Favorite December/Winter observing targets?

Hi gang,

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?

Do you have any winter observing hints?

Dawn Baird (Chleborad)

"sunwolf" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi gang,

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?

Do you have any winter observing hints?

Dawn Baird (Chleborad)


First two that come to mind are M35 and M37 in the 9" scope, with
binoviewer.

On 30 Nov 2005 06:49:49 -0800, "sunwolf" wrote:

Hi gang,

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?

Do you have any winter observing hints?

Dawn Baird (Chleborad)


I think winter is good time for binocular viewing, especially in cold
climates. You can just grab a pair and go outside. Fortunately, there
seem to be an abundance of good targets: several good open clusters
(some of the big ones like the Pleiades and the Beehive are actually
better in binoculars IMO): M42, M31.

If you take your scope out, dress more warmly than you would for going
for a walk. Don't forget to put on a hat. I also sometimes put on a
pair of sweatpants over my jeans, and two pair of socks, and I don't
by any means consider myself a cold-weather wimp.

When telescope viewing in cold weather I sometimes have a problem with
fogging up the eyepieces. If you wear glasses, and you eyepieces have
enough eye relief to support it, leave your eyeglasses on and you will
reduce the amount of fogging. Or keep your eyepieces warm in your
pocket.

Nick
--
Nick Theodorakis

contact form:
http://theodorakis.net/contact.html

sunwolf wrote:
Hi gang,

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?


What equipment do you have in mind? Binoculars? Wide-field telescope?
Dob light bucket? Large aperture tracking telescope? It does matter.


Do you have any winter observing hints?


Stay warm .. and, since you are standing around, that often takes some
planning.

Phil

Lots of neat stuff in December. If you are into galaxy clusters, the
Fornax Cluster is impressive, and is about 10 degrees above the horizon
in the south at around 11:30 p.m. Then there's one of my favorite
planetaries, Thor's Helmet (needs an OIII or similar unless you have a
30"). Of course, Stephan's Quinted is in prime position at the zenith
in the early evening, and the Peanut Nebula in Gemina is high in the
sky later on. Now, there are other galaxy clusters such as the Pegasus
1 cluster and the Perseus Cluster which show at their best in December,
and more planetaries - M76 and NGC1535 come to mind - and if you have
an 18" or better, after midnight in late December, you can shoot for
the Double Quasar in Ursa Major. Come to think of it, Einstein's Cross
is in good position early in the evening as well.

Just some stream of consciousness objects to enjoy...

Clear skies,
Shneor

sunwolf wrote:
Hi gang,

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?

Do you have any winter observing hints?

Dawn Baird (Chleborad)



I look forward to the return of altitude of NGC3077 and the M81-82 complex

Using any equipment (or even naked eye!). I just want to know what you
like to look up at during the winter months.

sunwolf wrote:

Hi gang,

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?

OK, since you asked about my favorites rather than asking for new and
interesting suggestions, and since nobody else is willing to admit to
being
boring and conventional ...

My favorites early are M31 and M33, and my favorite late is M42.
Warhorses are warhorses for a reason!

Needless to say, I spend only a small fraction of my December observing
time on these, but I doubt that I've often observed in December without
at least taking a peek at them.

I also look at the Double Cluster just about every time I go out, but
it's
in a different category. I never tire of its beauty, but I don't keep
finding
new and interesting stuff in it, as I do in M31, M33, and M42.

Inspired by the January Deep Sky Wonders, I spent a long time with
NGC 891 last time I was out. A tough but rewarding subject.

Of course there are lots of great galaxy fields to observe at this
time, too.
Unfortunately, the (truly magnificent) Fornax cluster is just too darn
low
at my latitude (42.5N).

- Tony Flanders

"sunwolf" writes:

What are your favorite observing targets for the month of December?

In December I plan to take some CCD images of the so-called "tenth
planet", 2003 UB313. At mag 18.8 it should be doable. I did plan to
capture it in October, and then again in November, but the weather
hasn't been cooperative.

Also, I'd like to check on McNeils nebula in Orion. With its sudden
(re)appearance I guess it may show some variation over time.

pej
--
Per Erik Jorde

Hi Tony,
The Fornax cluster is only about 10 degrees above the horizon for me at
best, but on a night with a clear south, that's plenty. Your latitude
is about 3 to 3.5 degrees north of where I usually observe. If you have
a site with a clear southern horizon, and no skyglow to the south AND a
really clear night (I know, too many simultaneous conditions) I think
you could get a pretty reasonable view. I showed the Fornax cluster to
one of myh observing buddies last year - he thanked me, as he had never
tried to observe it, believing it was too low in the sky.

Clear skies,
Shneor Sherman