Favourite nebula

Liz · #1 15-01-2010, 02:45 AM

Was wondering what peoples favourite nebula are .... say, their top 6??
Did a bit of a search, but couldnt find that it had been done for awhile.
Thanks

erick (Eric) · #2 15-01-2010, 09:37 AM

Dark? Light? Planetary? What do you want

?

OK, for Dark - Maybe the Dark Doodad? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Doodad_Nebula

AdrianF (Adrian) · #3 15-01-2010, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz

Was wondering what peoples favourite nebula are .... say, their top 6??
Did a bit of a search, but couldnt find that it had been done for awhile.
Thanks

I seem to be obsessed with orion at the mo

.

Adrian

Liz · #4 15-01-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

Dark? Light? Planetary? What do you want

?

any one ya want Eric

Was looking at the nebulas people loved to look at ... these are probably mine -

1) Tarantula
2) Orion nebula
3) Eta Carina
4) Omega Nebula (M17)
5) Ring Nebula
6) Helix

Liz · #5 15-01-2010, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdrianF

I seem to be obsessed with orion at the mo

.

Adrian

Thanks Adrian .... yes, Orion is one of the best for sure

Manav (Yugant) · #6 15-01-2010, 04:35 PM

1. NGC 2244 Rosette(H II region)
2. Horsehead (dark nebula)
3. NGC 6720 PNe

Paddy (Patrick) · #7 15-01-2010, 05:15 PM

For me its between NGC 2070 and Eta Carina. Can look at either for a very long time.

orestis · #8 15-01-2010, 05:19 PM

I'm a beginner so i haven't seen some of the great nebulae out there yet.

1.Orion nebula M42 (emission)
2.Tarantula nebula (emission)
3.M17 (emission)
4.M27 (planetary)
5.M57 (planetary)
6.M8 (emission)

Orestis

Robh (Rob) · #9 15-01-2010, 08:00 PM

My favourites, not necessarily in order...

eta Carinae Nebula- NGC 3372
Orion Nebula- M42
Tarantula Nebula- NGC 2070
Lagoon Nebula- M8
Swan Nebula- M17
Dumbbell Nebula- M27 (PNe)

Regards, Rob

michaellxv (Michael) · #10 15-01-2010, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

OK, for Dark - Maybe the Dark Doodad? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Doodad_Nebula

i'm gonna have to go find a dark site now and look for that one.

erick (Eric) · #11 15-01-2010, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaellxv

i'm gonna have to go find a dark site now and look for that one.

Use your 10x binoculars - too big for a scope. Hints of it can be seen naked eye under very good conditions. Use the globular cluster NGC 4372 to find the starting point, then follow the banana shape up to where it vanishes about half way between gamma Muscae and alpha Muscae.

michaellxv (Michael) · #12 15-01-2010, 10:12 PM

thanks Eric. Just have to wait for the clouds to go away.

Liz · #13 16-01-2010, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

Use your 10x binoculars - too big for a scope. Hints of it can be seen naked eye under very good conditions. Use the globular cluster NGC 4372 to find the starting point, then follow the banana shape up to where it vanishes about half way between gamma Muscae and alpha Muscae.

Hmmmm ... interesting Doodad .... where the heck did that name come from!!! Will have to check it out though

Ok, been having a look as thought Eric may have been stirring ..... and seems doodad is american slang for thingy, and watchamacallit!!!! named by an American Astronomer/writer 20 years ago, after he took some images of it at Alice Springs.

Dave47tuc (David) · #14 17-01-2010, 05:08 PM

Hard to say but there could be many. But I will base it what has blown me away the first time i observed them.

Orion nebula.
Eta carina nebula.
NGC 2070.
M 57 the Ring nebula.
NGC 3132
M20 and M8

erick (Eric) · #15 18-01-2010, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liz

.... as thought Eric may have been stirring .....

Moi ???????

Not marked on all atlases. But is on Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas.

Liz · #16 18-01-2010, 11:23 AM

Thank you all for replies - great to see other peoples favs so will check them out again eg Daves NGC 3132 in Vela.

Eric's Doodad has still got me intriuged .... how come it hadnt been discovered until very recently, when it is seemingly a great dark nebula??

"... a striking example of a dark nebula in the southern skies. The so-called “Dark Doodad” lies in the constellation Musca, just south of the Southern Cross.
one of the more conspicuous dark nebulae in the sky. It stretches in a north-south direction for 3 degrees, and has unusually well-defined edges. This makes it relatively easy to see in dark skies."
http://oneminuteastronomer.com/OMALi...rk-doodad.html

M54 (Molly) · #17 18-01-2010, 08:51 PM

After seeing M42 from Wilsons Promontory on a clear night I was BLOWN AWAY, so I think it qualifies as my favourite.
But I like eta Carinae and Tarantula as well.

pgc hunter · #18 18-01-2010, 08:54 PM

Planetary: NGC 3242 ghost of jupiter
Bright: Tarantula....awesome massive complex in a rich field scope at low power in a dark sky.

Mick (Michael) · #19 18-01-2010, 11:27 PM

Eta Carina nebula and Lagoon Nebula, my favorites.

Blue Skies (Jacquie) · #20 18-01-2010, 11:29 PM

NGC 6960, part of the Veil Nebula in Cygnus known as the Witch's Broom.
The Trifid, M20
M78, the Ghost nebula in Orion
Thor's Helmet in Canis Major, NGC 2359. Need a big scope to do it well, though.
Shapley-1, a smoke ring of a planetary nebula, also needs a big scope to do it justice but niiiice.