Northern hemisphere help wanted!

[Big Dave]

I am going on a quick family trip with those cheap V Australia fairs and are heading out to the grand canyon area on a road trip. I was going to take a compact suitcase sized setup (ED80 or FSQ85), Porta-mount and a DSLR (Not Modded) or maybe a Meade DSI2 with me.
Never looked at the northern hemisphere before, I consulted the IIS forums and Sky6 and have made a short list of what people seem to talk about the most (below). I am going out of the city on October 11-14, the moon won't rise until about 11 so I have just a few hours each night weather depending. I need to check later on what is actually going to be up.

Now the question: what objects would I expect to see with this small gear with any 'wow' factor?

Next question: If I took a 30 Second Snap shot what would work?

M31 Andromeda
M33 Pin Wheel Galaxy
NGC7000 North American Nebula
M51 Whirlpool Galaxy
California Nebula
Perseus Double Cluster
M103
M81
M82
M101
M108
M109
M13
M57 Ring Nebula
M27 Dumbell Nebula

N.B. While I am doing this the wife is planning here shopping trip.:D
Shame for her the dollar is bad, Sad for me as I will miss ISSAC this year.:(

Thanks,
Dave.
:hi:

[saberscorpx]

It's a good list Dave.
Here's some more northern candy if you have time
(from http://tinyurl.com/9m95yq ):

Andromeda

M32 GX 8.2 0043+4055
M110 GX 8.0 0041+4144
NGC752 OC 5.7 0158+3743
NGC891 GX 10.0 0223+4223
NGC7662 PN 9.0 2326+4236

Auriga

M36 OC 6.0 0537+3408
M37 OC 5.6 0553+3233
M38 OC 6.4 0529+3550

Camelopardalis

NGC2403 GX 8.4 0738+6535
Stock23 OC 6.5 0316+6002
Kemble1 OC 4.0 0358+6306

Canes Venatici

M3 GC 6.3 1343+2821
M63 GX 8.6 1316+4159
M94 GX 8.2 1251+4104
M106 GX 8.3 1219+4715

Cassiopeia

M52 OC 6.9 2325+6138
NGC129 OC 6.5 0030+6017
NGC457 OC 6.4 0120+5823
NGC663 OC 7.1 0147+6117
NGC7789 OC 6.7 2357+5647
Cr463 OC 5.7 0148+7157
Stock2 OC 4.4 0215+5916
Mel15 OC 6.5 0233+6127

Cygnus

M29 OC 6.6 2024+3834
M39 OC 4.6 2132+4828
NGC6992/5 SN (Veil) 2057+3145

Hercules

M92 GC 6.5 1717+4307

Perseus

M34 OC 5.2 0243+4249
Mel20 OC 1.2 0322+4900


Saber Does The Stars at
www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx (http://www.astronomyblogs.com/member/saberscorpx)

[citivolus]

Here's my picks from your list, given an 80mm aperture. If possible, I'd suggest throwing in some decent binoculars too.

Easy:
M31 Andromeda (unsure, better with binoculars, i've never been able to spot it in a refractor due to too much magnification and too little aperture)
Perseus Double Cluster (must see, easy find)
M13 & many other Messier clusters in that region

Challenge:
M81 & M82 (low elevation on that date/time, better at 3am on the am of the 15th)
M57 Ring Nebula (easy to locate, with enough aperture)
M27 Dumbell Nebula (aperture)

You can't forget Vega & Polaris while you are there :)

With a 30 second exposure you are likely to see most of the objects in the above lists.

According to my quick checks via Cartes du Ciel, with the observatory set for Phoenix, moon rise is not until after midnight on the morning of the 12th, and around 3:45am on the am of the 15th, so you will likely have more observing time than you had planned.

You'll likely be getting down close to freezing temperatures that time of year, so pack some warm stuff.

Enjoy your trip :)

[Big Dave]

Cool, that make sense. I am just starting to plug the lists into the Sky 6 to make up a plan. I am most happy M31 will be high for me at a good time, as that is something I always wanted to see. I should be able to take it through the camera lens on a tripod if all else fails.

I will have to take a big coat!
Thanks,
Dave.

[Big Dave]

I narrowed the list down (Items in blue will be tricky for 80mm)?
Now looks like I will have 3 nights (8-11 Oct) in darker country skies under a near full moon!

9PM TARGETS
M31 Andromeda
M33 Pin Wheel Galaxy
Persei Double Cluster
M13
Polaris
M103
NGC457 Dragon Fly
NGC281
M57 / Vega
M27 Dumbell Neb

4AM TARGETS
M81 / M82
M108
Big Dipper
Broken Engagment Ring


Anything left out realistic for a 80mm on limited time?

Thanks.
Dave.

[Macmarch]

Hi Dave,

May I suggest you goto

www.stargazerslounge.co.uk (http://www.stargazerslounge.co.uk)
or
www.ukastroimaging.co.uk (http://www.ukastroimaging.co.uk)


There are many members on these sites that live around where you are going. They will be able to tell you what will be best placed to see etc.

cheers
ray

[glenc]

North of declination +50 the following are the brightest objects.

Open Clusters: M103, M52
NGCs 457, 869-884, 6939, 7789

Nebulae:
NGCs 281, 7023, 7380, 7538

Planetary nebulae: M76, M97
NGC 6543

Galaxies: M81-82, M108, M109, M101
NGCs 2403, 6946

A list of 54 bright objects north of +40 is attached.