Philip Levine
super member
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 156
Loc: near Boston, MA
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I am still new to observing, I've had my 10" push-to dob for 3 three years now (modified with azimuth circle on base, digital inclinometer - used with pda program Astromist, PocketStars). The biggest impediment to productive observing (mainly deepsky objects), is planning and preparing what objects to look for beforehand.
I would love to hear what others have found works for them, for planning observing sessions beforehand.
thanks, Phil
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Zhumell 10" Dob (modified with degree circle and Wixey inclinometer)
26mm 2" GSO eyepiece
9mm 1.25" GSO eyepiece
13mm Nagler T6
Crayford focuser
DewBuster w/homemade heater strips
Nikon 10x50 EX binoculars
University Optics 11x80 binoculars
Fujinon 16x70 FMT SX
Surveyor Tripod w Universal Astronomics Parallelogram
member International Dark-Sky Association
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Ray4852
sage
Reged: 09/30/08
Posts: 399
Loc: Arcade, NY
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I use skytools software. I click on the object I want to see and I'm there in a minute.
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Home Built 18 dobsonian
Panoptic 27mm
Tele vue 16mm 9mm naglers
Tele vue big barlow
Telrad and DSC
deepsky and skytools software
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Patricko
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 1532
Loc: SE New Mexico USA
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I just grab my star charts, red LED, 10X50s, the 60mm telescope and go. I'll locate an object on the charts and try to find it (or approximate location) with the 10x50s and then the telescope. I go in after to record my observations. Usually not much of a plan but it works.
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Clear skies,
Patrick
INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY ASSOCIATION
60MM TELESCOPE CLUB!
"You can always have better, but will you ever be happy with what you have?" - Me, myself, and I
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Lard Greystoke
sage
Reged: 07/27/08
Posts: 377
Loc: Ohio
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First I plan on what Right Ascension (RA) is on the meridian when it gets dark. Right now objects from about 16-20 RA are overhead after dark.
Then I have photocopies of charts to about 7.5 mag with the brighter DSOs.
For fainter objects such as galaxies, 12.5 mag charts printed off from J R Torres' Triatlas.
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Lard Greystoke
10" Odyssey Compact
"With Tantor, the elephant, he made friends. How? Ask me not."
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Dean Norris
sage
Reged: 11/05/08
Posts: 423
Loc: Santa Cruz, Ca
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Since last January I've been working on observing the 110 Messier objects. I currently have three left to see. M74,76 .and 77. When I finish this I will start on the brightest 100 NGC objects I guess. I also observe the moon and planets. So depending on the moon's phase determines what I go for. Dean
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1971 10" Cave Newtonian F/6
MoonLite CR Focuser Telrad Finder 8x50 finder
TV 40mm, 32, 20, 7.4, Meade 6mm, UO 5mm, Meade 2x Barlow
7x50 Binoculars
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JakeSaloranta
sage
Reged: 09/18/08
Posts: 234
Loc: Sisu, Sauna, Sibelius...
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It depends on what I'm doing.
If I'm just looking at something, I might have map of a specific region of the sky and just let the telescope loose.
If I'm checking minimum apertures, I have everything planned down to every star-hop and the schedule is quite busy. I do no longer like the 200-300 objects per night style so I mostly just take it easy and cruise the skies with no plan.
/Jake
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Jim Curry
sage
Reged: 10/29/07
Posts: 431
Loc: Maine
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Phil:
Many amateurs just getting into the hobby and looking for a disciplined way to observe start w/the Messier list. It's 109-110 of the skies best objects and will provide 2-4 items a night for you to find. You can supplement that with casual cruising or planet viewing. Unless you pull a marathon the list will take anywhere from 6-12 months to get thru. Supplementing this list with the Caldwell list will keep you pretty busy while you learn the night sky and develop your observing skills.
After that we'll let you go out on your own  
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Vixen 140 refractor
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HfxObserver
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/12/04
Posts: 779
Loc: Regina, SK, Canada
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Although I'm not a big fan of lists, if you are having trouble starting then hunt down the Messiers first, they give a sample of the common DSO's available.
These are great objects everyone should see eventually anyway but again I'm not a fan of lists and each list has it's short comings and misses a remarkable set of objects.
I look for objects closeby to other DSO's or objects that look interesting in images and then try to figure out their designations and hunt them down. It's amazing how many of these objects are not on most charts or software yet they are within reach of small scopes, at least more so then some objects on the charts!
