Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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Hey Gang,
Question. I have recently purchased a light bucket (8"Dob). I live in an area were I really cannot observe and I have to travel some distance to get to a fairly decent observing site. Thus my observing time is somewhat limited and I spend a lot of time looking at objects of interest and trying my hand at star hoping. With time my skills at observing have been slowly improving.
My local club is holding its star party next week and I plan to take advantage of every second possible to observe as many objects as possible. One of the curses in my life is that I read, daily, all the posts to this forum and I have a large number of objects that I really want to observe. So how do you make an observing list. I know sort of what I want to do the first part of the first night, but after that I am not sure what to do. Do I pick one constellation and observe all of the objects in that constellation, or do I hope around. My first nights list starts with the double cluster and a list of objects in Cas. But from there I have problems. I want to find a number of variable stars so I can start to observe them. I also hope that The southern skies do not have much in the way of light pollution especially after midnight. I guess that I am like a kid in a candy store. I don't know where to start. Any help would be great appreciated.
Cheers,
Bob From Phillie
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starrancher
professor emeritus
Reged: 06/09/09
Posts: 580
Loc: Northern Arizona
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Typically I use a freeware available online at Stellarium.org . It is a planetarium software that shows the sky in real time . It also lets you fast forward or rewind the clock so as you can go to any date or time desired . Start in the west & work your way east as the objects in the west will disappear earliest . There are many settings to enable the desired magnitude or types of objects that you want displayed .
Tonight's Sky & Skyhound are also good sites & there you would just put in a time frame & date , what type of objects you want & it will produce a viewing list for you that can be printed out .
Hope this helps .
Have a great time !
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LXD75 AR5
LXD75 SN8
Series 4000 Plossls
Misc. other stuff
Fort Rock , Az .
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MikeRatcliff
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/12/04
Posts: 1327
Loc: Redlands, CA
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If this is one of the first times at a dark site with your 8", I'd make a list of "eye candy" type objects, say 1 to 2 per constellation. And remember that later in the night and early morning the winter constellations like Auriga and Orion will be visible.
Leave some time for the "party" itself like talking with others and looking through other peoples' telescopes.
If you like variable stars, I'd pick 1 or 2 of them also.
Here is a list of "must see" objects for beginners. Apologies if you already know about them. Some of the summer ones will be getting low in the west these days like M6 and M7 in Scorpio. The winter ones will be up later in the evening and early morning.
http://halifax.rasc.ca/documents/MiniMessier.pdf
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16" f/4.9 dob, 1.25" Paracorr, 24 TV Widefield, 18 Circle T ortho, 13 Nagler T6, 12.5 UO ortho,
9 Circle T ortho, 2x TV Barlow 1.25"
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Donsell
sage
Reged: 03/03/06
Posts: 243
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This is a good resource too. It's a spreadsheet put together by the Astronomical League where you put in your location and it'll tell you what's up in your sky that night. It covers objects in their observing clubs so it's the best deep sky and double stars.
You can download it from here:
http://www.astronomyclub.org/wud.htm
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Meade 12" Lightbridge
Prairie Astronomy Club:
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/
Hyde Observatory:
http://www.hydeobservatory.info/
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RAKing
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 2071
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Bob,
I typically draw up a list from my faves and others I've heard about and list them by RA/Dec. But if you don't have a COL or setting circles, that's not going to work.
I think your idea of working constellations is worth a shot. There are quite a few nice objects in Cass and Perseus well worth looking at through your Dob. Pick a couple other constellations and write down objects in them, too.
And I second the notion of walking around and talking to other people and looking through their scopes. I am always willing to slew to an object for someone, especially if they want to confirm what they saw through their scope. It's just as much fun for me, too. We have a star party coming up in a few weeks and it's the only time I ever get a chance to look through a 30 inch Dob. 
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
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scott m
super member
Reged: 12/06/07
Posts: 189
Loc: Hatfield Pa
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I use Tonights Sky and The Deep Sky Data Base you can create plans from both.
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Orion Astroview 120st EQ w/rigel+2"diag(Cosmo)
Zhumell 10 inch dob w/telrad (Oddball)
Nikon AE 10x50 Binos
Astro-Tech Paradigm 5,8,12,15,18,25mm
GSO SuperView 30mm,20mm,15mm,10mm
Knight Owl EWA 6mm,9mm
Zhumell Plossl EP Kit
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Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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Donsell,
A really cool site. My problem is that I have too many object on my list.  Of course it does not help that the Milky Way is still up.
