Good Targets for this month?

[Davekyn]

Hi Guys...Been a while, thought it was time to drag the dob out of the dusty shed. I've managed to repair my broken collimator with an old 5mw lazer pen and the scopes cooling out back, while I do my shopping for the week.

I note some observers have been checking Orion out, but was wondering what the prime targets would be for this time of year. I've got some idea, but would appreciate a heads up.

Carina Neb looks as if it will be splender, and I might try one of the brighter galaxies in centuria...LEO looks like it's getting there and hope I have not missed the best part of it...

Any meteors or comets comming up?

I know I should just go and spend more time to find out what's up, but if you don't mind filling me in...I'm all ears :)

Cheers
Dave:thanx:

[Liz]

Hi dave - May is nebula month and there are a list of targets if you look down the threads.
As you said, Carina Nebula is bful, as The Orion neb is getting a bit low now.
You missed the Eta Aquarid meteor peak a few nights ago, though there should still be a few flitting by pre dawn.
There is one comet that MAY become naked eye in mid July, and there a couple of others around mag 9 at moment. Check out http://cometchasing.skyhound.com/

Good luck!:)

[erick]

Sombrero Galaxy - M104, NGC4594 :)

[Liz]

tried the other night, but no luck. Have found it before, but is tricky.

[Davekyn]

Thanks guys. Shame I did not start a few nights ago. will check out those pointers. I'll be sure to read up on the threads now I am getting the itch to start looking again.

I love the winter over summer any day & it just seems really good for star gazing minus the dew. I just bought a Coleman black cat heater which I think is going to the very handing for star gazing.

Once again, thanks Liz, thanks erick for the heads up...now to get my sights aligned :thumbsup:

[Davekyn]

Awesome first night back into it guys. My brain is way to tired for a pro report, but I found the Sombrero...left and a little above Saturn...followed the usual triagular patterns and onto some doubles and or tiny cluster and up from there...was amazed I could go all the way down to my 12.5ED on my Dob. Although much smaller than the 495thinymebob in centuri the contrast and resolution was quite a suprise through suburben skies.
I also got my best veiws of Saturn going down to a 4mm in the 12" dob...seeing was good tonight. The new little 10inch notebook with stellurium in night mode was very handy indeed ... It's good to be back.
I'm really glad you mentioned that one erick!

[Liz]

great to hear Dave!!!

[astro744]

May is galaxy month especially M84 and the Markarian chain in Virgo which transits at 9pm approx. mid May. There are countless galaxies to observe with as little as 6" Newt or 4" Refractor but you need a dark northern sky.

[Davekyn]

:)Thx Liz; hope you also get in some good viewings as well :thumbsup:. I'll check that out next session astro. I am traveling some rural flea markets; camping out a few times a month now. I don't have any room left for my dob after packing, but will take my Bino's for sure!

My 80mm refractor listed below is not quite 4", but it does give good views of what light gets through...I'll give em a go all the same astro.

[Suzy]

David, around Scorpius there are lots of globs and clusters. The best viewing being around around 11.30pm. This is my first winter observing, so far I have only observed thru summer. I was floored by the naked eye targets going on around there. Got out the bino's for a quick look and it was breath taking.

[Davekyn]

I'm not quite up on all the common names yet Suzy, but having been previously impressed with scropious, I've been saving some of those targets for later. Somewhere in the middle is a string of diamonds that show up well in my ED.
Given your exspresion, I think your going to do well this winter. Warm clothes, then some more warm clothes with some warm Tucker & drinks on hand and a little wind shelter will do the trick. Try to keep out of the hollows to minimise dew. I just can't get enough of winter myself :)
Best wishes for the season Suzy.

[Vanda]

In Corvus there is the antennae galaxies NGC 4038/39. 2 galaxies in collision mag 10.5 @ 50 million LY. Intend to give it a go with my 250 DOB - city lights permiting.:)

[Suzy]

Thankyou for the tips David. I don't tolerate cold weather very well, so my first winter observing will be challenging. Undoubtably rewarding though. I was up your way only a few weeks ago - it was so cold! But the fresh air that I was breathing was fantastic - nothing like Brisbane.

[Davekyn]

Done Ian...I managed to get a slight fuz out of your suggested targets with my 12" Dob. Took me a little effort to find this one given the haze but once I find the nearest triangle and used its longest point to make one of the three "spider" points to which the target was centered in; I though not to bad considering I had to penetrate Toowoomba's light pollution & my gear was fogging up early. I even had to wait for some clouds to come and go. I am now eager to try a dark site out of town if I ever get time.

Sombrero looked even better tonight giving of what seemed a more prominent thin line extending out each end of its core. It really is amazing how much something stands out the more you look at it.

The best thing about those two targets tonight was getting all the gear out and back in before 9:30pm...not often I do that for a session.

Have a good one guys:thumbsup:

[Vanda]

Well done - I will see how I go tomorrow night.

[mental4astro]

Have you had a look at the monthly observation challenge within this forum? It is a list of objects that caters for beginners through to vetrans, small scopes to big. It makes the most of the current seasonal viewing. The April Challenge is still current for viewing various galaxies, and the May Challenge is a good shot for Nebulae.

I didn't get to complete the April challenge last month, and still to come to terms with this month's lot. I've a bit to do this coming weekend!

Have a squiz.

[Davekyn]

That's a great idea. Thanks for bringing it up. I never thought of it like that. I've been making exscuses about not having time when it comes to following all those posts, but when you put it like that, I can see the sense in it now.
Thanks Alaxander.