Hi all,
Not sure what is up in the sky at this time of the year?
Like some ideas on targets to chase down?
Like to ask for some particular type of object to find in your scope?
Have a look at the monthly Observation Challenge!
This February's Challenge takes a naked eye look at one of the oldest constellation groupings and how they related to the seasons and eachother. Scope targets range from easy to see to one of the most difficult targets to see in the whole sky.
Naked eye targets
There are 88 official constellations in the sky. Other than those located deep in the Southern Sky whose origins are less than 400 years old, the majority have their origins in antiquity. And many of them have the same significance in many different ancient cultures.
The group of constellations surrounding and including Orion are amongst the oldest. For many ancient cultures, not only the "object" the constellation describes is important, but also the star's brightness and colour play important roles.
Scope targets
The targets suggested this month cover a wide variety of deep sky objects types, including nebula and their associated star clusters, a galaxy, open clusters, planetary nebulae, a globular cluster, and one of the oldest known super nova remnants whose age is precisely known.
This thread is also open to further target nominations too. Not just a specific object, but you are most welcome to ask for suggestions of other objects of the same type that are currently nominated. Some target too faint for your scope? Why not ask for a brighter one within reach of your scope!
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=71322
Mental.