What are we expected to see these coming months?

Onesimus

Hi. What are we expected to see this coming months with a low cost but high quality telescope?

I'm new to this. I am unable to download stellarium at the moment due to my computer being a pain in the neck.

peterako

Onesimus wrote: »

Hi. What are we expected to see this coming months with a low cost but high quality telescope?

If you mange to find the above I'd love to hear where!!

As to what you can see at the mo'.

Jupiter (earlier in the night) is low in the sky at now and soon will dissapear from view till later in teh year. You'll see 4 moons and the GRS (depending on when viewing).

Uranus SHOULD be visible too...but not for me as it's now too close to Athlone's light pollution for me now.

Saturn, with it's rings starting to tilt nicely again from about midnight on.

Moon waxing at the moment.

Great Nebula in Orion...looking lovely at the mo', but best viewed when there's no moon.

While on Orion....Betelguese seems pretty bright at the moment.

Whirlpool Galaxy near Ursa Major and Bodes too.

Unfrotunately the Ring Nebula in Lyra is tough for me to see at the moment but you may be able to get a location that allows. Looks cool!

Andromeda....

And the list goes on!!

Now.....pray for some good seeing!!

Clear skies,
Peter

Onesimus

peterako wrote: »

If you mange to find the above I'd love to hear where!!

As to what you can see at the mo'.

Jupiter (earlier in the night) is low in the sky at now and soon will dissapear from view till later in teh year. You'll see 4 moons and the GRS (depending on when viewing).

Uranus SHOULD be visible too...but not for me as it's now too close to Athlone's light pollution for me now.

Saturn, with it's rings starting to tilt nicely again from about midnight on.

Moon waxing at the moment.

Great Nebula in Orion...looking lovely at the mo', but best viewed when there's no moon.

While on Orion....Betelguese seems pretty bright at the moment.

Whirlpool Galaxy near Ursa Major and Bodes too.

Unfrotunately the Ring Nebula in Lyra is tough for me to see at the moment but you may be able to get a location that allows. Looks cool!

Andromeda....

And the list goes on!!

Now.....pray for some good seeing!!

Clear skies,
Peter

Thank you Peter. This information has really helped me and got me excited about scoping over the next few days. You said that Jupiter is low at the moment. Does this make it difficult for viewing? as it would possibly be blurry?

Looking forward to viewing all mentioned.

Onesimus

peterako

You're more that welcome!

Being lower in the sky means that you have to look through more atmosphere to see the planet and that there may be more red/blue shift on what you're seeing as the atmosphere impacts these colours differently.

Took this quick shot of Jupiter this evening (7pm):



Not too bad seeing tonight.

My main issue with Jupietr being low is ATHLONE and light pollution

AND the odd tall tree in the garden

Onesimus

Peter would you not be better off driving to a more secluded area without light pollution?

WalterMitty

Could a person see andromeda galaxy clearly with a 114mm scope?

peterako

Nah, sky is nice and dark in most other directions here

Anyway, it's much more convenient to just step out the back door and set up....which means that at the first sign of clear skies I can get set up in minutes (then cool teh scope with my fan mods)

One day, many years from now....when teh kids are gone? I may get to travel to a nice viewing point.

Andromeda:

Here I can see it with the naked eye (as a smudge) on a dark clear night.

It's huge, so best viewed with low mag.

Should be no problem with a 114mm.

Binoculars are fine too.

But, with the eye it'ss still be a 'smudge'. Our eyes just don't catch light too efficiently

Clear skies,

Peter

Seanie M

A comprehensive idea of what you can see can be found on the IFAS boards (no registration necessary):

http://www.irishastronomy.org/index.php?option=com_kunena&func=showcat&catid=42&Itemid=40

Look at the stickies at the top - board member Neill McKeown adds one every month.

Hope this helps,

Seanie.