Ursa Major - Top End Australia

[castor]

I'm going on my first proper vacation since the pandemic started - to the Northern Territory!!

While I have seen the Plough from Darwin (and partially from Queensland) before, I have not gone into dark sky territory in the NT. I wonder if anyone has been able to catch any of the Ursa Major galaxies with binoculars (M81, M82) from anywhere in Oz. I have only done so from the USA.

Also any suggestions on what to pack with me on my trip? 16x70 Fujinons, 72ED, 80ED or 60ED scope?

[Tropo-Bob]

Here in Cairns, M81 & M82 only rise 3 to 4 degrees above the horizon and I needed an 8" Dob to see them.

Darwin is further north, so it may be possible with binos.

[castor]

So invisible even with a small refractor?

They have a declination of +70 which means that from Darwin, at latitude -12, they culminate at an altitude of 8 degrees. :(

[Tropo-Bob]

Yes, I think that may be a difficult challenge with a small scope.

[castor]

I might also attempt to see if I can find Gamma and Beta Ursae Minoris - the two guardians of the pole, in the Little Dipper. In theory they are visible from Darwin. Do you know what time they culminate in early May?

[Finbar]

According to Stellarium, from Darwin on the night of 04/05 May, for example:
Beta UMi - culminates about 3.5° alt around 00:40am
Gamma Umi - culminates about 5.75° alt around 1:30am

Hope this helps.
Barry