For the next few articles, I would like to
discuss observing plans. The dark sky is a very large neighbourhood,
filled with all manner of stars, clusters, nebula, and galaxies. It can
be a bit overwhelming. Where to start? Most of us began with the
moon, the planets, and the brightest Messier objects. I still don't think
there is a better place to start. However, this series of articles is not
aimed at beginners. I am aiming at the seasoned amateur, perhaps someone
who has already logged the Messier catalogue and bagged a number of objects
from other lists. This kind of activity is certainly to be encouraged, as
there are many different types of objects to see, and any number of
variations among them. And lists are prevalent. Even though checking off astronomy
object life lists can be a good thing, there can be downsides.
One downside to using
popular lists is that often only the biggest and brightest objects make it
there. What's wrong with that? Nothing is wrong with it.
However, by including a number of interesting fainter and more difficult
objects, those brighter ones, if saved for just the right moment, become even
more impressive. Training the eye to see fainter objects will certainly
make a brighter one pop out of the eyepiece even more. Many of my
greatest observing accomplishments have been spotting galaxies at the very
limit of my telescope's, and my eye's, ability. Afterwards, it is
always amazing to check out M 31 or M 33 again!
'Ah,' you say, 'I not one
of those observers that like to look for faint fuzzies--no thanks; not for
me.' ‘Don’t be hasty,’ I say. Viewing fainter objects helps one
appreciate the brighter things even more, not to mention the degree of challenge
and the navigation skills you will acquire.
But they really do improve your observing skills.
A second problem with
lists is that we want to finish them. If you are ticking off the 400
brightest Herschel objects, you are going to want to get to #400 someday.
Again, this is all well and good. Unless you are hoping to tick off
30 or 40 of the objects during the next clear night. Sorry, but that is
not observing. That is merely using a checklist. If you are going
to only observe the best and the brightest, then the urge to race through the
list should be at the very back of your mind. Often it isn't.
Locate. See object. Check it off. Multiply by 400.
A third problem is that
areas of unfamiliar sky around the listed objects are often avoided, in a
haste to get on to the next thing on the list. What else might be
nearby? A lovely double star, perhaps? A nebula? Maybe a rich
star field? Or it could be a stunning red carbon star. All missed because the observer has moved on
to the next object without bothering to check the surrounding field.
So, are there other fun ways of
approaching the night sky besides using lists of popular objects?
In my previous article (M 103) I would talked briefly about one of three methods I like to use. Let me know what you think.
* This article is an update of one I
wrote for this blog, near its very beginning.
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