Cheers,
Bob From Phillie
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Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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This is what I have planned for early Friday Night (A week from this Friday)Check out the double cluster (884 and 869) after which I will try Stock 2 (got this one last year with binoculars. Next it is to M31, M32 and M110. Each time I visit the area I find something new. Then I am go to look for R And. I am pleased with that series, but I have lists of other objects. When it gets really dark I am going after M33. Should I sweep horizontally or vertically. What about the hole straight overhead. It is though to work a dob through that area. It is one reason that I have not tackled cygnus.
Cheers,
Bob
From Phillie
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JayinUT
I'm not Sleepy
Reged: 09/19/08
Posts: 940
Loc: Utah
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Bob,
Happy Birthday first off! Here is a link to the Messier objects by season Messier by Season . Some can be harder to see if your not use to looking for some objects like M33. I would use binoculars to try and find it first off.
Here is another list I would recommend. On the board here Demelza posts a monthly list of objects to see. You can find that here. NGC 225 the Broken Heart Cluster is wonderful and I always enjoy NGC 457 the Owl or ET Cluster. You can review that list and see what appeals to you, and download and print it out to take to the field. Messier and Demelza's list is where I would start for now.
Edit: For a book I highly recommend The Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders by Robert and Barbara Thompson seen here at Amazom. The book gives you by constellation the items that will fulfill the following observation lists:
* Binocular/and or Messier Club
* Urban Observing Club
* Deep Sky Binocular Club
* Double Star Club
* RASC Finest NGC List
Each chapter by constellation shows a finder chart and directions how to find each object by star hopping. At the Amazom link you can see sample images. Wonderful book and the list is provided by constellation. FYI, I am not associated or receive any compensation from recommending this book as I don't even know Robert or Barbara Thompson.
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Jay in Utah
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Location: Lat: 40.514N Long: -112.032W
Mortal as I am, I know that I am born for a day. But when I follow at my pleasure the serried multitude of the stars in their circular course, my feet no longer touch the earth.
— Ptolemy, c.150 AD
My Blog
Edited by JayinUT (10/08/09 09:12 AM)
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knuklhdastnmr
Fumble feet
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 4589
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Jay, thanks for the link to Deep Sky Beauties. I bookmarked for future use.
Bob, give the Veil, NGC6992, in Cygnus a try. It should be well out of Dobson's Hole at some part of the evening. If you have a narrowband filter try that. It's well worth the effort.
Awhile back, Astronomy published a special issue with 100 pieces of eye candy. I refer to that often.
P.S.- What Mike said about enjoying the party is absolutely correct.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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Thomas Pfleger
Vendor - Eye&Telescope Software
Reged: 04/25/06
Posts: 179
Loc: Germany
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Hi Bob,
in former years I liked to browse guide books like Burnham's Celestial Handbook, two books by David Eicher, the one by Luginbull and Skiff or the newer, two volume "Night Sky Observers Guide" by Kepple and Sanner.
To improve planning and keeping track of what I've already seen, I started to work on a software to help me with this. After ten years of work, it has matured to a really powerful tool. With it's help, I can quickly check what objects from the popular lists (Messier, Caldwell, Herschel 400, SAC or RASC list, Astro League lists, ...) could be seen during the next night and, important too, which ones I did not observe until now. So I just keep what I haven't seem myself and what's up during the time interval I intend to stay out. The result is compiled into an observing plan. The plan can be optimized to get reasonable times for each and every object to observe. There is a powerful starcharting module built in, indicating at a glance how easily or hard an object might be to glimpse and whether it has already been observed or not.
In the upcoming version, you might upload your observations to www.deepskylog.org to share your experience with other observers. Or you browse this fine web app for interesting observations, download them and import it into the tool.
Even without any preparation (what is definitely not a good option!) the software helps out with proposals for what to observe, based on the sky quality and the size of your scope.
If all this sounds interesting, keep "Eye&Telescope" in mind. This program is currently sold only in Europe, but I hope that a US distributor will be found soon. There is a demo version available at www.eyeandtelescope.com. This web site is in German, but the software is bilingual (EN/GE) and the documentation is shipped in both languages, too. Upon installation, just select "US English" and the software shows up in English. For some impressions, just check out the screenshot section of our site.
Just to be fair, there are similiar planning and logging programs out there. None of them will fail to be useful in this or that manner. The differences in features, performance and price are noticeable, however. I just want to offer an affordable, practical and powerful tool covering the needs of a visual deep sky observer. No more, but not less.
My beloved and trusted observer's guide books did not become obsolete. I love them to browse on cloudy nights and collect observing candidates into several observing projects. When it comes to observing, it takes only a few clicks to sort out what's up and yet unseen. Very efficient and very comfortable, honestly. But what I hardly ever use are my printed star charts and atlasses. No need for them any longer. I just keep them because I grew up with them and Tirion's art is simply gorgeous to view.
