Backyard Astronomers: What are your favourite objects?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Now, I’m not talking about Hubble images, or even stuff that requires a fancy or large aperture scope. Let’s limit it to things visible through a 4 to 8 inch mirror.

No matter how many times I’ve viewed and explored them, I find myself going back to these wonders again and again (I’ll limit myself to five):

[sub][sup](All images below are purposely not from giant scopes. They represent what a backyard astronomer might aspire to witness, or capture on film.)[/sup][/sub]

  1. M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) - of course. Is there anything more spectacular?

  2. M104 (Sombrero Galaxy) - this is my image of what the archetypal galaxy should look like. Majestic, serene, teeming with worlds.

  3. M57 (Ring Nebula) - gossamer beauty. Once you’ve seen it, you’ll keep coming back.

  4. Sagittarius (in and around the “Teapot”) - a feast. (admittedly, this is really more of a binocular experience).

  5. Saturn - always breathtaking, unique, addictive. Listen to people ooh and ahh when they see this for the first time. Listen to them ooh and ahh when they see this for the hundred and first time.

2

I am always drawn to the Pleiades–the Seven Sisters. I can look up and find the 6 visible stars in a kite formation almost without trying. I have no idea why I like it, I just do.

I also like Orion, because it is so visible here, and serves as a good point of reference. Casseiopia, too.

From a telescope, I agree with you about andromeda, and I think Saturn is cool.

3

I’ve got a little telescope. My favorite things to spot through it are the Andromeda galaxy, Saturn, Jupiter (I can see the four biggest moons), and any random M objects I can find, like the Great Nebula in Orion.

4

Another vote for Orion. Very visible, very distinctive. Love them belt stars!

5

Indeed. IMHO, the Pleiades is one of the best naked eye objects. It’s in class with the Milky Way itself, Venus in early twilight, and Scorpio on a hot Summer night.

6

OK, you’ve sucked me right in…after I pay the phone-bill and the kids ski camp, I’m gettin’ me a telescope!

7

Sadly, where we live there is much too much ambient light, including a street light right on the corner of our lot. But I remember being out in the middle of nowhere seeing more stars than I thought existed - it was breathtaking! And after we got our daughter a telescope (we lived in a more secluded area then), I remember the thrill of seeing Saturn for the first time.

8

I’m partial to the coathanger, myself. You can see it with binoculars.

Mr. Athena likes globulars and doubles. I find them dull.

Planets are cool, though.

9

What everybody else said, plus Albireo (beta Cygni)-- after Saturn, the colors of this blue and gold double star probably draw the most ooh’s and aah’s of anything I’ve looked at, or shown anyone, through a small telescope.

10

I’d have to put in a vote for the Moon. Always the same, yet always different… Try it with a 6" when it’s full (better have a moon filter, tho - I speak from experience here!) and be amazed. Other planets are good, too. My kids love to see Iridium flares as well. So do I, they appeal to my short attention span.

11

Absolutely. Albireo would have been next on my list.

12

Y’all beat me to Albireo- it’s always been my favorite.

But I also like Zubenelganubi and Zubenalshamali (sp?). They’re just stars, but what COOL names - the left and right claws of Scorpio, I think.

13

I will have to second the Andromeda Galaxy and the coathanger…I also like checking out the Milky Way in the middle of summer…if the mosquitoes don’t drive me to distraction first.

Keith