Suggestions for a Rewarding Next Target? [Deep Sky] Acquisition techniques · schmaks · ... · 11 · 319 · 0

schmaks 0.00
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Greetings,

I am shooting with a ZenithStar 73 (fairly wide field) and am curious to request suggestions for potentially rewarding targets to shoot.

I started with the whirlpool and am now capturing bodes/cigar but am wondering if there are any nebulae that may be a good next shot?

Many that I’d like to capture, such as the Orion Nebula won’t be available until winter.

I am already daydreaming of a more powerful telescope!

Thanks for suggestions!
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jolind 0.00
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I'd recommend M101 when you're in central Europe or in the US - available right now, should work well with the focal length of your scope and you can spend several nights on it if you like (galaxies and lots of integration time fit well together).
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TamRich1874 5.22
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Try M27 The Dumbbell Nebula easy target,nice colour, you'll find it in the Eastern sky after 23:00 GMT
All the best in your new adventure.
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matthew.maclean 3.97
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hi,

Yes, spring does not offer as many ideal targets for those of use that have shorter focal length telescopes. M101 is probably the largest individual galaxy that would be available right now to try. Coming up soon, though, is a lot of exciting stuff for wide FOV set ups (I have an 81mm WO). My current list is:

In the south is the Rho Ophiuchi region around the star Antares. It's borderline low in the horizon for those of us in the Northeast, but I think in your comments you said you are shooting in Texas, so it could be good.  It has a lot of color and action over a very wide FOV (try giving it a search here on Astrobin).

In the north/east sky is the Cygnus constellation. Around it are several excellent nebulae for small telescopes:
- Elephant trunk nebula & garnet star
- North American & Pelican nebulae
- Gamma Cygni & Crescent nebulae
- Veil nebula

All these are large in size and good options to explore. Some people are already starting to post images of these targets as they are available starting around 2-3 am right now if you want to get up early, but in the coming weeks they will be excellent options all night long. If your DSLR is not Astro-modified, it might be tough to expose a lot of the nebula detail, but I have seen people take pretty remarkable images with un-modified cameras, so it's not totally impossible (just more difficult).

Good luck on the next image!
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schmaks 0.00
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Fantastic... thanks everyone!
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tim@the-hutchison-family.net 12.30
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You might want to look at this book. It is organized by month telling you what to shoot and giving suggestions on how it should be shot. We'll worth the price.

Edit...see my next post for the link.  Sorry.
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tim@the-hutchison-family.net 12.30
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Try this book

The book is organized by month. Well worth it.
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mousta 2.71
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I started with M16 and M17. Both will work well I believe with your setup. Should be visible now if you are in the US
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Rich-sky
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M97 nebula is great in the spring
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dean_powell@yahoo.com 0.00
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Trifid Nebula, Lagoon Nebula, Lobster Nebula, Cat's Paw Nebula. In addition to the ones mentioned above, these are the Sagitarius targets. They come up around 0200L East Coast time. So you can get a couple or 3 hours on these targets each night. These are perfect targets for the 73mm. If you use the 73mm scope later in the summer and fall these targets will be available for most of the night.
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schmaks 0.00
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Tim Hutchison:
Try this bookThe book is organized by month. Well worth it.


Thanks! I'll check it out!
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schmaks 0.00
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Thanks, everyone—I have some good ideas for my next handful of shots now!
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