Current Targets

[Spotty Albino]

Hi all, I'm planning to get my 11cm Newtonian out tomorrow evening, and now that I've conquered M42, the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, I was wondering what other objects I should be looking at around this time of the year?

I'd be interest at looking at any other Messier Objects which are rated for beginners, and any other planets which are reasobly well visible this time of year.

Thanks
Albino

[Miaplacidus]

47 Tuc if you can, and Beta Tuc. Omega Centauri, Eta Carina nebula, IC2602 (Southern Pleiades), NGC 4755 (Jewel box, near Beta Crucis), IC2391 (o Velorum Cluster, near the false cross), NGC 3532, NGC 2362 (tau CMa cluster), M41, M44 (near Saturn), um...

[RAJAH235]

Spotty Albino, try these, >
A monthly D/L....
http://www.skymaps.com/
Might find these have a bit more detail....
http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/LAC/index.shtml
HTH. :D L.
ps. A planishere (http://www.astro-tom.com/getting_started/using_a_planisphere.htm) is a great help as well.

[Starkler]

If you downloaded rtgui (www.rtgui.com) , you would never have to ask this question again :D

[Spotty Albino]

Thanks for those, I'll get out there and see what I can find tonight. I've alreeady got myself a planishpere and some good charts, now it's just a matter of learning my way around :P

[asimov]

Also give venus a try just before sun-up.

[vespine]

I have a planisphere and a copy of astronomy 2006 already, but was after exactly something like this now too! Awesome link, thanks :)

[Spotty Albino]

Hey I tried Cartes du Ciel, great program, I have Stellarium already, but this is good because you can print the charts, and they even come out with a nice white background for better contrast and less ink!

Thanks all, I've got my list of targets for tonight so hopefully it should be a productive evening, if I can find 2 of them I'll be happy!

Plenty left over for next time.

Thanks All
Albino

EDIT

Thanks everyone, I had a great time finding and viewing M44, Saturn (which I used as a land mark for M44) NGC 4755, which is truly beautiful, and IC2602. I highly recommend these targets for other beginners, especially saturn at the moment (easy to find in suburban areas), and NGC 4755.

Thanks again all.