reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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Hi. Anyone else embarking on this journey? I'm diving into it full force with my new 12" reflector. 
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novbabies
Postmaster
Reged: 06/05/05
Posts: 15678
Loc: Northern Georgia!
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I am - somewhat furtively - too many other distractions! 
Good seeing!
Mark
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Good Seeing!
Mark
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
VERY old Edmund 6" f/8 reflector
Assorted binoculars
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hello Reflector,
I just recently finished the 400. I am just waiting for the certificate and pin. Was there a question you were wanting to ask about the 400?
Roger
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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Is there a decent guidebook out there??
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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Brian Carter
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/24/04
Posts: 3115
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Post deleted by Brian Carter
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10" F/5.5 Astrosky
SkyCommander DSCs
A loving dog, Buddha, who tolerates my hobbies
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2119
Loc: Isle of Wight, England
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I have got "Observe The Herschel Objects" published by the Astronomical League. It costs $8 and you can find it at http://www.astronomicalleague.com/herschel.htm
I think it's not a bad little publication and worth getting, although some of the sketch reproduction leaves a bit to be desired.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing
Visual Astronomy blog
Fotopic astronomy gallery My photos from astronomy events, etc
8x42 binoculars 'light thimble'
4" refractor and 4" Meade SCT 'light cups'
12" Dobsonian 'light bucket'
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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ArizonaScott
Postmaster
Reged: 04/29/04
Posts: 5028
Loc: Phoenix, AZ
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I'm about 1/2 way through the program, but other things have distracted me at this time. I agree that the AL manual is great, as are O'Meara's tomes on the Messier & Caldwell objects. Have fun, and rest assured you'll be amazed at how spectacular some of the H400 objects are. I enjoyed hunting the brighter ones down with small scopes, but now I'm down to the really faint fuzzies.
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Scott
10" LX200 Classic, Konus 200, Orion ST80, ETX90 OTA, 60mm Celestron alt-az, Obie 20x80's, Meade 10x50's
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Gammarose
journeyman
Reged: 11/02/05
Posts: 36
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Yeah, I am slowly working on the list with my 17.5" reflector. I work on it in spurts due to the distraction issue as well. It requires considerably more organization than the Messiers.
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17.5" f/5 Newtonian
10" f/4.5 Newtonian
20x80mm Binos
10x50mm Binos
My backyard weather
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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This Astronomical League Herschel 400 book....is it any more information than what is already available on the AL website?
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2119
Loc: Isle of Wight, England
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Quote:
This Astronomical League Herschel 400 book....is it any more information than what is already available on the AL website?
Well, the book gives you descriptions and sketches while the AL website just gives a checklist.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing
Visual Astronomy blog
Fotopic astronomy gallery My photos from astronomy events, etc
8x42 binoculars 'light thimble'
4" refractor and 4" Meade SCT 'light cups'
12" Dobsonian 'light bucket'
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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Jeremy Perez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 1669
Loc: Flagstaff, Arizona, USA
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I'm working on it. The AL programs have been great. I've been concentrating mainly on the Messier program for the past year or so, but all that remains of that now is in Ursa Major and Virgo...so I've got plenty of time to swim around in the wide-open waters of the Herschel 400. I've coincidentally caught a few of them along with my Messier observations, but I'll be hitting them more often now I think.
Scott, are you finding you need to get outside of town to have any hope of catching the faint remainders?
Also, congratulations Roger!
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Orion SVP 6LT (6" f/8 Newt) || Orion XT8 (8" f/6 Newt) || 15x70 Oberwerk Binoculars
The Belt Of Venus || Astro-Sketch Gallery || Astro-Sketching Resources || Astro-Photo Gallery
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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Quote:
Quote:
This Astronomical League Herschel 400 book....is it any more information than what is already available on the AL website?
Well, the book gives you descriptions and sketches while the AL website just gives a checklist.
http://www.ngcic.org/DSS/dss_H400.asp
The NGC/IC Project website is better than any $8 booklet you just described, as it has photos and a whole lot more data. At the AL website, it gives enough description in the size, magnitude, celestial coordinates, and constellations the objects are found in. Plus the rules are outlined at the AL. If a person still can't find these objects with this free information, they should get more experience with DSO's first. I'm looking forward to the other guidebook, which aims to be a lot more thorough. I'll review it when I get it.
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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Quote:
I'm working on it. The AL programs have been great. I've been concentrating mainly on the Messier program for the past year or so, but all that remains of that now is in Ursa Major and Virgo...so I've got plenty of time to swim around in the wide-open waters of the Herschel 400. I've coincidentally caught a few of them along with my Messier observations, but I'll be hitting them more often now I think.
Scott, are you finding you need to get outside of town to have any hope of catching the faint remainders?
Also, congratulations Roger!
I'm glad to see you taking your time enjoying things slowly so you'll be ready for the H400. Going to a darker site will always allow you to go deeper and enjoy better views.
