Favourite celestial objects?

[Beulah]

I don't know if this has been asked already!

I was observing with the kids last night and they all agreed that the Double Cluster was their favourite out of the nine objects I showed them.

For imagers and observers alike: what are your three all-time favourite objects to image/observe, and why?

[Doc]

I have loads of favourites but maybe these:

1. M81/M82

2. M27

3. Veil with a O111 filter.

[JCJC]

M42 and M31 have got to be serious contenders.

Jordan

[skye at night]

Seeing the whole Constellation of Orion and his sword glowing pink with nebular gases (didn't mean that to sound rude!!) in a clear sky on a crisp winter's evening has got to be my favourite..

by a long way!!

Steve

ps.. edited as it definitely sounded rude the way I first wrote it!

[barkis]

The Wild Duck (M11) In the Scutum Star Fields.

The Beehive Cluster (M44) In Cancer.

The Globular M13 In Hercules.

My favourite object which will come as no surprise, is The Planet Saturn. It was the first thing object I saw with my Home Made 8" f6 Reflector, which revealed a sizable view of this beautiful planet, and the memory is still with to this day. All the months of work creating that mirror were justified in that first light.

I grew to like Star Clusters, and the above objects pleased me an awful lot, purely from an aesthetic point of view.

Ron.

[ashenlight]

One of my all time favourite sights is Orion, in a crisp winter sky. It's the constellation that sparked my imagination when I was young and just getting into astronomy - I owe alot to him

M81 and M82 are a lovely pairing, great to observe session after session

M45

M44 - the first cluster I ever saw with my binoculars, it made me gasp for air I was so stunned I could see that much 'stuff' up there with my basic 10x50s.

[kniclander]

all of the above:) (except the veil cos I never seen it)

and just to be different -

comet P Holmes for the serious WOW factor

iota cancri because I found it by accident when I was looking for saturn (oh the joys of not having goto)

auriga clusters

[ashenlight]

Auriga is a lovely constellation, so much going on a real beacon. I just love seeing Capella and the kids on a cold winters night.

[ashenlight]

tbh, I really don't think I could pick a favourite I said the ones above^ but there's just so much, each so beautiful individually. It'd be easier to do favourites season by season!

[TheThing]

The moon, the moon and the moon!

Never fail to be astonished by it or find new things to view on it.

[ashenlight]

ah yes the Moon, isn't it great to have such a plethora of celestial delights right on our doorstep

[TheThing]

Indeed it is! For years I just saw it with naked eyes and never appreciated its complexity and beauty

No Venus in your top 3, Amanda?

[DemonicOmelette]

1) The Sun, because it gives us nice sunny days.

2) The Moon, because it is lovely in so many ways.

3) The Stars, because all of them together amaze.

See? it's a little poem!

-eli

[ashenlight]

see, this is the problem! I could never condense all the clusters, galaxies, nebula - not to mention objects in our own solar system - into a top 3 list! Venus is such a beautiful planet, but seeing Jupiter trace its path across the sky has brought me such pleasure the past few months...

SP, you certainly have set us a difficult task here

[Beulah]

SP, you certainly have set us a difficult task here

You're welcome!

I have observed many objects this year, and I particularly enjoyed the rich galaxy field in Leo/Virgo. But if I had a top 3 at this time I'd say;

1) Veil Nebula viewed with 0III filter

2) Whirlpool Galaxy, for the more I observe, the more I am beginning to notice the spiral arms

3) M13 because with a 10mm plossl and good transparency, you can lose yourself in resolving the stars in the cluster forever.

[kniclander]

doh! wish I'd said whirlpool... can I have a top 4?

[iamjulian]

Tricky question, even for someone who hasn't actually seen much yet.

But,

1/ The moon

2/ M52 (sparkly niceness)

3/ M32

[ashenlight]

"sparkly niceness" I couldn't have put it better myself Julian

[nitram100]

Seeing the whole Constellation of Orion and his sword glowing pink with nebular gases (didn't mean that to sound rude!!) in a clear sky on a crisp winter's evening has got to be my favourite..

by a long way!!

Steve

Ditto, words can't describe the feeling i get when i see the Constellation Orion and M42 on a crisp winters night.

[ashenlight]

It's sheer perfection to me, just makes me so pleased to be alive.

</cheesy>

[Rusty Strings]

Moon, Saturn, Jupiter. They're the first things I ever saw through a scope and while I love searching for DSO's, if any of those three are up I have to have a look.

John

[Andrew*]

Moon in a high power eyepiece

Veil Nebula in my 16" with OIII filter

Milky Way on a really dark night

M42 because it can't NOT be on the list!

But there are jsut so many. M13 would be my favourite GC, the Double Cluster my favourite OC, M51 my fave Galaxy, saturn my favourite planet etc. etc. etc.

blumming difficult question

And my list might be significantly different checked out the Southern hemisphere

[Beulah]

And my list might be significantly different checked out the Southern hemisphere

Me too, but it's quite unlikely I'll ever get to study the Southern Hemishpere...feel a little sad that we can't see the Magellanic Clouds unless a few K was spent on getting there....

[ashenlight]

with you on that SP

[Casus belli]

M57 as it was my 1st dso

Leo triplet because when I first spotted them I really felt like I was getting the hang of this astronomy lark.

And everything else in the entire universe.