Clear skies,
Tom
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obrazell
member
Reged: 04/03/05
Posts: 56
Loc: United Kingdom
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I would also have a look at AstroPlanner as I think this is an excellent bit of software
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astrotchr
member
Reged: 07/01/09
Posts: 21
Loc: Ohio
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Bob,
Take a look at the Saguaro Astronomy Club's "Things to View" page: http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/Things-to-view.htm
It has a lot of stuff from easy to difficult and everything in between. Lots of unique categories, too. Mike's and Ron's suggestion of rubbing elbows with all the other stargazers there and looking through their telescopes is a definite "to-do." That's what a "party" is actually for. I'm sure that they will have some suggestions for your observing list as well.
Have fun,
Paul
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Carl Kolchak
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/02/06
Posts: 546
Loc: Northeast, Florida
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I second obrazell's recommendation of Astroplanner. Its a great piece of software and I use it every time I observe.
peace & clear skies,
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Richard H.
Antares 105mm f/9.5 Elite Series Refractor
AstroTelescopes 102mm f/7 Refractor
Orion ShortTube 90mm f/5.6 Refractor
Meade Model 300 80mm f/15 Refractor
Tasco Cosmic 6TE-5 50mm f/12 Refractor
Orion SkyView Pro 8" Intelliscope
Orion Scenix 10x50 Binoculars
Zhumell SuperGiant 20x80 binoculars
NightSky Journal
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scopethis
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/30/08
Posts: 624
Loc: Kingman, Ks
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A site I use often is www.messier45.com. As an example, you can select a constellation (eg Andromeda) and input in the field requestor all the objects at mag 12 or higher. It will produce a list of objects and coordinates for printout. Quite useful.
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stevecoe
"Astronomical Tourist"
Reged: 04/24/04
Posts: 2635
Loc: Arizona, USA
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Paul;
Thank you for mentioning the SAC database, we started the project to create things for us to see. I use it to this day.
I do like the idea of being able to "automatically" determine what will be overhead. I just usually know what constellations are available and go from there.
I had a chance to chat with the writer of Astroplanner at last years PATS. I just don't wish to take the time to enter all my notes into one of these programs. I don't know if it would provide anything I don't already have planned out.
Clear skies to us all;
Steve Coe
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TeleVue 102 refractor on CGEM mount
10 inch f/4.7 Newtonian
Author "Deep Sky Observing" Springer-Verlag
Author "Nebulae and How to Observe Them" Springer
Canon Xt astrocamera with Hutech modification
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Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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I spend way too much time on Messier 45. I find their finder charts to be really useful. I also have a Linux box and I have download KStars. It is really a great program that comes out of the gnome project. And better yet it is free!! One can develop an observing list using this program. My problem is trying to develop the a list such that I can optimize my time.
A couple of weeks ago I was at a "dark spot" doing some viewing with friends. One of them was running through the Messier catalog spend a few minutes with each object. I headed towards M-57. She asked me what I was looking at and I told him M-57. I have only two eyepieces and I observed it with both, tried to see the central star (failed), mapped the immediate star field and tried my nebula filter. I had a page and a half of notes. I did not realize it but I had spent an hour observing M-57. Then I went to M-31. Because of my extensive viewing of this galaxy I immediately spot M-32 and M-110. I made visual estimates of both the magnitude and the size of the two galaxies and using my lowest power eyepiece I tried to estimate how much of the galaxy I saw. I did this using both direct vision averted vision. Another hour of observing time. I took out the binoculars and spend an hour or so of mapping out star clouds in Cygnus. I new that next week it would be in a better position to observe with my Dob and I just want to familiarize myself with the star fields,
So you can see I am a meticulous observer and I may spend a lot of time looking at one object. My idea is to sleep all day and observe all night for two nights and three days  . So I was wondering how to optimize my observing time.
Thanks for all of your help and I hope to have an extensive report after the Stella Della Star Party.
Cheers and Clear Skies
Bob From Phillie
PS
Not a DSO report, but I was able to watch Saturn well into the early dawn this morning and the Sun was almostg above the horizon before I lost Venus
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wfj
sage
Reged: 01/10/08
Posts: 258
Loc: California, Santa Cruz County
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When I was 12 back in the late 60's, my dad got me Norton's Star Atlas, shortly before we embarked on building a 6" f/8 - this was my charts and planner. I'd lightly pencil circles around objects and page numbers, then pencil in the front which pages to visit, erasing them the following day after recording in my spiral bound observing log. It went everywhere with me for 30+ years.
My daughter inherited it from me, along with getting a copy of "Turn Left at Orion", and does same.
Started using Planetarium on my Treo, and it's been great for when stuck in a never ending meeting - in effect my charts are always with me, I can see what's up for the evening sky - but it comes up short for me, because I'd like to bookmark objects.
