Favorite Astronomy Objects

[admin]

What is your favorite astronomy object to see?

[Carlos_dfc]

Open clusters (star clusters)

Here's one of my faves
ngc457, in Cassiopeoa - the Owl Cluster


also sometimes known as the 'ET' cluster

[daystar72]

Even when they're faint and fuzzy, I get a real charge when finding and observing the brighter galaxies. Because, who knows someone could be looking back.

[admin]

wow ngc457 is something else! thanks for sharing Carlos

[Michael Steen]

One of my perennial favorites is the Pleiades. It was the first discovery I made using my large binoculars, and I was BLOWN AWAY. Looked at it the other night in the 10" Dob, expecting to be blown farther away, but the 25mm eyepiece has too narrow a field of view to take it all in at once. The binos still have the edge with this beauty.

[admin]

Micheal, sounds amazing I have seen it in pictures only.

do you know which constellation the Pleiades is in?

thanks

[Michael Steen]

Gus, I think you're in Australia, if I'm not mistaken. I'm not sure if you can see Taurus from where you are, but that's where it is--somewhat above and to the right of Aldeberan. With the naked eye it's just a fuzzy little patch, but under truly dark skies could resolve into as many as six or even seven stars if you have really good vision. And that's what drew me to it. Night after night I would go out with the dogs in the winter and see this dim little patch in the sky, wondering what it could be. And then I looked at it with the binocular and couldn't believe my eyes! It is truly a jewel. There is, however, a group called the Southern Pleiades in, I believe, Musca Carina--just near the Southern Cross. Of course I haven't seen it, but it might be worth checking out.

[Carlos_dfc]

Originally Posted by Michael Steen

Gus, I think you're in Australia, if I'm not mistaken. I'm not sure if you can see Taurus from where you are, but that's where it is--somewhat above and to the right of Aldeberan.

Pleiades is only about +25° declination, so it will be visible from Australia no problem.
OZ is about 20° to 40° South (Sydney somewhere around 35° Sth. IIRC)
So Pleiades should get at least 25° altitude (about 40°, for Sydney, assuming that 35° sth. is correct)

And is probably below and left of Aldeberan, as seen by our 'upside-down' friends

[Michael Steen]

You're right, Carlos. I can't get used to the sky being upside down for those in the South. Am I right, too, that the moon is inverted? If so, then the maps in the books will look just spot on when looking through the inversion of a reflector telescope.

[Vinnie]

Oh Boy,

It always starts... You guys are upside down...its all part of a plot....ask VV in the off topic and he will explain all

M45, the Pleiades, or the "Seven Sisters", or "Subaru" (its that car manufacturers badge). is easily seen naked eye in the Southern skies.

Drop SW from Aldebaran past the Hyades. Man its not easy to miss at a combined brightness of Mag 1

While in Taurus check out M1 (the crab nebula)