Figuring out what you're seeing.

[maw lod qan]

Out again this morning. Mostly visually  observing while waiting for the moon to rise. While panning across the sky towards Scorpios, I was able to pick out three distant "fuzzies" I know had to be either starclusters or galaxies.

I understand the idea of Ra Dec but with a manual Dob, it's more of pointing and looking.

Heavensabove listed jupiter at 17h 31m 44.9s around 3am, so the fuzzies I saw were close to 16h 30 min and -20 degrees. Between jupiter and Scorpios.

One was very close to an incredible star field not visible  completely till I looked through my 8"dob and a 32mm lens.

What's my best choice in finding how to determine what I'm seeing.

[maw lod qan]

Perhaps I've answered my own question.

Found a set of Messier finder charts on line. Still a little, fuzzy, on exactly which I saw though. But it was pretty amazing.

[Paz]

Here's the messiers in that area of sky...

[maw lod qan]

Thanks. While I was printing the charts, I couldn't believe everything there is to see.