good galaxies/objects to show group14yo

[musca in soup]

Hi all
I am giving a star talk tonight (tho cloud and rain quite likely called off) in otherwise clear country skies to some 14yo kids. The talk bit is OK but I want to show them some 'good stuff'. I have an 8" SCT with goto so pointing at things is easy. I just need ideas what to point it at. I haven't had it long and am not as familiar with current skies as I was in winter skies.

So far I thought 47 Tuc, jupiter, andromeda galaxy (though I've never looked at it through a telescope yet, due to nearby northern mountain where I live).

Are there other good galaxies and things I could point it at that people could suggest?

[astro744]

Here's a short list I just got from Sky Tools 3, all visible tonight:

NGC 6744
NGC 7793
NGC 55
M110
M32
M31 (Andromeda) - Try Bino's
NGC 253 (Sculptor)
NGC 247
SMC - Bino's or unaided eye
NGC 300
M33 (Pinwheel) - Try Bino's
M74
NGC 1291
Fornax A Radio Source (Also Fornax Galaxy cluster - best with low power wide field eyepiece, numerous galaxies).
M77
LMC - Bino's or unaided eye
NGC 1313

These are all best between 21:00 (after twilight) and before 00:30 (before moonrise).

Enjoy!

P.S. Forgot to mention they are all galaxies. Note too M42, Great Orion Nebula will rise before midnight.

[Blue Skies]

NGC 253 for sure, it so bright they can't miss it! NGC 55, not far away, might also be good, but you'll have to explain about it being irregular in shape.

[Jazza11]

Try out some planetary's they are always good

[Paddy]

I've usually found that its best to start with planets, open clusters and globulars. Few people seem to get much of a buzz out of faint galaxies or planetary nebs even though I love looking at them. So I'd focus on Jupiter, 47 Tuc, m42, other bright globulars, eg m2. If people are really keen then I'd go to NGC 253, NGC 1365, Grus trio, helix neb. At school nights that I've done, there tend to be two groups.

The larger will be interested only in the more dramatic and obvious. They will have finished earlier in the evening and there remains a small group of the more interested who will be happy to learn about fainter stuff. I'm always shocked by how many people love looking at the moon and get nothing out of the faint smudges that interest me. I think this says more about me than them. BDAS does heaps of school nights and everyone seems to find that the bright and defined wins the day (ie Saturn Jupiter, star clusters).

[seanliddelow]

Me, being a 14yo would suggest the Trantula nebula in the Large Magellinic Cloud. IT jumps out at you:thumbsup:

[musca in soup]

hi thanks all for your ideas.

As it turned out we were on the outer edge of the storm that hit Coffs harbour with 15inches of rain and the astronomy night was cancelled for us, but it will hopefully be on again soon.

I am really interested in more ideas from 14yo seanliddelow (below).

Meanwhile when the weather clears up again I can get out and look at some of these things.

cheers all

[orestis]

Hi Jim,
Like sean i am also 14 years old and love looking at the night sky.

i'm a beginner but love galaxies.Don't think that they won't like galaxies me personally love them ,just to know the immense distances and sizes involved is amazing.
heres some objects i have viewed and liked,

ngc 253 bright galaxy
m22 very bright glob
double star Albireo quick before it sets
M17 fairly bright neb
m7 good open cluster also m6 butterfly cluster
m8 lagoon nebula
47 tuc
ngc6752 great glob in pavo
m42 orion nebula when it rises
m27 dumbell planetary nebula GREAT
coathanger open star cluster in bino's is great
andromeda galaxy in bino's is cool (have not seen it in telescope so don't know what that is like but i would imagine the field of view would be too small to view the galaxy as a whole

hope you have clear skies for your next night

orestis:thumbsup:

[Paddy]

Hi Orestis,

My comments about showing people brighter objects at public nights were not really about 14 year olds, but about people of all ages new to astronomy. Teenagers like yourself and Sean are clearly going to get heaps out of faint fuzzies because you're interested and you will observe and know a lot. And I salute your passion and knowledge. My caution is more about those that are yet to be hooked on this great obsession - and a lot of those that need more than a subtle galaxy are well past their teens.

[orestis]

hi patrick,
yes patrick you have made a great point.like most beginners they would want to see some bright objects.sorry for making a stupid comment ,i thought maybe they knew a little bit about astronomy.

orestis:thumbsup:

[Paddy]

Hi Orestis, I didn't think your comment was stupid, I thought it was a very good point and that they way I'd written my posts could have seemed to suggest that I thought 14 year olds wouldn't be up to some interesting targets. Your post was a good reminder for me to be clearer. Please don't be sorry.