I try not to get too industrious on objects for fear of giving them short shrift. But often revise my plans based on conditions - when very dark, I take a few detailed objects and try various techniques to improve my skills with them. Otherwise, I saturate an region of the sky, like a constellation and try to find *everything*.
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Feidb
super member
Reged: 10/09/09
Posts: 120
Loc: Nevada
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I use Megastar and always print charts with my choices on them. The program allows you to do your own observing lists and I have three right now. Herschel 2's, Missing Tirions, and the Herschel 2500. As I find each object, I delete it from the file and when I print my next chart, it only has the ones I've missed. This cuts down the search time drastically. However, it can be a problem too. If your lonely single object is in a field rich with other DSO's, you may have a hard time picking out the correct one. In that case, you may have to print a special chart with all of them and highlight the target.
This is just a long explanation for yes, I do plan my observing targets. Probably more elaborate that you may want to go, but it works for me. Usually, the night before, I pull up the charts at about 9PM. That puts them at about what I'll see the next night. Then I just go from there on what to actually print. I rarely stay out till much past 10:30, so I don't have to print the whole sky.
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Present gear:
16" Meade LightBridge
Meade 50mm straight through-finder
Lumicon green laser pointer
Orion Q-70 26mm, 32mm, and 38mm
Parks 2X 2" Barlow
1 1/4" X 2" Hyperion 17mm
1 1/4" X 2" Hyperion 8mm
1 1/4" 18mm Russell Optics Bertele
1 1/4" 12.5mm and 6mm Coulter Optical Orthoscopics
1 1/4" X 2" 32mm Edmund Scientific war surplus Erfle
Tirion star atlas (white stars, black background) hand-laminated
Megastar
And a partridge in a pear tree
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EdK
member
Reged: 09/28/09
Posts: 10
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When I first got started observing I purchased Burnham's 3 volume celestial hand book, then sky atlas 2000 with sky catalog 2000 volume 2. not to expensive but 4 books and enough charts to keep you going for a couple of years, or so ..
I have owned 15 telescopes over my 62 years ..
Present gear
CGE 11
Astro-tec 80 guide scope
Enjoy your sky !
Ed K
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Bob D.
member
Reged: 06/04/09
Posts: 25
Loc: PA
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Hey Gang,
Thanks for all of the good info. Our local clubs star party is this weekend and I had a nice list of objects, sort of star hopping through the whole sky, however I was going to focus on the summer triangle. Noticed the past tense? Rain all weekend, almost a nor'easter on Saturday. Oh well, we do have three good speakers, some activities for children and stump the club member .
Again, thanks for all of you imput. Maybe the next weekend?
Bob
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RAKing
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 2071
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Sorry to hear about your weather. With luck, the stars will still be there the next time you try.
I have my fingers crossed for this coming weekend. NOVAC's annual Star Gaze is scheduled and the current long range forecast is not the best. 
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
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nunciusaustralis
member
Reged: 09/25/09
Posts: 95
Loc: Rio de janeiro, Brazil
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Stellarium is for sure the best way to organize your observing session. And freeware. Those guys are great. 
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Nuncius Australis
70mm celestron EQ
9x50 finderscope
15X80mm binocular
20mm e 10mm k eye pieces
2xomni barlow
www.nunciusaustralis.blogspot.com
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Dain
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/24/05
Posts: 1596
Loc: N.Y. Adirondack Mnts. NGC 4565...
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Quote:
Stellarium is for sure the best way to organize your observing session. And freeware. Those guys are great.
You got that right! 
And I have a ton of different programs on my computer but I aways resort back to Stellarium. That interface alone is quite the work. I think its basic enough for the beginner but also works quite well for the experienced observers. Thumbs up from me!
Clear Skies to All!
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Best,
Dain
Adirondack Mountains (my true dark sky site)
@ Cedar River Flow
Local Site
Clear Skies?
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nunciusaustralis
member
Reged: 09/25/09
Posts: 95
Loc: Rio de janeiro, Brazil
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I believe that u should try to orgnize your session so the objects u want to observe should be in their highest ascension. So u will have the best seeing possible. As far as possible from the horizon. Slelarium is a great way to simul the night and organize your hit list . During the spring ( im upside down.) Ill start the night at cepheus, then cassiopéia then to perseus , And the wholoe legend . (Pegasus and Andromedae) This on my north horizon.Low and during the beginning of the journey.
Good skies
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Nuncius Australis
70mm celestron EQ
9x50 finderscope
15X80mm binocular
20mm e 10mm k eye pieces
2xomni barlow
www.nunciusaustralis.blogspot.com
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