Messier Objects

[PCH (Paul)]

Hi,

can anyone tell me if all the Messier Objects (I'm thinking of buying the book "Atlas of the Messier Objects") can be viewed in the southern hemisphere?

Many thanks

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by PCH

Hi,

can anyone tell me if all the Messier Objects (I'm thinking of buying the book "Atlas of the Messier Objects") can be viewed in the southern hemisphere?

Many thanks

Depends on how far south you are at the time. For instance M81 and M82 are only visible if you are north of 20 deg S.

Perth is 31 deg S so M52 and M103 won't be visible. M97, M102 and M108 would be pretty unlikely - they only get about 4 deg above the horizon.

That's still over a hundred you have a chance of seeing.

[Blue Skies (Jacquie)]

Andrew is right, you can't see them all from Perth. For the two in Cassiopeia and M81 and M82 you will need to head to the far north. M40 is do-able, a friend tells me, very low on the horizon. I've never managed to see M107 (I think that's the one, too lazy to go check) in Ursa Major even though it technically comes above our horizon, (even though I've been in the northern hemisphere and seen M81 & M82 there!) I've seen the Owl and the Little Dumbell a couple of times, but you need to on the ball and time it exactly right to do them.

[PCH (Paul)]

Hi Jacquie and Andrew,

many thanks for those replies. It sounds like the book will be a worthwhile investment then.

Best wishes

[glenc (Glen)]

Paul these are the northern M objects.
M81 and M82 (declination +69) are visible from Darwin but not from Perth.
Perth is latitude -32 so you can see to Declination +58 in theory but +48 or +53 is more like it.
I have seen M97 from my place at latitude -29.
Messier Type Declination
M 51 GALXY +47 12
M 106 GALXY +47 18
M 39 OPNCL +48 26
M 76 PLNNB +51 35
M 109 GALXY +53 22
M 101 GALXY +54 21
M 97 PLNNB +55 01
M 108 GALXY +55 40
M 103 OPNCL +60 39
M 52 OPNCL +61 35
M 81 GALXY +69 04
M 82 GALXY +69 41
Here are images of all the M objects. http://picasaweb.google.com/dunlop1826/Messier#

[PCH (Paul)]

Hi Glen,

thanks for that. That's a very complete list you've pointed out. I'm off going to see if I can find the 'Atlas' in the second hand bookshop in Freo today.

Thanks to all

[PCH (Paul)]

A quick update...

Angus & Robertson price for this book ...$143 plus postage
East coast Aussie supplier price ... $99 + postage - better !
Amazon.com price .... on special at US$39 + postage. AU$64 all up including shipping - aaaahhh magic.

[nalanamerannage (Nalana)]

Does any one know which objects you cant see from melbourne please answer

[Brian W (Brian)]

Hi, rather than buy an expensive book you might consider downloading 'Astrobyte' which is an excellent free software for logging and it comes with a special log area for the M-110 which includes excellent black and white photos of all 110 that are close to what I saw when I did the list in our 4.5" reflector.
Brian

[alocky (Andrew lockwood)]

There's also www.alibris.com I justr checked and there are a few copies of the original "The Messier Album' by Kreimer and Mallas for a few bucks apeice, plus shipping. As well as reproducing Messier's original observing notes, it's got sketches through a 4" and photos from a 12".
cheers,
Andrew

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by nalanamerannage

Does any one know which objects you cant see from melbourne please answer

Assuming by Melbourne you mean 37 deg 50" S:
40 52 81 82 97 101 102 103 108 109

You need to be north of about Bowen, Qld to see them all and then M82 will only just clear the horizon. At Cooktown it will get to about 5 deg above the horizon.

[RobF (Rob)]

Hi Paul

For figuring out what's visible I would strongly recommend looking at Astroplanner. Even just the freeware version if a very powerful utility to plan your viewing sessions.

To get an idea what's visible from the latitude of Brisbane, you could check out my Messier gallery too if interested:
https://picasaweb.google.com/UserRob...02105Possible#


From my calculations (and experience) 105 visible from here, and you're not that much further south are you? I must process and put up the final images for these too...