Favourite Object?

Soldant · #1 12-09-2004, 06:55 PM

Just curious to know what your favourite object to look at is.
I look at any DSO I can find, for some reason the moon and planets don't really interest me. A few of my favourites are Centauri (though most globular clusters don't interest me) while M8, M16, M17 and M20 are the objects I like the best.

What about you?

iceman (Mike) · #2 13-09-2004, 06:13 AM

I love globulars too, and Omega Centauri (NGC 5139) is easily my favourite object..

I also like 47 Tuc in the SMC, another great southern glob..

As for nebulas and other things, I love Eta Carinae (NGC3372) and of course M42 (Orion nebula). M8 and M20 are favourites too, cause they're so easy to find and almost always directly overhead at the moment.

I'm not doing too much DSO observing at the moment, i'm trying to take in a lot of the planets (Saturn and Venus) and the moon, when I get a chance, cause i'm trying to photograph them!

I can't photograph DSO's with my current setup, it just wouldn't work

Do you have a UHC or OIII filter for DSO observing?

Soldant · #3 13-09-2004, 04:03 PM

Nah, maybe when work decide to finally start paying what we're worth and quit cutting our budget I'll be able to afford the vast list of stuff I want to buy.

Interesting call on NGC3372... personally I don't find it terribly interesting, maybe I should give it another go when I can see it again.

Starkler (Geoff) · #4 13-09-2004, 06:53 PM

Definately 47Tuc for me !
I much prefer the view to that of omega cen.

Another favourite is the Tarantula neb especially through the UHC filter.

My latest interest is hunting planetary nebs , my faves are ngc3132 ,5189 and ummm another one in scorpio i cant seem to find just now

iceman (Mike) · #5 15-09-2004, 06:23 AM

How do you find the UHC filter? Have you tried a OIII filter?

What objects do you normally use the UHC on? Do you use it at home or at a dark sky or both?

Oh and if we're talking favourite objects, not favourite DSO's, then Saturn has to be at the top of the list!

There's nothing quite like looking at Saturn..

I'll always remember my first viewing of it through a telescope.. it definitely got me hooked on astronomy from then on.

Starkler (Geoff) · #6 15-09-2004, 08:02 PM

I dont use the UHC as much as I thought I would.
Where its good is for teasing more detail and contrast out of nebulae by darkening the background. The best object to try one on is the Tarantula neb in the LMC. It show sooooo much more nebulosity and whispy detail.

As using the filter also makes the wanted object dimmer, it works best from a dark site. The less ambient light the more useful it appears to be.

Mine is a Lumicon and I find that stars dont focus as sharply when using it, and brighter stars have coloured fringing.
I have heard that the Astronomiks brand is a lot better in this respect and worth the extra money.

iceman (Mike) · #7 16-09-2004, 06:26 AM

ah ok. I think Bintel sell the Astronomik brand for about $180 or so.
How much did you pay for yours?

Starkler (Geoff) · #8 16-09-2004, 11:31 PM

I think I paid $170 for the Lumicon and the astronomiks was $199 at the time. If i was doing it again I would pay the extra.

CSHumphrey · #9 30-09-2004, 02:22 PM

Polaris is the BEST star out there! Out of the billions of stars in the universe its THE most spectacular to view.

Oh wait you guys down there cant see it, how sad

:p

Soldant · #10 30-09-2004, 07:41 PM

Two objects:
SMC, LMC.

Ha.

CSHumphrey · #11 06-10-2004, 02:26 AM

DOH!

ok you got me there

iceman (Mike) · #12 06-10-2004, 06:24 AM

indeed!

Was fortunate enough to get out the other night (when SMC was visible) and this morning (when LMC was visible)..

The highlight of the SMC for mine is definitely 47Tuc, had a good look at that through my 32mm and 15mm eyepieces.. I love it in the widefield views, the core is so dense and bright.

Of course the highlight of the LMC is the Tarantula Nebula, had a good view of it this morning again through the 32mm and a 2x barlowed view with the same eyepiece (16mm equivalent). The spidery shape was definitely visible, legs looking like tentacles spreading out into the blackness

Soldant · #13 06-10-2004, 03:09 PM

I'm yet to see the LMC. I'd love to see it though.

Starkler (Geoff) · #14 07-10-2004, 07:02 PM

Cant find the LMC Soldant ?

From my backyard I can just make it out with averted vision squinting and holding my tongue on just the right angle .

I have been away the last couple of days on business and stayed last night at Ballarat. I went for a drive 30 min out of town and spent an hour under the DARK sky with my 7x50 binoculars.
The LMC and SMC were as obvious as the proverbial dogs b____, and the milky way stretching brightly from horizon to horizon.

This is how I wish the sky looked all the time.

Soldant · #15 07-10-2004, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Starkler
Cant find the LMC Soldant ?

From my backyard I can just make it out with averted vision squinting and holding my tongue on just the right angle .

I have been away the last couple of days on business and stayed last night at Ballarat. I went for a drive 30 min out of town and spent an hour under the DARK sky with my 7x50 binoculars.
The LMC and SMC were as obvious as the proverbial dogs b____, and the milky way stretching brightly from horizon to horizon.

This is how I wish the sky looked all the time.

Nah I can find it alright.
I'm just too lazy to get up in time when it's in a good spot to view. Unfortunately I can't usually see much towards the horizon in all directions (and I can't see W-N at all thanks to trees).

Mutant · #16 13-10-2004, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CSHumphrey
Polaris is the BEST star out there! Out of the billions of stars in the universe its THE most spectacular to view.

Oh wait you guys down there cant see it, how sad :p

Humphrey from BABB?

"I also like 47 Tuc in the SMC, another great southern glob.."

^^ Saw this through a ~40 reflector at the perth observatory on a really clear night. Best object I've ever seen, although I'm noob.

rumples riot · #17 25-10-2004, 12:02 AM

At the moment tarantula is my fav. But in a couple of months its going to be Orion again, and then some long exposure shots are going to happen.

Paul

Saturn%5 (Graeme) · #18 25-10-2004, 04:39 PM

I would have to say 47 Tuc and Omega

mch62 (Mark) · #19 25-10-2004, 05:38 PM

ditto Omega Centauri

rumples riot · #20 25-10-2004, 10:33 PM

Another, great object is the sculptor galaxy and maybe Eta Carina (key hole nebula). Come to think of it, there are so many great objects to look at that I really cannot pick just one. I do like 47 tuc and Omega, but after nearly thirty years of Astronomy, I just cannot pick one that I think is the best.

Paul