Saturday 22nd May

[Louwai]

On the 22nd I'm taking my gear out for my neice's Venturer group for an astro night. (14 teenagers)
Will be in the field from about 7pm. I'm expecting to be out no later than midnight.

Anyone got any suggestions of objects that are out of the ordinary???

I'll be showing them all the std stuff. Omega Cent, Jewel Box, Orion, Saturn, the Moon, SMC & LMC etc.
I haven't checked yet to see what's up, but I'll try to pick up 1 or 2 galaxies as well.

Also,
Anyone from Brissy got any suggestions on a reasonable observing site around the Samford / Mt Nebo area???

Anyone who wants to come along & bring a scope is welcome.......:D
I'll have the 20" SDM set up & possibly my 8" SCT as well.

[mental4astro]

You can go for The Sombrero & M83 as galaxies with the SDM. The first quarter Moon should pose no problem to your beastie and these two gems. Will be a good contrast in galaxy image- one face-on the other edge-on. And relatively far enough away from the Moon.

How about the bright Planetary Nebula NGC 3918 just west of Crux, + the Homunculus Nebula & the dark pillars and bright young cluster in Eta Carina. There you have a range of stellar evolution within a short span in the sky, birth through to death. The dark pillars won't be a problem as I've just spied them with my 17.5" during first quarter too, and the Homunculus as well.

Mental.