Orion XT6, what could i see?

[Horse]

Hello!

I have recently upgraded from a 4.5” reflector to a 6” Dob. I have seen the gas giants, mars, venus and mercury. I have seen a few DSOs, such as M31, the ring nebula, M13, bodes and the cigar galaxy. I am now wondering what DSOs i would be able to resolve detail on. I am in bortle 4, so i reckon not much, but im not too far from a bortle 2. What should i spend my time trying to find if a plan a trip out? I am in the northern hemisphere.

[Astronomist]

welcome to SGL!

  M57, M15, the dumbbell nebula, the double cluster, the star fields around Cygnus, and M31 all make for a fine sight around this time of year. You could try a planetarium software like stellarium for target suggestions, but be aware the pictures are nothing like the view in the scope.

Clear skies!

[YogSothoth]

There are any number of things to look at this time of year. Depends what you like really. There are plenty of double stars, such as the ‘Double double’ in Lyra or Albireo in Cygnus. Star clusters, such as M29 in Cygnus, or the double cluster. Globular clusters such as M92 near Hercules, or M56 in Lyra. This time of year with the Milky Way overhead it’s nice to just sweep around looking at that really. Perhaps get a decent book like the excellent ‘Turn Left at Orion’, which gives you the best objects to look at depending on the time of year and also gives you a good idea of what you will see in the eyepiece. 

[Spile]

I can recommend Saturn and the Saturn Nebula which coincidentally are pretty close to one another at the times. 61 Cygni is a nice looking double that is worth looking at.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Spile

[Guest]

Keep it simple.  Start with the showpiece stuff.  Orion is coming back around here soon so be ready to spend a night hanging out there.  

[Richard N]

17 hours ago, Horse said:

Hello!

I have recently upgraded from a 4.5” reflector to a 6” Dob. I have seen the gas giants, mars, venus and mercury. I have seen a few DSOs, such as M31, the ring nebula, M13, bodes and the cigar galaxy. I am now wondering what DSOs i would be able to resolve detail on. I am in bortle 4, so i reckon not much, but im not too far from a bortle 2. What should i spend my time trying to find if a plan a trip out? I am in the northern hemisphere.

Bortle 4 is pretty good. You will be able to see a lot. I have just upsized from an 80mm refractor to a 203mm reflector. It’s made a huge difference. Any upgrade that makes a magnitude difference in faintest stars will be very noticeable. 

[NGC 1502]

“What could I see?”

This is a very understandable question to ask. However if you don’t mind me saying, it’s a bit like a new car owner asking “where can I drive to?”

Some good advice above.  One of the posts suggested keeping it simple. That’s good advice to begin with. Perhaps  observe what you’re already familiar with using your 4.5” scope, then take it from there. Over time decide what type of object you like to observe. Plenty of categories of object types-

Solar System- moon, planets, asteroids, comets. Open and globular clusters. Double stars. Planetary nebulae. Dimmer objects like galaxies……lots more.

A 6” reflector could sustain a lifetimes observing. I wish I had Bortle 4 at home with Bortle 2 not far away😊

[DirkSteele]

Bortle 4 and a 6” scope? A tremendous amount. Start with the showpieces so many of the messier and Caldwell objects but the sky really is the limit. As your skill improves, so will your ability to see faint detail so make sure to revisit old favourites.