What else can i see?

[Basman217]

Hi all, new to the sight and astronomy..
Just got a 8" dob for Christmas and i love it.
So far i have seen Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and looked at a few stars.
i just wondering what else i can see with my scope??
just some general information will help and any feedback is appreciated.
Thanks:)

[renormalised]

Hi Sebastian and welcome to IIS:):):)

8"dob....good buy:)

The list of objects you can see with an 8" telescope of any sort is almost endless. If you want to have a good look at nebulae and such things, grab yourself a UHC filter. That will block the light from streetlights and such and enhance the details in the objects. But objects like M42 (Orion Nebula) and NGC2070 (Tarantula Nebula, in the LMC), M1 (Crab Nebula, in Taurus), Rosette Nebula in Monoceros (associated with open cluster NGC2244), the Cone and Fox fur Nebulae plus the Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC2264, in the same constellation as the Rosette), M45 (the Pleaides, in Taurus...although better in binoculars), the Hyades (the horns of Taurus), the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer and many many many more.

The best thing to do is go and download a program like Stellarium (http://www.stellarium.org/), which is a planetarium program you can use to see what's up in the sky each night and to plan your observations.

Also, join your local Astronomical Society/Club and go to as many of their nights as you can. That's one of the ways to learn quickly and make new friends:):)

Hope that helps:):)

[ballaratdragons]

Hi Sebastian,

this will get you started :thumbsup:
http://picasaweb.google.com/dunlop1826/BrightDSOForSouthernObservers#

[Brian W]

Hi and welcome. What can you see with an 8" scope... enough to see something new every clear and dark night for say 10 or 15 years. following lists will help you get started. The messier 110 is a great start. Next maybe the Herschel 400.

I am currently working on what John H. observed from South Africa.

Your 8" will show you glorious eye candy and some very very faint DSO's.
have fun.
Brian

[Paddy]

Hi Sebastian and welcome to IIS.

All very good advice so far and I think Carl's suggestion of going to a club night is one of the best ways to get started as you will learn some constellations.

In the meantime, some easy ones to find are

NGC 4755 The jewel box cluster just near the left hand star of the southern cross - a little bit out from the cross itself

M42 the great nebula in Orion - orion's belt and sword are often seen as a saucepan - the nebula is the middle "star" of the handle

NGC 2070 - the Tarantula nebula.- if you can find the large magellanic cloud it is the brightest object in the LMC. You will see heaps of great DSOs in both Small and Large Magellanic clouds which are the patches of "cloud" not far from the band of the Milky Way in the south. Hints for finding them and printable charts of the objects in the Magellanic Clouds are available at my web site http://www.cloudsofmagellan.net.au/

NGC 104/47 Tuc is low but visible right near the Small Magellanic Cloud

Half way between the southern Cross and the "False Cross" asterism to its north is a patch of sky with fantastic open clusters and the fabulous "ETa Carinae Nebula" - Just point your scope in that area and use the finderscope to pick out any bits that a brighter and fuzzy and you will find a lot to look at.

[Suzy]

Hi Sebastian :hi:
Paddy's going to smack himself when he finds out he forgot to mention NGC 5139 - Omega Centauri :lol:. It is the big muck muck of globular clusters - the biggest and brightest, and we southerners get this showpiece all to ourselves. Centaurus lays next to the Southern Cross on the left, and very easy to find (just wait till about 10pm when it's higher). 47 Tuc is our second show stopper and just breathtaking in itself. The other objects that Paddy gave you are real gems as well. If your'e using the eyepieces that came with the scope, I would suggest using your 25mm ep for the globs, as the small fov of the 10mm at high mag won't show you the full cluster in all it's glory (unless you have a 10mm widefield).

Here is a link to a fantastic set of maps. http://sites.google.com/site/southernastronomer/
I printed them off and put them in plastic sleeves into a folder. I find the use of coloured stars and large diagrams easy and helpful, and the information on the objects and stars of interest are all there on the corresponding maps. To compliment those maps, Stellarium will also be very useful.

Enjoy! :D
Suzy.

[RAJAH235]

Hi Sebastian,
If you haven't already got these items, I suggest you purchase them.
A "Chandler" (large variety) Planisphere.....About $20 from Bintel, Sydney. (Binocular & Telescope shop.)
A red LED torch. Your choice of hand held or head-band. (I bought an Acme brand torch from Woollies for $3.00 odd, with AA batteries.)
This will save your night vision.
A comfortable folding chair for those long nights.
Lots more to come.......... ;)

Enjoy the night sky & all it offers.

[Brian W]

Sebastian one more accessory suggestion; a pirates eye patch. Not hard to find in kids toy departments. Not having to squint for 3 or 4 hours really ups the comfort factor and improves the observing.
Brian

[Basman217]

Hey guys thanks so much for the feedback...
i just got back from seal rocks, the skys were amazing.
i was unable to take my scope up but i had tonns of fun trying to make out the constelations.
Thanks again for all the feedback:)

[barx1963]

If you are up for a challenge and don't mind waiting until midnight or later, M104 (the Sombrero Galaxy see here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sombrero_Galaxy and here
http://spider.seds.org/ngc/ngcdss.cgi?obj=NGC!4594!=!M104&r=12:40.0&d=-11:37&e=J2000&h=15&w=15&f=GIF&c=none

It's easily seen with 8", still a bit low in early evenings but one of the most pleasing galaxies to view in any size scope. Try and get yourself a set of charts, virtually any chart will have M104 listed as well as many other galaxies.

Regarding eyepatches, I tried on a few times, but maybe its just me I found it really hard to move around in the dark and keep my balance using one eye. I could try putting it on only when I was at the eyepiece, but it was easier just to try and learn to relax my face so I didn't squint. I also found trying to read charts really hard with it on.
Give it a try but don't be discouraged if it doesn't work for you, lots of very good observers don't use one.

Malcolm

[renormalised]

And make sure a macaw or sulphur crested cocky comes with the eyepatch....nothing less will do:):P

[stattonb]

id get some practise and work yourself thru the MESSIER and NGC list with a 8'' scope you will see a endless amount of targets, off hand id try Orion Nebula,M51 and The Jewl Box just as afew starter objects. Have Fun :)