what to spot with eye/binos?

[Dakaar]

i should hopefully be taking a trip out tonight to identify more constellations as my knowledge is limited. the main goal is to learn them on the fly but while i'm out i thought it would be nice to see what else i can spot.

im taking my binos with me but they are only 21x20 so too high mag vs light gathering really but they should hopefully have some use. the thing is i'm not sure what to look for or what will be visible with my eye or binos. i haven't ordered my new scope yet so all i have are these 2 things to look through. ive got coming Philip's Night Sky Atlas but that won't be here until tomorrow at the earliest i think

any tips on what else to look for that may be visible?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

M31 in Andromeda is a naked-eye object, as is M45 (Pleiades), and both should be nice even in small binoculars.  The Double Cluster in Perseus is great as well. Orion and its Great Nebula is a worthwhile target. M35 in Gemini, and M36, M37, and M38 in Auriga are worth a try

 

 

[D4N]

M42 in Orion's Belt is bright enough for those binoculars I think.

[happy-kat]

Could Sign up to the binocular sky newsletter, it's on the binocularsky website.

[Dakaar]

thanks for the replies. this should give me a few targets to look at 

[ronin]

Find the constellation Auriga, bright star is Capella. In the "square" bit of Auriga are 2 open clusters and there is a third just outside the "square". They are all Messier objects, 36, 37 and 38 I think and more or less in a line. They make a good set of 3 to get and are easy in binoculars somewhere dark.

Think there may be a couple of smaller dimmer open clustaers in Auriga but these will be more difficult, so search the interior of Auriga. Just seen that the Flaming Star Nebula is sort of right of the top cluster in Auriga, give it a go.

Double cluster between Cassiopeia and Perseus is another - Caldwell 14,. You might try for M34 sort of "centre right" from Perseus.  Actually scan the area between Cassiopeia and Perseus 2 nebuls but likely too dim, but nothing to lose.