DSOs and galaxies

janoskiss (Steve H) · #1 27-01-2005, 11:15 PM

I have my shiny new dob and it's given me nice views of Saturn, Jupiter and the Moon. But that's pretty much it in my suburban back yard. I checked out some of the brightest DSOs but they're very unimpressive. M42 looked looked much better with a small scope 100km out of Melbourne than it looks here through the big scope.

I hope to take the beast out of Melbourne to darker skies and check out some DSOs. This w/e the Moon is up all night but w/e after should be good. I'm willing to drive as far as it takes to get out from under any clouds.

I'm looking for suggestions on what might be good DSO targets for my 8" scope. I'd be especially interested in seeing galaxies other than our own.

Starkler (Geoff) · #2 28-01-2005, 07:35 AM

Download RTGUI and you may never have to ask such a question again

As for DSO's looking unimpressive, theres very few that are bright enough to give a 'knock your socks off view' , especially galaxies which are always "faint fuzzies" compared to other classes of objects.

You could also try hunting down some planetary nebulae, which are smaller objects that you can view at higher powers, so sky brightness isnt so much of a factor.

[1ponders] (Paul) · #3 28-01-2005, 09:58 AM

Have a chop at some globular clusters. 47 Tuc and Omega Centauri will blow you sock off in a 10 inch dob.

rumples riot · #4 28-01-2005, 11:34 AM

In the LMC look for the tarantula nebula and in carina, near the cross look for eta carina nebula.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #5 28-01-2005, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starkler
Download RTGUI and you may never have to ask such a question again

It runs on Windows only, so it's no good to me. I have several astronomy programs with searchable databases of DSOs but there are so many things in the sky, it's hard to know what to choose.

ving (David) · #6 28-01-2005, 12:52 PM

when hunting DSOs in your GSO, dont expect to see them as you do in pics. most are grey smudges or have some green to them. the fun part is hunting the fainter ones...

like hunting?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #7 28-01-2005, 01:08 PM

Hey Janos,

If you are going to a DARK spot, try the Pinwheel Galaxy (not far from Southern Cross) and Sombrero Galaxy (not far from Pinwheel). Then really test yourself and scope by moving a little bit further from Sombrero and see how many faint Galaxies you can find in the Virgo Cluster!

Very exciting seeing some of the Virgo cluster. WOW factor '10'

If you can't find them, you eventually will with time (weeks, months) as you get used to your scope.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #8 28-01-2005, 08:18 PM

Thanks for the tips. I've looked up your suggestions and I think you have given me enough to keep me busy for a few nights at least.

Ken, you managed to confuse me for a while, because I found the Pinwheel Galaxy but in the wrong hemisphere. I eventually found the Southern Pinwheel.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #9 28-01-2005, 09:56 PM

O.K. So I wasn't speaka da good engalish. (I thought it would've been obvious)

SOUTHERN Pinwheel.

Or to be more pedantic - M83!

Sorry Janos, I will have to use the full name of things in future. I have a habit of shortening or abbreviating things.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #10 28-01-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ballaratdragons
O.K. So I wasn't speaka da good engalish. (I thought it would've been obvious)

SOUTHERN Pinwheel.

Or to be more pedantic - M83!

Yeah, that's the one. Please excuse my ignorance, I didn't know nothin' 'bout no DSOs till I got my first scope just over a month ago; not about pinwheel (northern or southern), whirlpool, not even M42! I couldn't believe when I learnt you could see structure in galaxies with amateur scopes! (i.e. see more than a faint dot.)

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #11 28-01-2005, 10:58 PM

Beleive it or not it will all seem natural after a while.

I won't excuse your ignorance as you have none. Experience is what you don't have yet.

Just think, fairly soon you will be giving info to newbies in here as you learn and experience more.

One of the greatest things a person can do is pass on the things we learn.

Look what you've done, you have made me sound all serious and sensible.

Ummm . . . the sky is up that-a-way. (ah! that's better)

gaa_ian (Ian) · #12 28-01-2005, 11:43 PM

I would agree with rumples & 1 ponders as to good DSO's
Planetary nebulas such as Ghost of jupiter, Saturn nebula, Helix, & ring nebulas are great targets showing interesting structure.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #13 29-01-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gaa_ian
Planetary nebulas such as Ghost of jupiter, Saturn nebula, Helix, & ring nebulas are great targets showing interesting structure.

Apart from Ghost of Jupiter, none of these are up at night. I suppose I'll have to wait a few months.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #14 29-01-2005, 08:07 PM

Janos,

If you want a really, really dark spot go to Mount Arapiles. It is the darkest (supposedly) place in Australia and it is in Victoria!

Reason for darkness: dark non-reflective soils in the whole area.

