What magnitudes do my sky allow

[glennbech]

Hi!

Im sitting here with the caldwell catalogue and are looking forward to testing out some new visual gear next time the skies clear. I just want to make sure that I don't line up a bunch of targets that will be impossible to see because of light pollution, seeing or Aperture.

So, How do you get a feeling for what is within reach? Do you just do empirical tests to get an idea of what magnitude a certain sky and scope can show? I will be looking into a 150mm Mak, 90 mm refractor and a 60mm refractor. On a good night, dark adjusted, I can see the milky way  with averted vision from my back yard - but more often I can not.

[YKSE]

For Caldwell objects, my guess is that you can see open clusters and globula clusters with your 150 Mak, maybe a few high galaxies in your dark nights. you'll need filters to see some nebulas, a OIII filter with a ~30mm eyepiece in WO 90mm, e.g. should be capable for the Veil (C33, C34).

[Pondus]

Depending a bit on where you live in Norway, you can rule out C65 -> C109, they will be below, or too Close to the horizon.

And still there are some tricky ones left amongst the 64 first ones...

 

Rune

 

[Pondus]

Not much help in my first post there....

I think you can find possible 16 clusters, C6 cats eye nebula, C22 blue snowball nebula, C39 Eskimo nebula, C55 Saturn nebula and some galaxies.

All should be doable under a quite Bright night sky, and from a northern latitude ...

Rune