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lphilpot
sage
Reged: 10/15/05
Posts: 326
Loc: Central Lousiana, USA
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There are lots of computer resources for the H400 now, but when I started the list several years ago they basically didn't exist. What I did to make a quick reference set of charts was to use the program "NGCview" to print out 50 sheets of small charts, 8 per page, covering the entire list. They all had Telrad circles on them, so I could quickly get in the right area, then drop down to Uranometria or SkyAtlas for confirmation when needed.
As I observed each object, I would (in addition to creating a conventional log entry) check off that particular chart. It was neat to look at 50 pages of completely checked charts once I was done. 
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Len Philpot
len@philpot.org ><> http://pages.suddenlink.net/lenphilpot
14.5" TeleKit, 8" Hardin DSH, Orion ST80, Orion 10x70, Celestron 8x40 ... How long 'til the next TSP...?
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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What are some more computer resources?
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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novbabies
Postmaster
Reged: 06/05/05
Posts: 15678
Loc: Northern Georgia!
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Hey, wow, thanks for the link! I've bookmarked it for future reference!  
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Good Seeing!
Mark
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
VERY old Edmund 6" f/8 reflector
Assorted binoculars
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2119
Loc: Isle of Wight, England
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Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
This Astronomical League Herschel 400 book....is it any more information than what is already available on the AL website?
Well, the book gives you descriptions and sketches while the AL website just gives a checklist.
http://www.ngcic.org/DSS/dss_H400.asp
The NGC/IC Project website is better than any $8 booklet you just described, as it has photos and a whole lot more data. At the AL website, it gives enough description in the size, magnitude, celestial coordinates, and constellations the objects are found in. Plus the rules are outlined at the AL. If a person still can't find these objects with this free information, they should get more experience with DSO's first. I'm looking forward to the other guidebook, which aims to be a lot more thorough. I'll review it when I get it.
Only trying to help. You asked, I gave you an answer. *Shrug*.
Yes the NGC/IC website is pretty good, especially as they are trying to clear up the discrepancies in the RNGC.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing
Visual Astronomy blog
Fotopic astronomy gallery My photos from astronomy events, etc
8x42 binoculars 'light thimble'
4" refractor and 4" Meade SCT 'light cups'
12" Dobsonian 'light bucket'
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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Of course, and your help is appreciated my friend! I'm wondering if there are other internet resources I am not aware of. There seems to be other resources from the sounds of it.
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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lphilpot
sage
Reged: 10/15/05
Posts: 326
Loc: Central Lousiana, USA
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Quote:
What are some more computer resources?
I was referring to programs such as MegaStar, SkyTools and the like that already have the Herschel lists pre-defined in them and offer the ability to build observing lists (and chart sequences, etc.) on them. The Herschel II book you can purchase through the AL is pretty good, too.
But in the end result, you have to find them just the same. :-)
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Len Philpot
len@philpot.org ><> http://pages.suddenlink.net/lenphilpot
14.5" TeleKit, 8" Hardin DSH, Orion ST80, Orion 10x70, Celestron 8x40 ... How long 'til the next TSP...?
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Brian Carter
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/24/04
Posts: 3115
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Hi Reflector74. I really recommend you check out this site:
http://www.geocities.com/saberscorpx/SGH400.html
I'm using Saber's Herschel 400 guide. It is a spiral bound book with a few entries on each page ordered by constellation, which is really the easiest way to hunt these objects. There is space for notes and drawings. It has really helped me refine my starhopping skills because it starts with a guide star and says something like 'Move one degree north and so many degrees west' etc, it is really quite easy.
I have found a lot of the Herschel's are a little boring, others are spectacular, and most fall in between. The great part of the Herschel program is that by the end of it one is expected to be able to easily find anything in the sky without GOTO. Unlike the Messiers which are always bright and easy to find, the Herschels are more challenging and you can't just generally sweep an area and it pop out.
Saber's guide helps teach what The Herschel Program is suppossed to instill, starhopping to find challenge objects. After I'm done and I start working on the Herschel II, or Abells, or really faint objects, I know I am gong to be really greatful for those starhopping skills. The more I practice, the less time I spend searching and the more I spend observing.
Anyway, those are my thoughts. I really recommend you check out his book before you try the AL's guide. He's a fellow CNer and really put some great work into it, and he's always been available to answer my questions when I have them.
Clear Skies,
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10" F/5.5 Astrosky
SkyCommander DSCs
A loving dog, Buddha, who tolerates my hobbies
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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Thank you for the advice. I'm already in contact with him. I think you may be right on the money.
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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Cygnus_x1
Sketcher Extraordinaire
Reged: 11/17/04
Posts: 2119
Loc: Isle of Wight, England
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Quote:
Of course, and your help is appreciated my friend! I'm wondering if there are other internet resources I am not aware of. There seems to be other resources from the sounds of it.
No worries and I wish you every success with your Herschel program.