Starkler (Geoff) · #15 29-01-2005, 08:09 PM

Planetaries brighter than mag 12 , greater than 30 degrees above horizon at 10.30 tonight.

ngc3132 is my fave

RTGUI+S Search= "planetary". Objects above 30°, Brighter than Mag 12
Data is for 29-01-2005 at 22:30:27 Local Time, GMT= 11:30:30:27
Lat=-38°1.9' S, Long=-145°15.2' E, Location File= RTGUI.HOM, Catalog= FULL.RTG

1. NGC 1535 Eridanus Planetary
Alt=57.3° Az=314.2° Mag=10.0 R.A. = 04h 13.1m Dec = -12° 48.0'
2. NGC 2022 Orion Planetary
Alt=42.9° Az=358.5° Mag=12.0 R.A. = 05h 42.4m Dec = 9° 04.8'
3. NGC 2438 Puppis Planetary inside M46
Alt=55.5° Az=055.4° Mag=11.5 R.A. = 07h 42.1m Dec = -14° 44.2'
4. NGC 2440 Puppis Planetary
Alt=58.0° Az=059.9° Mag=11.0 R.A. = 07h 42.3m Dec = -18° 13.3'
5. NGC 2867 Carina Planetary Caldwell 90
Alt=50.3° Az=138.5° Mag= 9.5 R.A. = 09h 21.6m Dec = -58° 19.7'
6. NGC 3132 Vela Planetary EightBurst Caldwell 74
Alt=40.7° Az=114.4° Mag= 8.0 R.A. = 10h 07.3m Dec = -40° 26.8'
7. NGC 3195 Chamaeleon Planetary Caldwell 109
Alt=41.3° Az=168.9° Mag=12.0 R.A. = 10h 09.5m Dec = -80° 52.9'
8. NGC 3211 Carina Planetary
Alt=43.2° Az=144.4° Mag=12.0 R.A. = 10h 18.0m Dec = -62° 43.0'
9. NGC 3918 Centaurus Planetary BluePlanetar
Alt=30.8° Az=140.9° Mag= 8.5 R.A. = 11h 50.5m Dec = -57° 12.0'
10. IC 418 Lepus Planetary
Alt=64.3° Az=349.3° Mag=11.0 R.A. = 05h 27.7m Dec = -12° 41.8'
11. IC 2448 Carina Planetary
Alt=48.8° Az=156.5° Mag=12.0 R.A. = 09h 07.1m Dec = -69° 58.2'
12. IC 2501 Carina Planetary
Alt=47.9° Az=140.9° Mag=11.0 R.A. = 09h 38.9m Dec = -60° 06.4'
13. ABELL 12 Orion Planetary 198.6-6.
Alt=42.2° Az=005.3° Mag=12.0 R.A. = 06h 02.6m Dec = 9° 39.2'
14. Abell 21 Gemini Planetary 205.1+14
Alt=33.4° Az=030.3° Mag=10.3 R.A. = 07h 29.2m Dec = 13° 14.8'

janoskiss (Steve H) · #16 29-01-2005, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starkler
Planetaries brighter than mag 12 , greater than 30 degrees above horizon at 10.30 tonight.
ngc3132 is my fave
...

Thanks Starkler. Xplns finds the same objects below or at the mag 12 limit. I would have assumed that mag 10 was already too dim to see even with a scope. I guess not... Can't wait to dive in!

astro_south (Andrew) · #17 30-01-2005, 11:09 AM

Janos

If you get out earlier you could also try for the Eskimo Nebula - just a short hop from Saturn at the moment. I thought it would have made the list above, but then I realised the 30 degree criteria on the list, and it must just creep under it from Melbourne.

If you make it out to a dark sky sight and want the veiw to knock your socks off - try the Fornax galaxy cluster (as reported in Nov/Dec Sky&Space). Try to find the field with the most galaxies in. Another galaxy that hasn't been mentioned is NGC5128 - just a short hop from Omega Cent. It has an obscuring dust lane that splits the galaxy light into two halves resulting in a ghostly hamburger appearance.

Striker (Tony) · #18 30-01-2005, 11:18 AM

Thanks Andrew......you had to mention food(Hamburger) in a astronomy forum......grrrrrrrrr.....lol....BR B...I'm Hungry

gaa_ian (Ian) · #19 30-01-2005, 09:43 PM

Great list Starkler ....
Yep... centuarus A (ngc5128)it is a superb galaxy.
Another one that just begs for a bigger scope ... beware of appeture fever

janoskiss (Steve H) · #20 30-01-2005, 10:19 PM

Good stuff guys, the list is growing! I'll let you know how I go. I'll just have to print myself some good charts that I can see under the light of red LEDs.

Quote:

Originally posted by gaa_ian
... centuarus A (ngc5128)it is a superb galaxy. Another one that just begs for a bigger scope ... beware of appeture fever

Thanks for the warning. For now, budget and need for portability will keep the fever under control. Apart from the exceptional value for money, I got the 8" because I figured it would just fit in the hatchback, but now it looks like it's gonna be a squeeze, and I might not be able to use the original packaging.