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Timbo.
G'day.
I'm sure you will find many DSOs to enjoy with your 10" dob.
I went along to Queensland Astrofest 2009 to "try before I buy". There I met "Star-Hopper" (GlenC) and was given two amazing tours of the sky. The first night was through a 16" Lightbridge and the second through the 25" SDM #004 - and all objects were found without any electronic aids. This experience set me on my particular path into Astronomy - buy the biggest aperture I could afford, and learn to star-hop. (I ended up with a Skywatcher 12" collapsable dob).
Glen's advice was the same back then as you will see in his 'posts' now - start with learning the 20 brightest stars as a way of getting around the sky. My list of "usual suspects" is growing steadily, though not all are locked away in long term memory - I still have to get my books out sometimes.
If you are not inclined to start with a constellation map and FIND objects by working it out for yourself, then as a starting point, I highly recommend, "Star Watch - The Amateur Astronomer's Guide To Finding, Observing, and Learning about Over 125 Celestial Objects" by Philip S. Harrington.
This book presents star charts for each of the Seasons with clear instructions for star-hopping you way to targets. And once you realise you can do it .....well the sky is the limit.
You will also see advice about recording your observations. As you learn your star-hops, you will come to notice your own markers in the star fields that get you to the destination. I am lazy - I do not make notes or draw little diagrams. It seems that every 'season' I have to re-discover the extra things I noticed and then forgot from the year before. I keep saying that one day I will start keeping notes - it would be helpful.
Happy hunting.
Michael.
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