Funny, our club's helping the local cub-scout group out next Wednesday for their Astronomy badges. List looks sound to me (for telescope). Don't forget naked-eye views of Milky Way & LMC, easy to miss the forest for the trees, LOL!
The group apparently needs to see 2 planets (Venus is also an option early on), identify the Southern Cross, spot a satellite (no ISS passes on the night though) and a few other things. There will be various activities undertaken by the Leader, incl finding south with the SC, simulating an eclipse, etc etc.
LOL Liz,
We have 4 kids over tonight for my son's birthday sleepover.
As I type the sky looks clear and my 10 y/o boy's 8" Dob is
all set up cooling down. It rained today but we might be lucky.
I had also wondered on a good list of objects. I think they will be
occupied with the PStation and Wii though later
Pizza / chips/ cake for dinner ..
Thanks guys. All home now after a good night tho all our stuff saturated from the dew! Even got some wows from Venus.
We could have used your great knowledge base Carl, Lex was hoping you could make it. Luckily the kids questions werent too tricky.
Sorry, I was a bit late to this thread. A couple of things for next time.
Forget about Mars. You don't get many wows out of kids over that one. Unless it's at opposition it is just too small and even then it's hard for a non astronomer to get much out of it.
Always try to stick with the big bright targets where "non astronomers" can identify that "something" is in the eyepiece. Also it often helps to stick with wider brighter doubles, with good colour contrast, where possible. Acrux is as tight as you would want to go with a double for "non astronomers", as nice a double as it is. 24 Comae is a nice one at present, as is X Velorum (Dunlop 95)
Add these to the list of targets you have and what has been recommended to you so far in this thread:-
Eta Carina
M8
M22
M17
M104
NGC 6397
NGC 6231 (False Comet Cluster)
These are always worth showing to the masses.
Cheers,
John B
Last edited by ausastronomer; 06-06-2010 at 01:26 PM.
.... starting to pack up the car. 
