Hi Jas, yaaay I'm so happy that you nabbed those!
Welcome to the galaxy addiction
.
I haven't observed NGC 253 thru my 10" at a dark site (yet! plan on it next new moon) and never got to see it thru my 6". But good grief, I got to see it thru a 16" at a dark site and wow it practically brought me to my knees!
That's one galaxy on my to do list for a dark site. Did you see some mottling? Thru light pollution, all I see is a huge long grey cloud
and sometimes its just a thin long faint thing.
I was observing M31 The Andromeda galaxy a couple of nights ago thru my 10x60 binoculars- it's an awesome object in binoculars (seeing conditions pending)! I then put my 4" on it, not that much different. I actually preferred the view thru the binos because it looked so prominent against a widefield.
Jase, I came across a post of yours asking about NGC 5102 and then I went to reply, got sidetracked and I don't know where that post is, so if you know, can you pls send me the link and I will reply?
Adding to some good suggestions already mentioned, here's some more which are ones that I've observed.
NGC 1291- Eridanus. Mag. 9.
This is a face on spiral ring galaxy. It has a really bright core and even from LP (light pollution) I can see the outer halo of that ring, truly awesome. It's one of my new favourite galaxies.
It can take high power, so chuck on a 10mm ep.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_1291
NGC 1399 & 1404- Fornax (Part of the Fornax group of galaxies). Elliptical galaxies.
In a 65mm widefield 10mm (120x) eyepiece both these galaxies are in the same field of view. Fairly bright with 1399 being brighter. These are an easy catch in a 10" so I think it'll be well within reach of 6-8" scopes, esp. from a dark site. They're both smallish and round nebulous patches. It's always exciting (I think!) getting two galaxies side by side.
And speaking of pairs....
There's a pair of globular clusters that look a treat in Sagittarius. Grab this early while the constellation is still high-ish before it disappears below the horizon.
NGC 6522 & NGC 6588- The Twins.
Both are within the same field of view (with a widefield 10mm ep).
NGC 6397- ARA (again, grab this one early)
An impressive globular cluster.
My obs: It has a large condensed core (which I couldn't resolve, south of the core are many loose, easy to resolve stars and outer stars look scattered as if this GC has exploded! Bright. 10mm eyepiece used (120x).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6752
NGC 6752- Pavo.
One of the prettiest globular clusters I've seen.
It's the third brightest GC in the sky after Omega Centauri & 47 Tuc.
My obs: Very bright, granulated core and bright stars sprayed out. Heavier concentration north of GC, south of GC are two trails of stars elongated south. 10mm eyepiece used (120x).
Ah, just reading the wikki link- no surprise it's nicknamed The Windmill if it refers to those trails I mentioned).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6752
An eye popper star cluster.....
M11- The Wild Duck Cluster- Scutum.
There's a gazillion stars in that thing!
View this early in the session as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Duck_Cluster
NGC 7009- Aquarius (and don't forget Neptune while you're there).
The Saturn Nebula- planetary nebula.
Albiero- Cygnus. Grab
this first up earlier in the session before it disappears below the horizon. Point your scope at beta Cygni and you will see a fabulous contrasting pair of stars of yellow and blue. De-focus the focussr to reveal their colours more.
And here looks an interesting one for which I'm still to go after....
M29- Cygnus. Open cluster known as The Pants Cluster (or Cooling Tower). Apparently it resembles undies, oh this I have to see.
Its five hottest stars are all giants of the OB class- that's very hot and very big.
Lacertilian & Jase, that should keep you busy for a while.
