 7793
The above list is in RA order. The galaxies in Virgo transit tonight at about midnight AEST.
This is the fourth of five posts on easy deep sky objects. All of these objects are south of declination +40 so they are visible from all of Australia including Tasmania.
These planetary nebulae (PN) are not easy to find but are easy to see once you locate them. I think the best PN are:
NGC 1360*, NGC 1535, NGC 2392, NGC 2440, NGC 3132, NGC 3242, NGC 3918*, NGC 5189, IC 4406, NGC 6302, M 57, NGC 6818*
M 27, NGC 7009, NGC 7293
The list above is in RA order.
* 1360 is large and faint, 3918 and 6818 are small and they need high power.
This is the last of five posts on easy deep sky objects. All of these objects are south of declination +40 so they are visible from all of Australia including Tasmania.
These nebulae can be seen with an 8 inch telescope and an UHC filter. I think the best nebulae are:
NGC 346, NGC 1763, M 1, M 42, NGC 2070, M 78, NGC 2237, NGC 2467,
NGC 3372, IC 2948, IC 4628, M 20, M 8, M 16, M 17, NGC 6726, NGC 6992
The list above is in RA order. 346 is in the SMC. 1763 and 2070 are in the LMC.
UHC filters are great for emission nebulae, as good as having a much bigger telescope.
This is the combined list of 95 objects in RA order.
There are 27 galaxies, 19 globular clusters, 17 open clusters, 17 nebulae and 15 planetary nebulae.
Magnitude ranges from 0.4 to 10.3. The faintest objects are the PN NGC 5189 and IC 4406.
Declination ranges from -72 to +41. The most northerly objects are M31 and M13.
The Sun is now at RA 0 and midnight is RA 12.
You can copy this tab delimited file to a spreadsheet.
Let me know when you have seen them all.
Glen, you are a goldmine of information.
I will use this list at our next observing night.
Or perhaps as a target list for the new LX-90 GPS that has recently been donated to our local high school.
This SkyMapPro map shows 20 Virgo galaxies just after midnight with north at the bottom of the page. I usually start from rho(30) Vir (mag 4.9) and move down 1.4 deg to M 59 and M 60. http://www.skymap.com/
Thanks for your lists Glen - they are very well thought out and useful. I don't use my binoculars much (12x50) but last night I took them out on spec to see if I could spot a few of your brighter galaxies. Was very pleasantly surprised to see three straight off in the north-eastern sky - M104 Sombrero (tiny, but showed distinctive shape), M83 Southern Pinwheel (a larger, dim circular shape), and even NGC5128 Centaurus A (faint blob). The latter I even have difficulty with in my small scope. So it was a valuable and exciting lesson for me, and I look forward to more opportunities to cast my battered old binocs around the heavens! Thanks again.
Cheers -
Last edited by Rob_K; 26-03-2007 at 11:11 PM.
Reason: mistake!
Thanks for your comments. I strongly recommend using a star atlas and 50mm binoculars to help find DSO.
I also think an 8 inch dobsonian is a good scope for bright DSO objects. eg Guan Sheng GS-680 200mm x 1200mm $449.00 AUD
Combine that with a UHC filter for $130 to $160 and you will see these objects well.
See this page for a comparison of UHC filters. http://www.astrosurf.org/buil/filters/curves.htm
Saw another 24 objects this morning after the moon set. Have now seen 67 of the 95 with 20x80 binoculars. Also saw M51, M63 and M94 with 20x80s this morning.
But, seriously, thanks for that - it's kind of what I was trying to do last night, except I was skipping the open clusters, as I've never found them that exciting (though I have spent some time looking at the Pleiedes and Hyades). I shall search them out when the sky is clear and look forward to the next instalment.
