What dso list should i start with?

[Naemeth]

Does anyone know how many Messier objects are visible through an 8" scope in a light polluted city? Most of the ones I've seen are really faint so can imagine some of the other galaxy's and nebula are too faint to see. I guess I'll end up with a dark sky messier list next

AFAIK, all will be visible that are brighter than the ambient glow of the LP. Any that are fainter in magnitude than the background LP will not be visible in any scope, even with a 20m mirror.

[Ben Smith]

Am I right in thinking if I can see m76 I should be able to see them all? I read that this is the toughest of the list

[Naemeth]

Am I right in thinking if I can see m76 I should be able to see them all? I read that this is the toughest of the list

That's what I've read too, you certainly should . I believe Messier himself only had a 2.5" scope, but not any light pollution to deal with of course .

Often with some of the Messiers, their magnitude is not the problem, it's the elevation - some of them only come up about 10 degrees above the horizon in southern UK skies, and so can only be seen for a month or so per year.

[Ben Smith]

Often with some of the Messiers, their magnitude is not the problem, it's the elevation - some of them only come up about 10 degrees above the horizon in southern UK skies, and so can only be seen for a month or so per year.

Ahh I didn't think of that. From my garden I only have good seeing from south, nothing from north/east as my house blocks it all. I do tend to get to a dark sky site once every new moon

[Coffecup25]

Hi again

I'm still waiting for my telescope. Which constellation have most DSO's in it. I don't want to spend time in one that doesn't have many.

Thank for the help

[bomberbaz]

The area of sky containing auriga, taurus, gemini and orion is very rich area so choose that and work through it. Should keep you busy for a good while.

There are plenty of clusters, some with nebulosity associated, nebulas includinv tne orion which is imo the best of them all and big plus side is that jupiter is also residing in gemini

Steve

[bomberbaz]

Also would add that under dark skies it isvjust a fantastic looking area ti look at anyway, orions belt, pleiades, area aroundcaldeboran, yeah superb

[AndyWB]

Ahh I didn't think of that. From my garden I only have good seeing from south, nothing from north/east as my house blocks it all. I do tend to get to a dark sky site once every new moon

That's good, if you can see south you'll gradually have most stuff become available to you through the year, including my favourite bit - around Sagittarius. That must have one of the highest densities of objects to look at - but it's very low in the south from the UK (so probably worse in Sweden, I'd guess, Coffeecup25). M6 and M7 are a challenge in the south of England, and I'm guessing simply not possible further north.

[stevend]

Hi again

I'm still waiting for my telescope. Which constellation have most DSO's in it. I don't want to spend time in one that doesn't have many.

Thank for the help

Get Stellarium.

[stevend]

Hit enter too soon.. Stellarium is a great PC app that will help you to see what is up there. It is particularly useful for planning especially if you have a limited view of sky. Since I got my scope I have tend to do as Rory, ie focus on a particular but I always supplement this with specific targets that may be good for viewing at the moment, eg Jupiter at the moment.

[Ben Smith]

That's good to know Andy. Thanks

[Moonshane]

I don't think M76 is one of the tricker ones but M74 is and there are a few faint galaxies but other than that I'd guess 90+ will be do-able from most sites if you are out of direct light, can physically get your scope to point at them and there's no (or little) moon.

[acey]

I would suggest to start with the Messiers, then the Alan Dyer / RASC "best NGC" list, then Caldwell (down to your horizon). That should take a few years. After that, anything - O'Meara's "Hidden Treasures" and Herschel 400 are OK (there's also a second 400, the "Herschel II" list), though personally I'd recommend the list of about 600 Herschel objects suggested by James Mullaney. Then the complete Herschel catalogue (2500 objects) or the complete NGC (7840 objects). Links below:

Messier: http://messier.seds.org/

RASC: http://www.rasc.ca/sites/default/files/rascfinestngcforms.pdf

Caldwell: http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/caldwell/cldwlist.html

O'Meara: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Deep-Sky-Companions-Stephen-James-OMeara/dp/0521837049

Mullaney: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Herschel-Objects-How-Observe-Them/dp/0387681248/ref=sr_1_13?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389100600&sr=1-13&keywords=james+mullaney

Herschel 400: http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/herschel/hers400.html

Herschel II  http://www.astroleague.org/content/herschel-ii-introduction

Herschel 2500 and NGC: http://www.klima-luft.de/steinicke/index_e.htm

The French professional astronomer Guillaume Bigourdan (1851-1932) observed all the NGCs down to his horizon limit in Paris (approx 6400 objects), and accurately determined their positions. He did it with a 12" scope and it took him over twenty years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_Bigourdan

An observing site with a clear view from Polaris down to the southern horizon will enable views of everything on offer. The 19th century "Leviathan" telescope (72 inch aperture) was constructed with retaining walls aligned north-south, so it could only see a little bit to either side of the meridian. That was all that was needed in order to see all objects whenever they were highest in the sky. The scope couldn't reach vertical so the region around the pole was off limits, but a dob standing between two walls aligned north-south would do fine. If the view to the south is blocked then best move the telescope. Taking it to a dark site whenever there is no moon is certainly the best idea.

