Whats your favourite constellations for observing ?

[StarGazing]

Hi all, just wondering what your favourite constellation is for observing ?

Mine has been Carina for a while. Lots of clusters and nebulae to look at :D.

Alex. :thumbsup:

[ausastronomer]

Carina has always been my favourite Alex.

I even bought a star in Carina :)

Cheers,
John B

[mswhin63]

Orion Nebula, because it is the only one I can see from my light poluted back yard.

[spacezebra]

Ophiuchus is my favourite - lots of globs.

Cheers Petra d.

[Liz]

OOooooh, thats tricky ... lots bful constellations to look at, but I suppose that the one I find the most goodies in is Centaurus .... but Leo has some great 'easy to find' galaxies ...

[HolyWars]

From my light polluted back courtyard I am limited to what I can see in terms of mag and direction. Best for me is Crux/Centaurus from here.
I cant see any nebulosity in Carina from here which sucks.

Carina rules though out in the country....also I love Orion.:thumbsup:

[lacad01]

Bit tricky but would probably single out Scorpius :)

[el_draco]

All of them. Everywhere is different and I find it impossible to pick a favourite. Areas of the sky you initially think are bland end up offering serious challenges that match the delights of hunting in the clouds or exploring the home galaxy.

[ngcles]

Hi Alex & All,

Oooh that's a tough one!

Based on the stats in my log book, I'd have to say Virgo was my favourite. With a +12" 'scope there are just so many galaxies to see there but I'd also add Carina, Centaurus, Sagittarius, Dorado, Leo & Coma Berenices.

Even after all these years, I still haven't emptied Virgo (or Leo & Coma) -- not by a long shot.

Least favourite?? I'd pick Hydrus -- one of the sky's most arid deserts while Pictor, Octans and Equuleus are close behind.


Best,

Les D

[Rodstar]

I am a huge fan of Centaurus. It has so many different classes of objects and is so well placed in my sky, where to the south I am pretty much facing national park.

I also love Sagittarius, Orion, Dorado, Carina and Crux.

Unfortunately Virgo, Leo etc are so effected by the lights from Gosford that I only really get the chance to enjoy them under dark skies.

[JimmyH155]

My favourites?? Scorpius, Carina and Orion.:D:D:D Unfortunately any stuff to the north is stuffed up with trees. :mad2:

[Rob_K]

Hmmm, favourite is a pretty subjective term. My favourite is... well... um... Musca. There, I've said it, the dirty little secret's out. Somehow, every time I have the scope out and Musca's observable, I'm drawn to it. I just have to look at the two globular clusters there.

It's such a nice, neat (except for the indentation in one corner - why is that there??), uncomplicated constellation (Dark Doodad aside), hanging off one side of the cross. There's not much else there other than a couple of little PNs and a couple of small OCs... :shrug: :screwy:

In terms of objects, it's pretty hard to go past Sagittarius/Scorpius, especially with a small scope. Galactic central, that's where it's all happening!! :P ;)

Cheers -

[goober]

I'm with you Rob... I always look at Musca. It's my "dark sky" test to take a quick glance at sky conditions. Centaurus is my favorite though, and Crux/Musca are framed by it (sort of).

[StarGazing]

:rofl: LOL ....... It gets like that at times, I feel for you ;)

Cheers all, great to hear what everyone has to say.:thanx:

[orestis]

Hi Alex,
I've got to say that my favourite has to be Orion two reasons,
1. The orion nebula was the first nebula i ever saw
2.The orion nebula looks absolutely stunning under dark skies!

Carina is pretty awesome but i have to agree with rob sagitarius rules theres just so much to see there.

Orestis:thumbsup:

[Manav]

Hang on a sec, you can buy and name star? How does this work? Is it officially recognised? Wow!

[Rob_K]

http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/star/

:thumbsup:

Cheers -

[Rodstar]

Yep, but just wait until they start levying rates....and if exoplanets are discovered, the rates will skyrocket....:P

[Lismore Bloke]

I would pick Centaurus, it has just about every class of object you could wish for and is favourably placed in the sky where Lismore's light pollution is least evident. Carina very close behind.

[el_draco]

This is a rip-off. Totally unrecognised. :screwy: Only the IAU has the "authority" to name a star.... and even thats a bit ego-testical IMHO.

Fancy arriving at your newly purchased star to find the "locals" already own it.... Terran invasion...:eyepop: now thats a twist on a theme if I have ever seen one :rofl:

No, wait a minute.... haven't we already tried that on this planet??? :D

[Rob_K]

Buy enough stars and you can forget about a 'favourite constellation', you can own one! Sagittarius would be pretty expensive, but rentals could cover the payments.

Cheers -

[Rick Parrott]

I would have to say Orion and Crux (oh and the "pointers" in Centaurus) just as reliable, nice to look at and easy stuff to find (M42, Coal Sack, Jewel Box, double star, etc) as my telescope often comes out when friends are over.

Hey, this is my finding, but does anyone else encounter (when showing people for the first time):

a) :zzz2:A reaction of oh, nice, yawn, is that it?
OR
b) :2thumbs: The person will not give telescope back (well, until they need you to adjust after object has gone out of field)?

About 50-50 is my experience!

[Esseth]

Second that :D

[Paddy]

Ah, Rob, you beat me to it. Well, for observing it's hard to go past Virgo, Leo, Fornax and Eridanus with all their galaxies, Sagittarius with the galactic centre and all those GCs, Centaurus and Carina with their rich offerings. For sheer beauty Scorpius and Orion are just stunning. But when all's said and done, there's Musca. No grand mythic story, no sweeping beauty or stunning bright coloured stars. Just a fly. How wonderfully pedestrian and unpretentious. With as you say a few stunning GCs, not to mention a fascinating PN. And it looks a bit like what it's meant to depict.

Go Musca!!!!

[Mars4ever]

Sagittarius!
But the "reign of galaxies" in coma berenices/canes venatici is not bad as well!:D

[Dave47tuc]

I like all the constellations especially the ones that are hard to make out.
But in a dark sky, summer and winter have there differences.
Of course the Southern cross is famous and Orion and Scorpius.

But I love the shape of Capricornus and Eridanus and Hydra.
But number one for me in a dark sky is Corona Australis. :)

[barx1963]

I like constellations that look like what they are supposed to be! Hence my list is

Scorpius
Leo
Lepus
Orion
Crux
Cygnus
Phoenix
Grus

And of those Scorpius is my favourite because

1. Antares is such a cool sounding name:lol:
2. Lots of objects:eyepop:
3. I could find Scorpius when I was a kid:thumbsup:

[Vanda]

Was fishing one hour south of Perth last night. Gosh - the milky way was magnificent! from Taurus to good ole Crux I could only pick the lot. No light pollution - the clouds of magellan - beautiful! You can easily understand why the ancients were keen stargazers. Was on Preston beach - caught half a doz good size tailor - if you were wondering! :)

[seanliddelow]

That place is a regular haunt for me, my dad and my brother. I dont think I can bring my telescope down there as it is very sandy :(

Watch out for those man-eating seagulls:P

[CosMos]

How can I choose? One that has not been mentioned and one of my favourites from a dark site is Corona Australis. Cometary nebula, dark obscuring material, 'cats eye' double star, variable stars and associated nebulae...NGC 6723 close by in Sagittarius...has everything in a small region.
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap090605.html

[GrahamL]

Yeah Corona Australis , so much and all differant in a 1' field and then you move on :), can't recall if I've looked at it from a dark site though..

Virgo .. Markarians chain like above is just a lot going on and a place you could never tire of looking at.

But they are all good :)