New to the night sky

[Bucket Master]

Hi Everyone

We are from Canberra and have just borrowed a Celestron NexStar5 scope

We are hosting our first Star Gazing Party tonight (coinciding with Earth Hour) and wanted to know what a beginner should be looking for. The Celestron can take us on a tour but should we be looking for more tonight?

The kids are keen to view Saturn - will that be visible?

We are all excited here and looking forward to many more hours of star gazing

Cheers

Anthony

[toryglen-boy]

Hi there

Where in Canberra are you? i am happy to come over and show you a few things, kinda get you started so to speak.

if so, send me a PM, but if i have offended by being too forward then i apollogise!!

regards

Duncan

:thumbsup:

[Robh]

Anthony,
Everything will look better under a darker sky.
Saturn will be the bright point above and towards the rear end of Leo.
I don't know what's on your tour but here's some suggestions.
Orion nebula and M42.
Castor in Gemini. Seen as binary 4.5" apart. Open cluster M35 in Gemini.
The Beehive (M44) in Cancer; and good in binoculars. Binary iota Cancri.
Open cluster M41 in CMa. Double star 145 CMa.
Open clusters M46 and M47 in Puppis.
Eta Carina Nebula (NGC 3372). Gem cluster (NGC 3293).
Southern Pleaides (IC 2602).
Jewel Box (NGC 4755). Binary star Acrux.
Alpha Centauri. Globular omega Centauri. Pearl Cluster (NGC 3766).
Try the Sombrero (M104) Galaxy in Virgo.
Ghost of Jupiter (NGC 3242) in Hydra.
Saturn in Leo. Binary star Algieba (gamma Leonis).
Try galaxies M65 and M66 in Leo.
Maybe many of these are on your tour.
Good hunting! Rob

[Kevnool]

If your that new to astronomy and with no notice or experience just put a 30mm eyepiece in your scope which is wide field and look for the fuzzies and/or glowing patchs in the milky way and you,ll be amazed..

Beginners 101......cheers Kev.

[Jen]

Awwwwww that is so nice of you Duncan :)

How did you go? Did you meet up ?

[Jen]

OOps i forgot to mention :welcome::welcome: to IIS Anthony :thumbsup:

[toryglen-boy]

Nah, the OP was pressed for time, and thats fair enough, although he told me he might well take me up on it another time


;)

[Jen]

:thumbsup::thumbsup: good on ya mate i could do with some astro boys in this town to help me out :)