76 replies to this topic

[Starman1]

I just reduced this is size to something I can post.

A lot of you have requested this from me, so I am posting it here.

It is a list of the 500 best DSOs, as seen in a 4" refractor and 5" Maksutov in modestly dark skies over a couple of years.

It started as a list of 2000 favorites culled from my much larger log, then got whittled down as I re-observed every object.

 

There will be some challenges here for the newbie, and there will be some really spectacular objects in larger scopes.

 

So enjoy.  I include a LOT of information about each object.

 

 Best 500 Deep Sky Objects.xlsx   239.58KB   7680 downloads

[mdowns]

Thanks Don! Great reminder list for sure.

[havasman]

Again you send a wonderful resource out for the rest of us. Thanks very much for these references! 

I hope you get to enjoy the kharma when it comes back to reward you.

[jethro]

Don, thanks for the list.
My only problem: it's cloudy right now!

[DSObserver2000]

thanks for this wonderful list Don, i'm clouded out too but the moment it clears up, I'll be out hunting with this list!

[areyoukiddingme]

Wow. This is great, thanks! I'm now more motivated than ever to figure out how to get the sky commander running on my 16" dob. . . 

[Dave Mitsky]

Pinned by request.

 

Dave Mitsky

[Fuzzyguy]

Thanks again Don, I downloaded the newer version on my newer computer!

[Old Rookie]

Don,

   Thanks.  Other than double starts, I've been looking for a list of objects to observe in my backyard.  When I can't get to a dark site with my 18" this list will challenge me in my semi-urban skies and my 12".

[MawkHawk]

Thank you, sir.  This is an excellent planning tool.  I downloaded and will take it with me to the Great Lakes Star Gaze in 2 weeks.

[Procyon]

Wow, thanks Don, just saw this, nice list, will print it, very useful!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TTUJoshua]

Looking at this list is one way to get motivated to get outside. Thanks!

[jonstarrysky]

Don, great list. Interesting you started with a much bigger list, all observed, the 500 presumably representing the most impressive objects. Do you have a version with ratings for each object, like the NSOG five star system? Helps folk prioritizing where to start

[Starman1]

Well, I wanted to create a list of objects all of which were "Wow!" objects in my notes (I started with my log of over 11K objects).

It got whittled down to about 2000 objects, and observing some very faint ones with the small Maksutov, I decided to set the bar higher.

So 2000 became about 900 objects.

Over a couple years of going back and viewing them all with the small Maksutov, I slowly whittled the list down until I got close to 500.

When the list got to that size, I realized I had a list I could hand my wife at star parties and know she could see them all.

So I went back and filled in common names, and distances, and other details.

Indirectly, I ended up with a pretty good handful of objects that were faint, but otherwise interesting (like the two fainter companions of M31,

NGC147 and NGC185, which most people don't know about), or Barnard's Galaxy in Sagittarius, which is easily seen in 4-6", but sometimes

tough in larger scopes because of increased magnification.

What I chose not to do was to note the magnification I though was best for the object.  I thought that was too subjective.

The star clusters were all the easiest objects, so that's where I'd start if I were a beginner.

Most of the planetaries are bright though a few are very small if sought with very low powers.

The observer in light pollution will find the galaxies and nebulae hardest, though I've viewed this entire list with my 4" refractor in moderate LP (green zone),

so not totally impossible.

I would advise trying something and then, if not easily seen, coming back to it later when the skies are more transparent or when at a darker site.

Edited by Starman1, 05 November 2014 - 10:32 AM.

[Kidastronomer]

This should be an AL program.

[Lew Zealand]

Thank you very much Don for compiling this list and posting!  And thank you Dave for pinning this so I didn't miss it 5 months later.  I've been having trouble generating an observing list from beyond the solar system which has more than the 30 or so DSOs I'm most familiar with.  This will be a great help!

[scottinash]

Excellent List Don...THANK YOU!

 

Scott

[airbleeder]

My Excel is outdated so I can't open the file.

[airbleeder]

Got it. Excellent list Don. Thanks, Ron

[Starman1]

Side note: anyone wanting the functions of Microsoft Office but doesn't want to pay the fees:

www.OpenOffice.org

It is a free program, and fully-compatible with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and even Adobe pdfs.

You can edit and open all Windows files and your files can be opened and edited in Windows Office.

The program was created by SunAmerica (Oracle) and is now marketed as an Apache program.

I know some very large accounting firms that use it on all their computers.

[Phlimm]

I noticed a lot of the scopes here are >14" Dobs.  How attainable would items on this list be for an 11" SCT?

[Starman1]

I noticed a lot of the scopes here are >14" Dobs.  How attainable would items on this list be for an 11" SCT?

They were all observed with a 4" refractor and a 4.7" Maksutov.

So for an 11" SCT?  Easy.  And most with visible details.

[Gumby90]

I just reduced this is size to something I can post.

A lot of you have requested this from me, so I am posting it here.

It is a list of the 500 best DSOs, as seen in a 4" refractor and 5" Maksutov in modestly dark skies over a couple of years.

It started as a list of 2000 favorites culled from my much larger log, then got whittled down as I re-observed every object.

 

There will be some challenges here for the newbie, and there will be some really spectacular objects in larger scopes.

 

So enjoy.  I include a LOT of information about each object.

I cant open this file . Is it an Office ?

[Starman1]

It is in Microsoft Excel.

So you can:

--download the reader for free.  Disadvantage: you can't sort or edit the report.

--download and install, for free, Apache Open Office https://cwiki.apache...1 Release Notes

It will allow you to open and modify Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and even .pdfs.

It works in Apple or PC computers.

Edited by Starman1, 08 July 2015 - 10:32 PM.

[moriarty]

Great compilation of celestial objects... Thanks a lot.

 

In the same way, I note in my objects list a red label that means is a "WOW" target as well so, in the future, I can check again and show it to other people. My observations site is normally a 7-8/10 darksky and all are made with a 180/2700 mak and a 120/750 achromatic refractor with Mark V binoviewer. I will compare both lists ...

 

Regards.