Whats your favorite DSO, Mine has to be M42, way back when I first started in this hobby with my 2" refractor, its was a captivating sight, still is , however the aperture is a little larger. So whats your favorite?
Mine would also be The Orion Nebula, or possibly 47 Tucanae.. They were the first two DSO's I ever saw through my two favourite scopes. M42 was the first DSO I ever saw through my little 4-inch reflector -my first scope, and 47 Tuc was the first DSO through my 12" Dob. Both are still staple viewing on any scope outing.
NCC 253 in Sculptor,couldn't find it from my childhood light polluted backyard in Sydney with my Tasco 60mm ,and when I finally saw it through a pair of 80 mm binoculars from a rural sky, its been my favorite DSO.
I actually had to think about this one for a while...
I've got two objects, not because they are particularly spectacular - in fact, they are very unimpressive individually in a visual sense. BUT, their value comes from the hunt! These two objects depend on two conditions - perfect conditions and aperture (more on the second than the first).
The Horsehead Nebula (B33) and Polarissima Australis (NGC 2573).
It took me years to finally pin the Horsie. Two of those due totally to crappie conditions. Even now, as the dark pillar is so fickle, it can challenge the keenest eyes. Polarissima Australis is the closest catalogued object to the South Celestial Pole. It is a tiny magnitude 14 galaxy that requires not only aperture to make out, but conditions need to be good - such tiny galaxies are impossible to see if there is a lot of moisture in the sky, or transperency isn't great. There are also no significantly bright stars to assist with star hopping, sucking your eyeballs out to identify the correct asterisms to track Polarissima Australis.
These two I love for the sheer pleasure of the chase. Both can be real buggers to pin, even with big apertures. Hmmm, yum!
My favourite DSO would have to be Centaurus A because it was the first object that I more or less so got some nice detail through in my image! I recently redid it because in that image my stars were trailing and now it looks even better!
It's great to see what everyone else likes as well! Thanks for the thread!
I'm sure you can guess which was my first image taken through my scope!
Polarissima Australis is the closest catalogued object to the South Celestial Pole. It is a tiny magnitude 14 galaxy that requires not only aperture to make out, but conditions need to be good - such tiny galaxies are impossible to see if there is a lot of moisture in the sky, or transperency isn't great. There are also no significantly bright stars to assist with star hopping, sucking your eyeballs out to identify the correct asterisms to track Polarissima Australis.
Do you have an image of this galaxy by any chance?
WOW,what a collection of DSOs, I to have looked at these, although with mixed success. I've never looked for or at NGC2573, one for later, and the Horsehead has eluded me so far. Alex , what are you observing with? I've tried to see B33 with my LX90 12", without success. Anyway lets not stop now, please keep these Great DSO comming.
Got asked this very question at Urban Observers last night by a visitor. Reading through the thread, I see that el-draco 'nailed it' with his suggestion of 47 Tuc and the Tarantula area. Couldn't show the visitors a good view of either, but NGC3293 (The Gem cluster) was next on my list.
47Tuc- c'mon it's got way way more character & dazzle than Omega!
Sombrero Galaxy (M105).
Touring thru the LMC galaxy (how insane is it to be able to do that!).
And my most favourite would be comets. But they're in our solar system so I guess that doesn't count....
Maybe I should have said a family of Favorites.
