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Observing >> Deep Sky Observing

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RRaubach
AstroCowboy

Reged: 01/26/05

Loc: Douglas (Converse County),WY

2008 Observing goals?
#2088437 - 01/01/08 07:35 PM

What are your observing goals for 2008?

I posed this same question last New Years Day.

For my own goals, I hope to bag several more Palomar Globulars: (Pal 2, Pal 4, Pal 5, Pal 6, and Pal 13) are all within the reach of my Parallax 14.5" Newtonian.

I also intend to try observations of C39 in M33, WLM-1, and as many more G-globulars in M31 as I can find.

Post Extras:

CESDewar
GorillAstronomer

Reged: 01/16/05

Loc: Blue Ridge, GA, USA

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: RRaubach]
#2089083 - 01/02/08 01:57 AM

Well 2007 was very satisfying with my first visual observations of Pluto, Triton, Titania and Oberon, especially since it took some 47 years before I finally saw Pluto.

High on the list for 2008 is the Quasar 3C 273 since it's fairly bright at around mag 12.8 and I should be able to catch it without too much difficulty. Just the idea of seeing something that is some two billion light years away will make the quest worthwhile!

And I also want to see how small a scope I can see the E and F stars in the Trapezium. I did see them at one time in my 5" APO, but I should be able to catch them in my 4" scope (the skies are dark here, but the seeing is usually average at best and usually poor, so I anticipate a challenge in the 4").

Finally, I do plan to get an H-Beta filter and go after the horsehead - another std. "challenge" object - should be relatively easy in the 15", but will be difficult in my smaller scopes.

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ngc6352
member

Reged: 12/04/07

Loc: Boise, Idaho

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: CESDewar]
#2094452 - 01/03/08 11:42 PM

I want to finish the AL Arp Galaxy (100 brightest) list
in the Spring. This is proving to be 'challenging' from
Idaho due to lower transparency than I got used to in
Arizona.

Post Extras:

stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"

Reged: 04/24/04

Loc: Arizona, USA

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: ngc6352]
#2094699 - 01/04/08 02:39 AM

Rodger;

I was able to find WLM in my old 13 inch Newtonian, low surface brigthness but it was there. Good luck.

I have a brand new (to me) 6" f/8 Celestron refractor and I want to take on a lot of objects with that scope. I am just finishing creating an observing list and am looking forward to taking that scope out for the next several years and do the Small Scope Project.

I have lots of observations with larger scopes and now look forward to see what I can with a smaller instrument.

Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe

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Rob S
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/16/07

Loc: NZ

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: stevecoe]
#2094766 - 01/04/08 04:32 AM

The Horsehead for me (even if not in my scope).

Rob.

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Jeff Young
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/04/05

Loc: Ireland

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Rob S]
#2095013 - 01/04/08 09:17 AM

Last year's list included:

a Palomar or two (struck out)
Gyulbudaghian's (many concerted efforts, all to no effect)
a quasar or two (bagged Markarian 205)
Headphones Nebula (bagged)

I also managed a couple of Abell Planetaries (2, 50 and 79), which I would have thought were out of reach.

I think I'm ready to give up on Gyulbudaghian's (I did manage Hubble's Variable Nebula as a consolation prize, so I do have a Herbig-Haro object).

Perhaps for 2008:

a Palomar or two (surely worth a bit more effort, though the brightest ones never gain much altitude at 54°N)
a lensed object (I'm thinking the Twin Quasar -- QAGN20523 -- although these all look pretty tough visually)
Abell PNs (I'd like to work my way through a few more of these, sketchbook in hand)

(I should probably finish the Messier list someday, but it doesn't seem to pressing. Same for Pluto, the Horsehead and some extra-galactic globulars.)

Cheers,
-- Jeff.

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rocco13
Got Milk?

Reged: 07/29/06

Loc: Phoenix, Arizona

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Jeff Young]
#2095050 - 01/04/08 09:30 AM

No such lofty goals for me.

Nab the last four Messiers...add a bunch of NGC's...and continue to sharpen my starhopping skills.

Oh, and to use my scope more than I did last year. Due to an abnormally cloudy summer, I didn't even take the scope out once from June to September. Most of the relatively clear summer nights seemed to coincide with a bright moon.

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Illinois
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/18/06

Loc: near Chicago, Illinois USA

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: rocco13]
#2095306 - 01/04/08 11:28 AM

Oh boy you are ahead of me! I want to find out what's the faintest DSO in my backyard....so far I can spot 9.5 mag galaxy and I will try to spot fainter than 9.5 mag in my bad light pollution backyard!
My goal to see if I able to see Veil Nebula with Narrowband filter on low power at my parents house.....yellow zone but I am not sure if I can able to see it ......I will find out!
Look more fainter galaxies in Center of Coma Galaxy Cluster on my 16" LB!
Look more fainter globular clusters in Sagittarius!
Lot more to go for me! Have to finish all Messier Objects....few more left to go then probably will start Herschel 400 objects.........lot for me to do at night! Ha!

Steve Coe......are you plan to write a new book from your new 6" refractor? Your sketch objects from your refractor would be cool in your new book if you plan to!

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olivier
sage

Reged: 01/05/05

Loc: Belgium - Leuven

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Illinois]
#2095503 - 01/04/08 12:51 PM

Hi

There are some nice goals presented. I wish everybody success with their objectives.

For me, I completed in 2007 the Herschel 400 list with my 20cm scope.

For 2008 I'll try to do the Herschel II list (although I'm aware I will not be able to do it completly with a 20 cm). Currently I have seen 73 objects. I hope to be at 150 at the end of the year.

In addition, I'm trying to see as much as possible planetary nebulas. In The Netherlands, an amateur astronomer succeeded to see 285 planetaries with his 20cm scope. Currently I have seen 83 planetaries. I hope to be at 140 at the end of the year.

