Are there any lists out there that...

[White Rabbit]

Hi Guys.

Sorry, being new I'm not really sure what forum to post certain questions in so If this is the wrong place please let me know.

Are there any list out there like messier lists that have a guide to say what size telescope is needed to see it and what kind of detail to expect.
I have the Meade ETX125 PE and it's a small scope, there's nothing worse than scanning the the data base on the hand box for something that I cant see because my telescope is to small. Or the other scenario is; the scope slews to a location but there is nothing in the EP, I'm not sure whether I need do a spiral search around the location because the scope hasn't really slewed to the location properly or it's just to faint to see with my scope. This just leads to frustration and more time searching empty space. Is any of this making sense? I guess that is what the magnitude rating is for. Are there any lists then of what size scope is needed to view certain magnitudes?

Thanks
Sandy

[Dennis]

Have a look here:

http://www.saao.ac.za/public-info/sun-moon-stars/best-sky-objects/

Cheers

Dennis

[sheeny]

Most lists should contain the magnitude of the objects so you just need to know the limiting magnitude of your scope. I assume your scope is 12.5 cm aperture? If so, my calcs suggest the best your scope will do is 12.98 mag - almost mag 13.

Here's some links where you can work it out for yourself and some also take into account what you can see with the naked eye (so it compensates for your visual acuity and light pollution, etc).

http://www.go.ednet.ns.ca/~larry/astro/maglimit.html

http://www.astrodigital.org/astronomy/seeing.html

http://www.spacegazer.com/telescope-basics-g.asp

Al.