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Old January 18th 05, 04:50 AM
Stephen Paul
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wrote:
Is there a website that show pictures of what should be seen though the
eyepiese when looking for deep space objects?



Not answering your question....

I recommend starting with open clusters and globular clusters. Open
clusters are probably best described as "loose gatherings" of stars,
that are obviously more condensed gatherings than the background stars.
In some cases, they overwhelm the field of view in the eyepiece, such
that you aren't really even conscious of the background stars.

Globular clusters have an appearance anywhere from a dim, small fuzzy
star, to a glorious tight group of stars too vast to count, and yet
individually distinct.

This is not a great time of year for Globular clusters, but members of
the top ten open clusters are certainly winter objects. M35, M37, M36,
M38, M41, M44 and M45. Although the latter two require a large field of
view in the eyepiece (1.5 degrees or more).

And, M42 is certainly an unmistakeable object.

Out of curiosity, how large an aperture is your scope?

-Stephen