22 replies to this topic

[ValhallaObserver]

Fellow Observers,

 

What are your Favorite fall binocular targets? Also shar what magnification you prefer for either a specific target or in general if you would.

 

If there is another post on this please point me there.

 

VO

[alvarete]

I love to see the bigest galaxies: M31, M33, M74, M101 and M51. A lot of diferent sizes shapes and bright!
Enjoy

[barbie]

M31, M51 and the double cluster in my 12x60mm binoculars.

Edited by barbie, 02 November 2020 - 09:41 PM.

[B 26354]

I love to see the bigest galaxies: M31, M33, M74, M101 and M51. A lot of diferent sizes shapes and bright!
Enjoy

 

M31, M51 and the double cluster in my 12x60mm binoculars.

M51 ???

 

The OP asked for favorite fall targets. He's at ~44° North.

 

Right now, at my latitude (~34° North), M51 doesn't even rise above the eastern horizon until ~1:30am.

Edited by B 26354, 02 November 2020 - 10:43 PM.

[Tony Flanders]

The Alpha Persei Cluster is my favorite fall binocular target. Looks great at any magnification up to about 15X; beyond that you begin to lose the outlying members. The Hyades are close behind. And although 15X is a bit on the low side for the Pleiades, it's still a mighty fine cluster no matter how you view it.

 

Then of course there's the field that includes Stock 2 and the Double Cluster. The Double Cluster per se I find a little underwhelming through conventional binoculars. Although it is spectacular through any instrument and with no instrument, I like it best with a wide-field eyepiece in my 12.5-inch Dob.

 

And yes, who can resist the M31 family?

[barbie]

I'll add M34, Stock 2 and M52 to my list.

Edited by barbie, 03 November 2020 - 01:44 PM.

[Mark9473]

Fall is open cluster season for me; some of my season favourites, all very nice at 15x :

M34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 44, 45, 67, 103

NGC 457, 663, 752, 884+869, 1528, 7789

Stock 2, Collinder 70

[hallelujah]

Then of course there's the field that includes Stock 2 and the Double Cluster.

The Double Cluster per se I find a little underwhelming through conventional binoculars.

Always loved looking at the Double Cluster through my 30x80's.

 

Stan

[Tyson M]

M31, M33, Melotte 20, M45, Hyades, double cluster, stock 2.

 

I can and do still observe coathanger asterism along low in the west.

[ValhallaObserver]

Thanks keep them coming. Finally a few days of good weather!

 

Shawn

[Dave Mitsky]

Collinder 65, Collinder 70 (the Belt of Orion), Kemble 1 (Kemble's Cascade), Melotte 20 (the Alpha Persei Association/Moving Cluster), Melotte 25 (the Hyades), M31, M33, M34, M35, M36, M37, M38, M41, M42 and the Sword of Orion, M45, M46, M47, NGC 752 and the Golf Putter Asterism, NGC 869 and NGC 884 (the Double Cluster), NGC 1528, NGC 7789, and Stock 2 are my favorites.

The most visually striking for me are Collinder 70, Melotte 20, Melotte 25, M42 and Sword of Orion, and M45.

 

Many of these are more properly classified as winter objects but are certainly visible during the latter part of the fall before it gets too very late.

[KennyJ]

The magnificent riot of colours on thinning trees and piles of dropped leaves, scatterings of fallen chestnuts, flooded fields, fast moving clouds, gatherings of birds, fireworks.

[ValhallaObserver]

Kenny terrestrial views in the fall are stunning as well as the wildlife preparing for winter for those of us with a 4 season climate. Though an astronomy general forum, it is good to not forget the multiuse tool binoculars and some scopes can provide.

 

Shawn

[stargazingfun]

Pleiades, my favourite. 

[stargazingfun]

The magnificent riot of colours on thinning trees and piles of dropped leaves, scatterings of fallen chestnuts, flooded fields, fast moving clouds, gatherings of birds, fireworks.

Same here, I watch them during the day.

[chrysalis]

There are probably dozens and dozens of lovely starfields that look good in binoculars; this one is memorable to me: Alpheratz.

[barbie]

During the late fall and  Winter months if it's clear, I'll go out and have a look at Orion's belt and the M42 complex and the Pleadies. If it's a milder winter, Cass, Auriga, and other open clusters as well. I use Oberwerk 12x60lw binoculars.

Edited by barbie, 06 November 2020 - 07:15 PM.

[litesong]

The Alpha Persei Cluster is my favorite fall binocular target. Looks great at any magnification up to about 15X; beyond that you begin to lose the outlying members. The Hyades are close behind. And although 15X is a bit on the low side for the Pleiades, it's still a mighty fine cluster no matter how you view it.

Then of course there's the field that includes Stock 2 and the Double Cluster. 

Recently I was trying to star hop to some double stars in Camelopardalis. STARTED at the Alpha Persei Cluster. At the time, my altitude axis on my terrestrial tripod, when rotated “up” coincided with a continuous motion that included Delta, Psi, Sigma, 34, Alpha, 29, 31, Iota, Struve 331, Gamma, Tau, & Eta Persei. Oh yeah. The Handwriting of God, too! What a lovely “roadway” illuminated by starry “streetlights”. At Eta I rotated 90degrees to my left to seek my fortune in Camelopardalis. But I now see, I could have continued on my original direction to NGC 957 & to the Double Cluster. I have to repeat and extend my original starry-lit celestial travels in Perseus.

Edited by litesong, 14 November 2020 - 09:28 AM.

[MartinPond]

The magnificent riot of colours on thinning trees and piles of dropped leaves, scatterings of fallen chestnuts, flooded fields, fast moving clouds, gatherings of birds, fireworks.

Add deer, owls, coyotes, fishers, and turkey around here!

For finding turkeys in the trees, I use a 7x50 monocular. 

A thermal scope would be nice.

Edited by MartinPond, 15 November 2020 - 04:46 AM.

[ValhallaObserver]

I still love the Pleadies after oh so many years.

 

Shawn

[Erik Bakker]

The most visually striking for me are Collinder 70, Melotte 20, Melotte 25, M42 and Sword of Orion, and M45.

 

+1 

 

And I do like the Double Cluster and it’s surroundings a lot.

[j_863]

NGC 253 (Sculptor Galaxy) M42, M27, M81, M82, M36, M37, M38,

[duck2k]

Pleiades, Hyades, M42, Sigma Orionis, Cr 69, Cr 70, NGC 1981, NGC 1647/1746, NGC 752, M34, M35, M36/37/38 (includes Cheshire Cat Smile)  M41, M44, M46/47, Christmas Tree Cluster, Caroline’s Rose, Owl Cluster, Double Cluster, Stock 2, M31, M33, M74, M81/82, M51, M101, and getting into Variable Stars.