What are some deep-sky objects I can see from Australia?

[Dalestronomy]

Hi all,

Have had my 130mm scope since May and have seen several planets and of course the moon, as well as attempting to photograph them.

I was wondering what deep-sky objects I would be able to look at. I've had a look at several stars, some interesting, some not so much. I usually use www.heavens-above.com to find out what can be seen. Is there a similar site? Or a list somewhere?

Thanks

[glend]

In the 2013 edition of Astronomy Australia (Wallace, Dawes, Northfield), available from Bintel online, there is a long list of deep sky objects (DSOs), their tyo\pe, constellation, and magnitude.

There are also specialist books on the southern sky, one of which is O'Mears's Deep Sky Compansion: Southern Gems which lists over 120 deep sky objects: clusters, galaxies, etc which can be seen from Australia.

However, as with all the DSOs, a dark sky really helps and significantly improves your chances of seeing them.

Now there are many software applications that give you exact co-ordinate locations (in either equatorial or Alt/Az locations) and these are often free or very low cost as downloads. They are available for PCs, Apple IOS and Android. Some are: Mobile Observatory, Skylight (which is usually given away free with small Celestrons'), and the Sky Safari group (3 apps, the last two of which are very powerful tools but cost some money to download. CHeck out Google Store etc for the apps.

There are also the old fashioned star charts which you can also buy from Bintel. Have a browse through their book section online, there is heaps of interesting stuff there.

Finally, while a 130mm will see many DSO, especially the brighter ones like Omega Centauri, 47 Tucanae, Centarus A (The Hamburger Galaxy), if you live in a major city it will be a real struggle to get down to the magnitude levels less than those of the brightest. If you take your scope to a really dark spot away from the cities you will see much more and learn the sky.

Best of luck.

[Robh]

Hi Dale,

https://sites.google.com/site/southernastronomer/Home/observing-targets-for-each-month

Regards, Rob

[brisen]

Hi Dale

I use Stellarium (www.stellarium.org (http://www.stellarium.org)) which is a free download and gives you a realistic view. You can set it for your location and a range of other functions.

Brian

[CJ]

Hi Dale
Sky Safari app has a "Tonights best" list and shows you where they are. If you already have the hardware, for $2.99 it's very useful and darn nearly free.

Good hunting!

[JJDOBBER79]

Hi dale,
Deep sky is fun. Now you have the cloud AND the moon to upset you :lol:
I started with the big nebulas. eta Carinae and the orion nebula and tarantula. Carinae is getting too low now, (from my backyard anyway). Orion neb is probably the easiest to find. Everyone knows the saucepan right?. there are 3 stars in the handle of the saucepan. point your scope at the middle one. You have to either stay up late or get up early for this one. Its worth it though.

[glenc]

Dale
Try the bright objects from the book "Southern Gems".
https://picasaweb.google.com/110048826379679252146/SouthernGems?authkey=Gv1sRgCNmBqrC6 xdOrLw#

"In Southern Gems, Stephen James O'Meara makes a detour beneath the southern skies, presenting a fresh list of 120 deep-sky objects for southern hemisphere stargazers to observe.."
http://www.cambridge.org/us/academic/subjects/astronomy/amateur-and-popular-astronomy/deep-sky-companions-southern-gems

Have you been to the ASSA?
https://www.assa.org.au/facilities/stockport/

[mark3d]

M42 (Orion nebula) will keep you coming back, it's amazing and easy to find.

[Nico13]

Hi Dale,
What type of scope and mount do you have?
It sounds like a refractor so is it on a push to or a goto with the hand computer control? Is your mount an EQ or Alt Az?
This info will help with ideas on what to do.