Some Good Targets For Tonight

[charmedkelly]

Hi Its Gonna Be A Nice Clear Night Tonight,

and i wondered if anyone could get me some nice bright targets to aim for,

kelly

thanks so much

[skye at night]

Orion/M42 (soon for me) heading west fast.

Mars later.

M51 I think.

Rosette.

those are on my list tonight... nothing special, just the easy and obvious and will be grateful for that if it stays clear.

Steve

[SteveP]

Snowball nebula at best ... 6 hours of heavy snow forecast around here!

Steve

[charmedkelly]

Rosette?

whats that ?

[Moonshane]

hi Kelly

I presume like me you are new to all this?

see my thread http://stargazerslounge.com/beginners-help-advice/96603-messier-targets.html

which gives great help to finding the brighter clusters and things - the Messier list.

I'd suggest M44 the Beehive cluster which can be easily found with binoculars - find Mars overhead at about 10am, look with the bins down a bit and you'll see the cluster. great with a low power eyepiece. M67 is a little lower down and harder to see but just about visible in binoculars and again nice in the scope.

if you have a good view of the west then Seven sister are obvious and high - like a mini plough.

again with Binoculars, you could try M35 which is down and to the right a bit from the two main stars in Gemini - look at the link above and you'll see it.

the three clusters in Auriga M36, 37 and 38 are also easily seen in binoculars and good in the scope.

I'd highly recommend a telrad or rigel quickfinder by the way or any other red dot finder - I have the rigel and it really helps initial positioning of the scope.

hope this helps and gives you a few to aim at!

sorry if I have pitched the advice at a low level but it's in the best intentions as I still need directions like this!

[orionhunter]

did mars and saturn last night, in between the gaps in the clouds.

saturn was just stunning for me. again.

[TopHouse]

Brilliant and helpful post Shane, given me some stuff to do there so thanks.

[Moonshane]

no worries tophouse - happy to help!

hope you got some.

[Dave]

Only snowball we are likely to see is one made from the snow currently falling...