Quote:
Originally Posted by Meadehead
Thanks all for the ideas  , the template is what I was looking for, and I like the voice recording idea as I feel clumsy at times with a red led torch in one hand, glasses & a pen flicking through star charts - dropping things & searching in the grass..... I have to get organised, maybe a desk type lamp will free up my hands.
How does one start planning a viewing night? I noticed a list I can downoad in the resources of 100 brightest galaxies & Messier or NGC objects, I could use this list as a project to check all objects off the list. Is there other lists available? |
I can't be bothered with a lot of stuff when outside so here's my set up....
1. Flip open the Pocket Sky Atlas and see what's going to be "up" over the next few hours. The chart layout by RA is brilliant for this, and the scope of the atlas is ideal for my small scope.
2. I jot out a list of things I want to hunt down, along with what map (and RA/Dec) they are on, so I can find it in the dark. I use a pocket notebook and bullet pen for this.
3. I don't carry a red light torch any more. I went to Coles and picked up a white Everready headlamp for $20, and painted it with red nail polish. I just stick the headlamp on my head for the session and I have a red light whenever I need it. It frees up both hands for the night, which is "handy"
4. As I work through my list, I jot down notes/impressions at the eyepiece into the notebook. Sometimes I'll do a rough sketch too.
5. After the session, I transcribe the notes into an observing log (which usually ends up here too under the Obs Reports forum). I print them off and file them away. I redraw any sketches into an observing template form and file those away too. These are fun to read on rainy days.
