Advice for some bright targets

[The_bluester]

I have a couple of nearly complete astro newbies coming out to my place on Saturday afternoon and staying well into the night. Apart from the dead obvious (The moon will be up to begin with) I was looking for some suggestions for bright targets for them to have a look at. Assuming we actually get a clear sky for once.

Off the top of my head I had

The moon (Obviously)
47 Tuc
Tarantula neb
Omega Cen cluster
Eta Car
Jupiter and maybe M42 if they hang around long enough into the night.

Any suggestions for some other objects from wow to a bit more challenging? Mars is just going to be a little blob, Saturn it is probably a bit late for but we might get a glimpse, Mercury and Venus are in the wrong spots.

Ideally if there are some bright galaxies in a good position from around 10PM (Kilmore) that would be great, face on galaxies even better, something not 100% obvious but that they should get something out of later in the night (I know these people well enough to try throwing a bit more of a challenge at them than the likes of 47 Tuc once they have their eye in)

Any suggestions greatfully accepted, I am still pretty much a newbie and this is not my normal time of year for much observing so I am not all that familiar with what is up around now. I am more of a warm weather observer myself.

[Robh]

This might help ...
https://sites.google.com/site/southernastronomer/Home/observing-targets-for-each-month

Choose September Observing Targets.
You're somewhat lower in latitude than Sydney but should be mostly OK.

Regards, Rob

[mental4astro]

NGC 253, gal

If you have a clear northern horizon, then M31 for sure!

Again, clear north, M33 the face on spiral. Both of these are highest around 1am.

LMC & SMC with binos.

NGC 1365, a spectacular face on barred spiral in Fornax.

[The_bluester]

Thanks. Between the two of you I should have these guys tied up from dusk until they have to go.

[Paddy]

Grus quartet might be another to add once the moon is down. Nothing like seeing a bunch of galaxies together in one FOV. Also NGC 1365.

[GrampianStars]

Should be able to find some goodies amongst these ;)

NGC7089 M2 GC mag: 6.6 Aqr
NGC7293 C63 NB mag: 7.3 Aqr Helix, Sunflower Nebula
NGC6397 C86 GC mag: 5.3 Ara
NGC5139 GC Mag: 3.7 Cen Omega Centauri Super BIG!
NGC7099 M30 GC mag: 6.9 Cap
NGC1851 C73 GC mag: 7.1 Col
NGC6541 C78 GC mag: 6.3 Cra
NGC2070 NB mag: 5.0 Dor Tarantula Nebula
NGC6218 M12 GC mag: 6.1 Oph
NGC6266 M62 GC mag: 6.4 Oph
NGC6254 M10 GC mag: 6.6 Oph
NGC6273 M19 GC mag: 6.8 Oph
NGC6401 GC mag: 7.4 Oph
NGC6752 C93 GC mag: 5.3 Pav Pavo Globular
NGC7078 M15 GC mag: 6.3 Peg
NGC253 C65 GX mag: 7.3 Scl Sculptor, Silver Coin Galaxy
NGC6121 M4 GC mag: 5.4 Sco
NGC6388 GC mag: 6.8 Sco
NGC6523 M8 NB mag: 5.0 Sgr Lagoon Nebula
NGC6618 M17 NB mag: 6.0 Sgr Omega, Swan Nebula
NGC6514 M20 NB mag: 6.3 Sgr Trifid Nebula
NGC6809 M55 GC mag: 6.3 Sgr
NGC6723 GC mag: 6.8 Sgr
NGC6626 M28 GC mag: 6.9 Sgr
NGC6544 GC mag: 7.5 Sgr
NGC362 C104 GC mag: 6.8 Tuc
NGC104 GC mag: 4.9 Tuc Tuc47 King Pin

Happy Hunting :thumbsup:

[The_bluester]

I am going to have to save this thread so I can make sure I get a glimpse of everything myself. Just hoping for a clear night tomorrow night now.

[CosMos]

Check out my site...some articles and a catalogue I put together
https://sites.google.com/site/cosmosastronomy/Southern-Hemisphere/constellations/observing-articles

[The_bluester]

Well, and expensive and frustrating night. Was just setting up and my 4YO son crept up behind me while I was doing the alignment on the CPC mount and stuch something metallic in one of the ports on the mount. Looks like he has fried the motor control board so that is that for me and astronomy until I can afford to fix it or re mount it.

[Suzy]

Wow Rob they're fantastic lists! :D
I will print them all up and share them in the future. I've already printed all your maps ages ago but never came across these lists on your site before.

[The_bluester]

Hopefully after fixing the child induced damage to my scope electronics I can have a go at some of these targets in a couple of weeks when the moon goes away again.