Other times I sweep for objects, the other night I was observing the Butterfly Nebula off Gamma Cyg and noted a bright emission nebula in my sweep to the northwest, I'm still trying to figure out exactly what that object is, but something called CR241 or something like that is in this area.
To provide an example of my plan for that night, I went out to observe the Butterfly Neb. as part of a list I'm working on. I planned to begin the session on the North American and Pelican which is my custom for this time of year since I love looking at that region. I then swung down to NGC 6144 next to Antares to test the sky clarity, and it was good for hunting the faint stuff so I went into Cygnus and observed my target and a couple other things nearby. With a new object well observed I cruised over to Ursa Major and Canes Ven. and took a quick look at all the Messiers in that part of the sky.
It was still clear but I had to work the next day so 12:30am was leave time. If there had been more time I'd have revisited some other objects I've seen only a few times before in order to dig deeper and more fully appreciate them.
-Chris
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Chris
7X50 Vixen,22X100 Antares
80mm William Optics Megrez II ED
Santel MK6
Borg 125SD f6 (Pentax/Oasis version)
Tak-Lapides
Pentax XW's 40,20,14,10,5mm XO, 3.5, 3.8XP, Speers 5-8, 30mm Widescan III
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arpruss
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/23/08
Posts: 851
Loc: Waco, TX
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I use AstroInfo (Astromist will do it better, I expect) to create an observing list for the next time I go to dark site. I add items to the list that are mentioned on CN and seem interesting or that for some other reason I want to observe, as long as they are visible around my observing time. I also look at standard observing lists (Finest of NGC/IC, Messier, Splendours) for stuff I haven't seen. I sort the lists by altitude or brightness (going for the highest up or brightest things I haven't seen) to pick out what to add to my to-observe list. I may also check if there are any bright comets to look at (I use a script that accesses heavens-above.com and the Minor Planets Ephemeris Service and generates an AstroInfo database).
Then when it's time to observe, I sort the list by altitude, RA, rise/set times or let AstroInfo find an optimized path. I tend to observe easier objects first, so it will be darker and I will be better dark adapted before I get to the harder ones. I check off items from my observing list as I do them. I am not much of a recorder, but sometimes I write a few words about the item in the observing list entry.
For the last couple of months, I'd also flip to the messier list while on site, looking at which ones don't have checkmarks but are already up. But now they all have checkmarks. :-)
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Coulter Odyssey 13.1" split-tube
Coulter Odyssey 8"
Home-made 7.8" F/4 dobsonian travel scope
Home-made 68mm F/5.3 achro (typically used as finder on 13.1")
Skymaster 15x70
BPTs4 8x30
32mm Plossl, 30mm Rini, 27mm Kellner, 13mm Hyperion, 6mm TMB/BO Planetary, Owl 2X Barlow
Palm TX with AstroInfo and RescoViewer
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Phred Smith
member
Reged: 07/20/09
Posts: 17
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I use a program called Astroplanner. It has over 120 catalogues to choose from and alot of premade (by users) observing plans.
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Ken....
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/22/04
Posts: 1114
Loc: Nashua, NH, USA
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Having just started my Herschel 400 project, I use The Astronomer's Herschel 400 Journal put out by The American Association of Amateur Astronomers. I'll then use a planetarium program to determine which constallations will be optimally positioned, and select the objects by constellation.
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Ken....
Discovery 12.5"
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markan
super member
Reged: 07/13/09
Posts: 126
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I'm brand new to astronomy. I've been using Stellarium to help me out. Open source.
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Sky-Watcher 100mm ED f/9 refractor
Sky-Watcher 200mm f/5 reflector
EQ5 mount, Orion SkyView AZ
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Javier
sage
Reged: 05/03/09
Posts: 432
Loc: New Jersey
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My weekday time is very limited, usually an hour at best, so I have a plan for each session. I usually look at a star chart for my area and select one or two object only and then observer them.
While I'm still very new I have learned the hard way that for me it's better to observer one or two objects for a longer time and appreciate what I am observing than go through a one hour observing frenzy where I learn nothing at all.
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2385
Loc: 50N - too far north!
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It depends. Usually I have a plan. I decide on a constellation, or a class of object with in a constellation (or constellations), and then choose the objects based on my Sky Atlas 2000.0 and Uranometria 2000.0. I make a list.
I find that if I don't plan a session, then I end up aimlessly jumping round the sky and this always results in a frustratingly unproductive session. However, sometimes I will do just that, usually at the end of a session.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing - being rebuilt
Observing blog
My astronomy event photos on Flickr
12 inch Dob
8 inch Celestron C8 Newtonian
4 inch Meade SCT
8x42 Leica binoculars
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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Tarzanrock
super member
Reged: 12/07/08
Posts: 159
Loc: Los Angeles
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Hi Phil:
You may wish to try this website: www.calsky.com
I've found it to be useful to generally begin the thinking process of what to look for (and at) during a particular time frame.