Clear skies to you.

Post Extras:

nytecam
Postmaster

Reged: 08/20/05

Loc: London UK

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Jeff Young]
#2096174 - 01/04/08 04:17 PM

Quote:

I'm thinking the Twin Quasar -- QAGN20523 -- although these all look pretty tough visually

Jeff - can't find a reference to this one via Google search - can you help

BTW - Have you included grav-lensed-quasar APM08279+5255 in Lynx? It's ~mag 15.5 and at 12 BLY range wryly quoted the "brightest object in the universe"

I have some quasar obs here.

Post Extras:

Jeff Young
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/04/05

Loc: Ireland

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: nytecam]
#2096255 - 01/04/08 04:48 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I'm thinking the Twin Quasar -- QAGN20523 -- although these all look pretty tough visually

Jeff - can't find a reference to this one via Google search - can you help BTW - Have you included grav-lensed-quasar APM08279+5255 in Lynx? It's ~mag 15.5 and at 12 BLY range wryly quoted the "brightest object in the universe" I have some quasar obs here.

Maurice --

My bad. 20523 is just the index into AstroPlanner's Quasar and Active Galaxy Nucleus catalog. The "standard" IDs are Q0957+561 and 8C 0958+561. [Edit: and I note that you've already captured an image of it on your quasar obs page!]

I didn't have APM08279+5255 on my list... but I do now.

I might even be able to get that one visually -- the Twin, at mag 17.1, was going to require a webcam or some other prosthetic.

-- Jeff.

Edited by Jeff Young (01/04/08 05:05 PM)

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walt r
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/13/07

Loc: Doylestown, PA

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: olivier]
#2096365 - 01/04/08 05:34 PM

Quote:

In addition, I'm trying to see as much as possible planetary nebulas. In The Netherlands, an amateur astronomer succeeded to see 285 planetaries with his 20cm scope. Currently I have seen 83 planetaries. I hope to be at 140 at the end of the year.

That's impresive Oliver. I didn't know there are that many plantaries bright enough for a 20cm scope. Planetaries have become my favorite object. I have seen about twenty in my 45cm so I have a long way to go.

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nytecam
Postmaster

Reged: 08/20/05

Loc: London UK

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Jeff Young]
#2097663 - 01/05/08 04:27 AM

Jeff - here's a raw widefield ob via my Meade ETX-70 from last night through brief cloud gap of grav lensed quasar APM8279+5255 in Lynx - quasar not recorded and needs a longer exposure on next clear evening

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novbabies
Postmaster

Reged: 06/05/05

Loc: Northern Georgia!

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: nytecam]
#2097746 - 01/05/08 06:29 AM

Get used to Southern skies, weather, and conditions; make comparisons to NE; bag may farther south objects.

NGC 253 already under my belt, best views EVER from 33.9°N; and NGC 288, only a haze at 42°N, was a globe of stars down here

!

Saw the galaxy NGC 7410, first ever ANYTHING in the constellation Grus

!!

Now waiting for NGC 2477 (IIRC, Don - Starman1 - calls it the finest OC in the sky!) and a host of others.

Oh, also the Summer Milky Way at a much higher altitude

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olivier
sage

Reged: 01/05/05

Loc: Belgium - Leuven

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: walt r]
#2097837 - 01/05/08 08:25 AM

Quote:

I didn't know there are that many plantaries bright enough for a 20cm scope. Planetaries have become my favorite object. I have seen about twenty in my 45cm so I have a long way to go.

Hi Walt,

A few months ago I did not know either that so many planetary nebulas would be visible in a rather small scope. But I had to correct my opinion when I hear that someone observed 282 planetaries with a 20cm scope. I'll start a new thread on this because otherwise I feel I would hijack this tread here. Here is the link to So many planetary nebulas

Best regards

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mazzefr
I'll take door number three...

Reged: 02/12/07

Loc: Cloudsylvania

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: olivier]
#2098805 - 01/05/08 03:29 PM

Get out more than I did in '07

Cherry Springs at least once.

M51

Hit a lot of Messiers for the Marathon.

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Carl Kolchak
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 08/02/06

Loc: Northeast, Florida

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: mazzefr]
#2098824 - 01/05/08 03:38 PM

Franco said,

Quote:

Get out more than I did in '07

And nicely said at that. My goal as well for 08.

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Jaxdialation
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: Northeast, FL

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Carl Kolchak]
#2098841 - 01/05/08 03:43 PM

I don't have any other than enjoy myself.

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Rodstar
member

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Central Coast, NSW, Australia

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Jaxdialation]
#2099103 - 01/05/08 05:31 PM

I have decided to dig deeper in some select constellations in 2008. The plan is to focus my observing on one particular constellation for three months at a time.

I have started with Orion, which is nice and high from SE Australia at the moment. Although I will also take in some objects elsewhere, my particular goal will be to ferret out as many doubles and faint DSOs as I can from Orion between now and the end of summer, thereby getting to know it in more than just a casual way.

Other Quarterly Constellations for 2008 include Centaurus (Autumn), Sagittarius (Winter) and possibly Aquarius (Spring).

While working through lists of objects can be great in a systematic sense, I am keen to become more familiar with particular sections of the sky, and in so doing, go off the beaten track.

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Jeff Lee
professor emeritus

Reged: 09/17/06

Re: 2008 Observing goals? new

[Re: Rodstar]
#2099224 - 01/05/08 06:25 PM

Attend the clud meetings and observe more. I did much better last year than the year before (Holmes got me out for two weeks, and the weather cooperated).

Have a new inexpensive goto mount for my C8, and plan to know it well before the Oregon Star Party....

And continue to be thankful for the stuff I do have and the ability to use it.

Post Extras:

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