Targets for Small to Medium Telescopes - IISAC2009

iceman (Mike) · #1 20-10-2009, 08:09 AM

Hi

A few people asked to be able to download John Bambury's presentation about the targets for Small to Medium telescopes, that can be observed at IISAC2009.

The targets are visible to almost everyone at this time of year, so even those who didn't go to IISAC can benefit from this.

Download the ~3meg powerpoint file, here:
Targets for Small to Medium Telescopes - October 2009 by John Bambury.

Cheers

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #2 20-10-2009, 02:49 PM

Thanks Mike, right up my alley, since I'm using a small scope.

Dave

WadeH (Wade) · #3 20-10-2009, 08:34 PM

Thats a great little P/point! Should be useful to lots of folk out there. Already saved.

Rod66 (Rod) · #4 20-10-2009, 08:53 PM

Good powerpoint. Why does he refer to M33 as the easiest galaxy to resolve outside the magellanic clouds? I would have thought M31 and NGC253 far easier to see than M33...?

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #5 20-10-2009, 09:16 PM

And sadly, the omission of Omega, which is a great item for small scopes.

Dave

Rod66 (Rod) · #6 20-10-2009, 09:28 PM

Yes I must admit, I probably havea different list of favourites if i was going to do a powerpoint, ie M7, Lagoon Nebula? and definitely the Omega Centauri, who could leave such a magnificent globular off their list. But hey, this is just nitpicking, I'm sure we all have our personal favourites.

iceman (Mike) · #7 20-10-2009, 10:20 PM

It's specifically what's available during October - Omega Centauri isn't a target that's visible during October.

dpastern (Dave Pastern) · #8 20-10-2009, 10:58 PM

Ahhh! Now that explains it. I'm going to try for all of these on the weekend.

Dave

StarGazing (Alex) · #9 21-10-2009, 08:44 AM

Nice one Iceman(Mike). Great source of information ...... please keep it coming.
Cheers Alex.

coldspace · #10 22-10-2009, 08:10 PM

A nice list and excellent way of presenting it.

Matt.

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #11 24-10-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod66

Good powerpoint. Why does he refer to M33 as the easiest galaxy to resolve outside the magellanic clouds? I would have thought M31 and NGC253 far easier to see than M33...?

They are easier to see, but it is harder to see detail within them, which is what "resolving them" refers to. NGC 604 which is a massive HII region within M33 can be seen in a scope as small as 3" to 4". Whilst M31 and NGC 253 are easier to see, you can't resolve detail in them with a scope that small.

In a 10" or 12" scope you can see an enormous amount of detail in M33, if your skies are dark enough.

Cheers,
John B

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #12 24-10-2009, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rod66

Yes I must admit, I probably havea different list of favourites if i was going to do a powerpoint, ie M7, Lagoon Nebula? and definitely the Omega Centauri, who could leave such a magnificent globular off their list. But hey, this is just nitpicking, I'm sure we all have our personal favourites.

Hi Rod,

The list was specifically put together in respect of targets visible from IISAC 2009. Omega Centauri, wonderful target that it is, is way too low at this time of year. It is best viewed in Autumn to Winter.

The bottom observing field at Lostock has a very poor Western Horizon due to a large mountain and trees. M7 and M8 are both getting low in the West and setting at this time of year. Consequently both targets are only visible in the early part of the evening from this site, which is why I didn't include them

In addition because I had a time limit on my presentation I self limited myself to 12 targets only and ultimately that means you have to leave out a lot of good ones. For example NGC 55 is a wonderful galaxy for small scopes from dark skies, but I had to leave something out.

Cheers,
John B