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Visual Deep Sky Observing
Visual Astronomy blog
Fotopic astronomy gallery My photos from astronomy events, etc
8x42 binoculars 'light thimble'
4" refractor and 4" Meade SCT 'light cups'
12" Dobsonian 'light bucket'
Various TeleVue eyepieces
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b_erdmann
member
Reged: 07/18/05
Posts: 46
Loc: Prescott, Arizona
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Try http://www.ngcic.org/DSS/dss_H400.asp
/Bob
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Bob Erdmann - Webmaster & Project Team Leader
The NGC/IC Project - www.ngcic.org
Prescott, Arizona
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Dave Mitsky
Postmaster
Reged: 04/08/02
Posts: 6272
Loc: Pennsylvania, USA
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I finished the H400 list in 2001. After completing it, I had no desire to pursue the HII list any further even though I had already logged some of them. Many of the Herschel 400 objects are less than nondescript and the HII list is reportedly worse.
Perhaps the chore of observing more than half of the objects with a long-focal length instrument housed in a dome colored my opinion of the program. At any rate, I began to grow disenchanted with the AL observing clubs about that time. I completed the southern hemisphere telescopic list last year in Bolivia and never sent in my observations. I might have been the first one to receive the award had I done so.
Dave Mitsky
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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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David Knisely
Postmaster
Reged: 04/19/04
Posts: 6778
Loc: Beatrice, Nebraska
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Quote:
I finished the H400 list in 2001. After completing it, I had no desire to pursue the HII list any further even though I had already logged some of them. Many of the Herschel 400 objects are less than nondescript and the HII list is reportedly worse.
Perhaps the chore of observing more than half of the objects with a long-focal length instrument housed in a dome colored my opinion of the program. At any rate, I began to grow disenchanted with the AL observing clubs about that time. I completed the southern hemisphere telescopic list last year in Bolivia and never sent in my observations. I might have been the first one to receive the award had I done so.
Dave Mitsky
Well, I did the Herschel 400 list way back in 1984 (Certificate #12) and I had to put up with a few of the lists 'teething' problems (like the non-existant nebula NGC 1990, which also reared its ugly head with the Herschel II's). However, I found that even with my old 8 inch f/7, most of objects would not have been exactly "boring" as was alluded to earlier, although some were fairly challenging. In fact, at least 200 of the Herschel 400's ended up on my 350+ "Best of the Deep Sky" listing I cooked up for use when writing observing reports for my club newsletter. A number of them required some study and re-observation, as they revealed additional detail which I had not seen earlier. I had some real surpises as well as some which were semi-duds, so the list overall was worth going through. I finished the Herschel II listing a year or two ago, but haven't gotten around to putting them in the formal logging sheets for the award just yet. A lot of these are quite challenging, so I suppose it is the challenge of just locating them rather than their appreance which is probably the main factor for participating in the project. Even with the Herschel II's, I did run into a few "diamonds in the rough" which made me glad I went after them. Still, the experience with NGC 2253 (a true "AIN'T NO") was enough to make me wonder at the time why I was working on this stupid list! Clear skies to you.
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David W. Knisely
Hyde Memorial Observatory
http://www.hydeobservatory.info
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edwincjones
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/10/04
Posts: 4419
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I have completed 16 of the AL observing clubs-most were exciting, some life changing, some just plain boring; but all have made me a better amateur astronomer with required discipline, organization, and looking at different objects in different ways.
That said, after the H-400s, I have no desire for the H 11s but the galacy cluster and group program looks interesting.
ed jones
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n w arkansas
Binocular, Solar, General Amateur Astronomy
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novbabies
Postmaster
Reged: 06/05/05
Posts: 15678
Loc: Northern Georgia!
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Here is a listing of the Best 111 Herschel objects from the Saguaro Astronomy Club (in case 400 are too daunting).
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Good Seeing!
Mark
Orion 12" XTi f/4.9
VERY old Edmund 6" f/8 reflector
Assorted binoculars
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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I don't own a 30" scope..just a 12". If I want just bright showpiece objects, I'll stick to the Messier list. I've logged many of the H400's, and go a bit further when it comes to understanding what I'm looking at with study on the side. There's lots to see out there, and a whole lot more to learn about what is out there.
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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Brian Carter
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/24/04
Posts: 3115
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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Hi David. Hmm, what I meant by boring Herschels... Although I love open clusters, I am not a fan of very small ones with only a few stars (<10) and of the larger sparse ones. Most of the galaxies I've seen so far have been like most galaxies, pretty neat but faint, needing study. But then some, try as I might, are barely patches of light. What I meant by boring was that, for some of them, i've had more enjoyment looking for them than seeing them. I didn't mean to try to dissuade anyone from trying the list out, but there are a couple duds here and there. Out of four hundred, if only one in ten is less than spectacular, i think it is a pretty good deal.
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10" F/5.5 Astrosky
SkyCommander DSCs
A loving dog, Buddha, who tolerates my hobbies
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reflector74
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/09/05
Posts: 1249
Loc: Milky Way Galaxy, Orion Arm
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Are you actually replying to my post?? If you are, my name isn't David. LOL!
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Two eyes and a preference to use both
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Brian Carter
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/24/04
Posts: 3115
Loc: Atlanta, GA
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