Someone asked which constellation has most DSOs. This is an ambiguous question because there are some constellations that have lots of very faint ones (requiring a large telescope) and others that have a few prominent ones, and would be more fruitful for the beginner. Also, constellations vary greatly in size. But for bright galaxies, Virgo is particularly good, and best viewed in spring. Galaxies are rarer along the Milky Way (which blocks their light) but clusters and planetary nebulae are more common. Sagittarius is particularly well stocked with the latter, best viewed in summer, though difficult at northern latitudes as it is seen low in the sky, with night darkness becoming short or non-existent. Ursa Major is a very large constellation with a lot of DSOs (mostly galaxies, but also the very interesting Owl Nebula) and is visible all year round. Cassiopeia (also visible year-round) is rich in clusters and has a number of nebulae too.

[Coffecup25]

Hi

Is there anyone that found all the dso's that you linked?

[Scott]

sky @ night and astronomy now magazines will also give you an indication of what's about

[acey]

Hi

Is there anyone that found all the dso's that you linked?

The lists overlap, so anyone who views the whole NGC plus a handful of other objects (from IC, Melotte etc) will have done the lot. Bigourdan viewed nearly all of them, and Steve Gottlieb has been working through the complete NGC, now apparently getting close to the end. William Herschel discovered most of his objects over a couple of years. There are a number of people who have viewed all the Herschel objects (the first to try was his son John), and there may well be a number of people out there who have seen all or most of the NGC. I'm about a quarter of the way through.

If we look at people who actually "found" (i.e. discovered) objects listed in the NGC, the top scorers are:

W Herschel: 2439

J Herschel: 1866

Marth: 594

L Swift: 560

Stephan: 457

D'Arrest: 344

Leavenworth: 260

W Parsons: 225

All of them did it by eye, mostly using apertures ranging from 11" to 72". Steve Gottlieb's notes on 6571 NGC objects (mostly viewed with a 17.5" scope) are here:

http://www.ngcicproject.org/gottlieb/

I think it has taken him about 30 years.

[Moonshane]

The lists overlap, so anyone who views the whole NGC plus a handful of other objects (from IC, Melotte etc) will have done the lot. Bigourdan viewed nearly all of them, and Steve Gottlieb has been working through the complete NGC, now apparently getting close to the end. William Herschel discovered most of his objects over a couple of years. There are a number of people who have viewed all the Herschel objects (the first to try was his son John), and there may well be a number of people out there who have seen all or most of the NGC. I'm about a quarter of the way through.

If we look at people who actually "found" (i.e. discovered) objects listed in the NGC, the top scorers are:

W Herschel: 2439

J Herschel: 1866

Marth: 594

L Swift: 560

Stephan: 457

D'Arrest: 344

Leavenworth: 260

W Parsons: 225

All of them did it by eye, mostly using apertures ranging from 11" to 72". Steve Gottlieb's notes on 6571 NGC objects (mostly viewed with a 17.5" scope) are here:

http://www.ngcicproject.org/gottlieb/

I think it has taken him about 30 years.

fantastic post Acey.

[Paul73]

The lists overlap, so anyone who views the whole NGC plus a handful of other objects (from IC, Melotte etc) will have done the lot. Bigourdan viewed nearly all of them, and Steve Gottlieb has been working through the complete NGC, now apparently getting close to the end.

I think it has taken him about 30 years.

30 Years!!! You can't help but respect that sort of obsession.

Followed the link and have been enjoying the notes. Definitely need a bigger scope.

Paul

[Mr Q]

I will get my telescope soon and i wonder about which dso list i should start with. Any ideas are appreciated.

Thanks in advance

The below link will keep you busy no mater what size scope you use! Because it lists the brightest objects of each constellation first, it is a very helpful extensive list. Just pick what constellation you want to explore and try for the brightest (lowest magnitude number) objects that are highest in the sky at the time. I printed the list out and it helps my planning for each night's session. I do not know of any other list that is so extensive and easy to use.

   http://www.deepskywatch.com/files/dso-guide/DSO-guide-7000-const-mag.pdf

[Tinker1947]

This is another nice program, set your location ect ect and it shows what you should beable to view....

http://www.whatsup.ricksastro.com/

[Coffecup25]

Hi

I finally got my telescope. Haven't used it because of clouds. Can't wait to use it.

[bomberbaz]

The below link will keep you busy no mater what size scope you use! Because it lists the brightest objects of each constellation first, it is a very helpful extensive list. Just pick what constellation you want to explore and try for the brightest (lowest magnitude number) objects that are highest in the sky at the time. I printed the list out and it helps my planning for each night's session. I do not know of any other list that is so extensive and easy to use.

   http://www.deepskywatch.com/files/dso-guide/DSO-guide-7000-const-mag.pdf

cracking list that, shouldckeep me busy for a whilecat least