Favorite telescope objects

[Fallingstar1971]

What are some of you readers favorite objects to target your telescopes on. List the scope, eyepiece and Barlow factor your using if you don't mind.

Star

 

[duluthdave]

One of my favorites has always been the double cluster in Perseus, NGC869 & NGC884. I usually use my 6" reflector with a 40mm eyepiece.

 

[weeman]

I have a 4.5" refracting Orion scope. My 2x Barlow lens is always in use! 4.5" inches is still a nice sized telescope, but I've been interested in picking up a Dobsonian, perhaps a 10" or 12".

The planets have always fascinated me, Jupiter and Saturn mostly. It's amazing to me to see Jupiter and its moons! I also enjoy looking at the Orion Nebula, and on a clear enough night, Andromeda. I'm still in need of a hydrogen alpha filter to look at the Sun and all its solar prominence goodness! :mrgreen:

 

[Fallingstar1971]

Awesomeness, awesomeness

I just got my scope in the mail today, put it together and aligned the optics. The moon is very brite right now and the whole sky is lit up, but I was still able to image Mars quite nicely along with the Orion Nebula (and of course the moon)

The scope I have is an Orion XT8 It comes with a 25mm ep. However I purchased the Explorer II zoom lens that has 6 different focal lengths built it. Not quite as good as if you had each individual one, but it works, for now.

I need to get some filters myself, I would like a snap-on solar filter that goes over the tube, but those are expensive as well. I also saw a couple of "wheels" with several different color filters. I would like to get that some day as well. But I got a pretty good start now. I still need that wagon though, Its kinda heavy to be hauling around, but it does split into two parts for short trips.

Star

 

[El_Magnifico]

I have a 4.5" Celestron. Some of the best targets are:

Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars
The Moon
Orion Nebula
Lagoon Nebula
Beehive Cluster (on low magnification)
M13

 

[JROYB]

Celestron NS 11, Denkmeir (sp?) binoviewer, Televue 19 or 22 mm Panoptics...........


.............and all of the deep sky faint fuzzies I can find.

 

[kg]

8 inch Celestron: I've always thought globular clusters are much more interesting through a telescope than in pictures. There are a couple of very nice ones in Hercules. I also like moving the scope along the milky way to get views of good dense star fields.

 

[SpaceTas]

Solar filters: the mylar (not glass) style ones are not expensive. Best are by Baader. These filters give a white light view (either with a blue or orange colour) where you can see sunspots and faculae. To see prominences flares etc you do need to go to specialist narrow band filters (H alpha, or Ca II) and these are very expensive. The cheapest way is one of the small solar telescopes PST or Lunt.


As for favorite objects: I recommend pointing your telescope at any fuzzy object you can see along the Milky Way. A dark site helps. If you are stuck in the city; planets, open and globular clusters, the brightest nebulae, variable stars. A good (magnitude limit about 6) star atlas and guide (i use Nortons) will point out good objects. Last but not least get to your local astronomical society especially the star parties.

Being Southern Hemisphere my list is mostly inaccessible to northerners.

 

[bluegrassgazer]

Awesomeness, awesomeness

I just got my scope in the mail today, put it together and aligned the optics. The moon is very brite right now and the whole sky is lit up, but I was still able to image Mars quite nicely along with the Orion Nebula (and of course the moon)

The scope I have is an Orion XT8 It comes with a 25mm ep. However I purchased the Explorer II zoom lens that has 6 different focal lengths built it. Not quite as good as if you had each individual one, but it works, for now.

I need to get some filters myself, I would like a snap-on solar filter that goes over the tube, but those are expensive as well. I also saw a couple of "wheels" with several different color filters. I would like to get that some day as well. But I got a pretty good start now. I still need that wagon though, Its kinda heavy to be hauling around, but it does split into two parts for short trips.

Star

I have an Orion XT8 as well. I've owned it since 2001. One of my favorite objects to observe is (under VERY dark skies) NGC4565 "The Needle Galaxy." http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap990617.html If I can see this then I know I'm having a good night! I use a Pentax XL 10.5 eyepiece and sometimes pair it with an Orion Ultrascopic 3-element 2x barlow. I'm VERY happy with this barlow BTW. Other favorite objects:

Jupiter
Trapazium in Orion (can you see the E and F stars?)
The star fields in Sagittarius