Best regards,
William
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Ptarmigan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/23/04
Posts: 2351
Loc: Arctic
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Kinda a mix of planning and spur the moment for me. 
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Ptarmigans=Cute and Cuddly
Meade Starfinder 8
Nikon 10x50
Rebel XT
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PeterSurma
super member
Reged: 08/24/06
Posts: 120
Loc: Heidelberg, Germany
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Phil,
using lists is one method. If you're finished with one, use the next (level of list). However, to my taste this may get boring.
Another point of view is: what are you interested in ? I read articles (web, or books) and ask myself 'can I see those things in my Dob ?' E.g. star formation (try NGC 2261) or quasars (try 3C273) or NEOs or ... Then I do a bit of research to find out if and what objects might be suitable. Then I go for those and try to find further reading on those objects. To me this is much more rewarding on the long run. I also keep a list of objects I did (with refs to my reports) and a list of objects to be observed...
If you need more examples look at my list of objects I have observed (sorry most of my refs are german, but at least you'll have an impression and easily get some DSS shots if you need) Also try the DSB link, it's pretty useful for viewing object data.
http://eyes4skies.de/Internet/Astro/CrossRef/Crossref.htm
Another good way is: look at several members of an object class and compare how they look like: e.g. globular cluster
look at NGC 2419, M71 versus M15, G1 in M31 ...
Same for galaxies: try NGC 6822 - very interesting piece ! For reading try e.g.
http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/barnard.htm
Or try
http://www.astronomy-mall.com/Adventures.In.Deep.Space/M33.HII-Star.Clouds.html
and look for the HII regions of M33... :-)
Lots to see in your 10inch !!! (all of the above actually) :-)
Good luck,
Peter
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Peter
Web: http://www.eyes4skies.de/home_EnglishVersion.htm
Scopes: From 3inch photographic APO to 20inch f/4 Dob
Edited by PeterSurma (07/22/09 05:28 AM)
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Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
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Plan a session? Hmmm....
1.)What phase of the moon are we in?
2.)Check Clear Sky Clock.
3.)Check Wunderground.com
4.)All Clear?
5.)Time to hit the road.
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Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
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RAKing
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 2071
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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I have created a list of my favorites over the years. It's in a spreadsheet and sorted bt RA. So my plan for any given night is fairly simple: I'll check the clock for LST and work off my list.
As I learn about new objects, I'll write them down and go for a look-see. If I like them, I'll add them to my list so I remember to look for them next time. My list is fluid and a lot of fun. 
To begin your own list, I suggest you start with the Messier list and go from there. There is a ton of material on these and most of them are very nice to look at.
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
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palsing
super member
Reged: 08/11/05
Posts: 137
Loc: Poway, CA
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Quote:
I have created a list of my favorites over the years. It's in a spreadsheet and sorted bt RA. So my plan for any given night is fairly simple: I'll check the clock for LST and work off my list.
As I learn about new objects, I'll write them down and go for a look-see. If I like them, I'll add them to my list so I remember to look for them next time. My list is fluid and a lot of fun.
I do pretty much the same thing, but I collect my object ideas from sites like this one, Amastro, TAC, Astronomy and Sky & Tel, and several other places around the internet. Anywhere that I can find an observing report that contains something someone got excited about, well, that's where I get many of my ideas.
Then I make a document suitable for use right at the eyepiece, including a screen shot from either Megastar or Skytools with a DSS photo superimposed, and maybe include a little bit of someone's observing report. These are then printed out and slipped into those plastic sleeves, to protect them from dew, etc., and put into 3-ring binders. I call this my 'library'.
Although I have a largish dob, and therefore am always looking for really faint fuzzies, I neverhteless still have lots of cool things that can be seen by virtually any telescope.
I only mention all of this because I have recently established a web page and have uploaded many, many such documents. Find them here;
http://www.pnalsing.com/
Some of these docs are older and not particularly refined, but others offer some really cool objects. Take a look and tell me what you think, the feedback would be appreciated.
I'm not even close to being finished, this project will never be finished, so I will be adding to it all the time.
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Paul
25" Obsession
5.5" Newt - finder (Cometcatcher)
Hutech 22 X 100 binos w/LPS-P2 filters
Canon 10 X 30 IS binos
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