Bright Deep Sky Objects

[glenc]

Here are the brightest DSO (deep sky objects), three of each type.

OC=Open Clusters: M45, NGC 6231, NGC 3532

GC=Globular Clusters: omega Cen, 47 Tuc, M22

BN=Bright Nebulae: M42, eta Car, M8

PN=Planetary Nebulae: M27, NGC 3242, NGC 7293

Gxy=Galaxies: LMC & SMC (Large & Small Magellanic Clouds), M31

[Gargoyle_Steve]

The cream of the crop hey Glen?
Good listing for new stargazers, and favourite objects for old hands.


Will you be coming up for the Qld Astrofest again this year Glen?

[AlexN]

Cant wait till I can have a look at M31.. :)

May I ask, whats the next brightest few galaxies? Brightest I've come across in starry night is M83 at Mag 7.5 or so...

[glenc]

Steve, I plan to be at Astrofest for 4 nights.
Alex the next 5 galaxies are M33, NGC 5128, M81 (too far north for us) the magnificent NGC 253 and M83.
M31 transits at about 5:30 am here. M83 is magnitude 7.1 according to LEDA.
The list below ignores some large scattered open clusters.

[wmzaphod]

Thanks for that Glen, just what I needed.

Cheers,

Peter

[renormalised]

M81 never gets much more than 2º above the horizon for me, so it's a poor target to begin with.

[glenc]

Yes, even in Darwin M81 is less than 9 degrees above the horizon when it transits.

[AlexN]

its funny, i've found it easier to find m104 than m83. I'm actually yet to see it, but weather clears here wednesday or thursday.. First light for the eq6. It'll find it for me.

[wmzaphod]

Will that be first light for your 6" Saxon f/8 Achromat too? :)

[AlexN]

Ahh yes... It sure will.. Its first light for alot of my toys actually.. the 70-200F/4L hasnt been pointed at the sky for more than 2 sec at a time yet.. first real light for it too.. :)

I must admit. im having a hard time choosing what to do first, widefield 70-200 shot? achromat? Newt? first tracked jupiter image... ahhh the excitement is killing me...

Its clearing outside as we speak, theres enough stars that I know by name to do a 3star alignment already, but the high level misty cloud makes it pointless to bother trying my first polar align etc etc... :) Tomorrow night its me vs polar alignment!