Quote:
Originally Posted by Azza449
Hi everyone,
I have just downloaded the BAM600 list and was looking at each of the columns. I am still very new to astronomy and also all of this lingo haha. So I was just wondering if I could have some help with a few points.
1. Firstly can I get a bit of an explanation for what each of the column titles are/mean? (I understand type and constellation)
2. How would I sort the targets into easiest to hardest?
3. Additionally to the explanation from the first question, what is the 0-23 rating for the ra2k?
Thanks!  |
Hi Aaron,
Patrick and Andrew have pointed you in the right direction.
As Andrew mentioned sorting by Visual Magnitude is a good place to start. If you've downloaded the Excel Version, keep that as a "clean" copy and save another version as a "working" copy. You can than sort and edit to your hearts content and re save with a descriptive file name. eg. Bam 600 (by magnitude); Bam 600 (by month to observe).
If you can let me know what telescope and eyepieces you have and also where you live (more specific than Australia) and what your sky conditions are, I can then help you refine the list to give you something to work with over the next 6 months. These are all pretty important factors. Over 95% of the targets are very achievable in a 10" telescope and dark skies. Over 60% are achievable in a 6" telescope from dark skies. You will struggle to get 25% of them in a 20" telescope from suburban skies in a heavily populated area. Consequently if you live at Maroubra, my advice would be a lot different than if you lived at Coonabarabran. Also if you live in a city, but plan to travel to a dark site, that is an important factor.
You can also save a version of the Excel Spreadsheet as your "observing log" and enter some comments as you tick the targets off the list.
Cheers
John B