AAQ Visual Observing Section

AAQ Deep Sky Observing Programme

The following Visual Observing Programme of Bright Southern Deep Sky Objects was introduced to AAQ members in June 2000. Members are encouraged to participate in this programme and to submit their observations and images of the listed objects at the AAQ meetings, in the Newsletter and on this website.

AAQ Visual Observing Programme

by Max Kilmister

It would be a rare amateur astronomer who did not initially indulge exclusively in visual observation. Usually such observations are conducted in a fairly haphazard manner - maybe using the lists in Norton's Star Atlas or other published guides for inspiration.

The AAQ Visual Observing Programme has been designed to provide a list of bright southern objects and directions for recording observations in order to develop members' observing skills. Objects listed in Messier's catalogue have been omitted although some 46% of them are southern sky objects and most of the remainder are visible from Brisbane at some time of the year. The Messier catalogue could therefore be a separate programme which members could pursue if they so desire.

The observing programme contains 50 deep sky objects divided into two lists of 25 objects each. The first list (Level 1) contains the brightest objects - open and globular clusters - which should be visible from suburban Brisbane using a small (150mm or 200mm) telescope. The second list (Level 2) contains fainter globular clusters, bright galaxies and planetary nebula, and a couple of emission nebula. Some are readily visible from Brisbane whilst others will need a dark sky site to be seen. Of course, all objects in either list will look more impressive from a dark sky site.

The aim of the observing programme is the following:

  • to encourage familiarity with the use of a telescope;

  • to learn to find objects using a star atlas and the star-hopping technique or using manual setting circles;

  • to provide a challenge commensurate with experience.

The use of computerised Go To telescopes or digital setting circles is contrary to the spirit and intent of the programme and is therefore not allowed.

Participants are encouraged to record their observations. The records should include:

  • location;

  • date;

  • time;

  • telescope diameter and focal ratio;

  • eyepiece(s) used;

  • seeing conditions (1 is for perfect seeing and 5 is very bad);

  • object name (catalogue number and common name if relevant);

  • description of the object; and

  • sketch or image of the object (optional).

An observing form incorporating the above is available for members' use.

 

BRIGHT SOUTHERN DEEP SKY OBJECTS - LEVEL 1

Object

Type

Vmag.

Size

RA

Dec

Distance

Constellation

Common Name

GC

4.0

31'

00h 24.1m

-72° 05'

15,650 ly

Tucana

47 Tucanae

NGC 362

GC

6.5

13'

01h 03.2m

-70° 51'

29,350 ly

Tucana
 

NGC 1851

GC

7.2

8'

05h 14.1m

-40° 03'

35,850 ly

Columba
 

NGC 2301

OC

6.3

12'

06h 51.8m

+00° 28'

2,450 ly

Monoceros
 

NGC 2362

OC

4.1

8'

07h 18.8m

-24° 57'

5,220 ly

Canis Major

Tau Canis Majoris Cluster

NGC 2451

OC

3.7

45'

07h 45.4m

-37° 58'

1,040 ly

Puppis
 

NGC 2477

OC

5.8

25'

07h 52.3m

-38° 33'

3,910 ly

Puppis
 

NGC 2516

OC

3.3

30'

07h 58.3m

-60° 52'

1,430 ly

Carina
 

NGC 2808

GC

6.2

14'

09h 12.0m

-64° 52'

32,600 ly

Carina
 

NGC 3114

OC

4.2

35'

10h 02.7m

-60° 07'

3,060 ly

Carina
 

NGC 3293

OC

4.7

6'

10h 35.8m

-58° 14'

9,130 ly

Carina

Gem Cluster

IC 2602

OC

1.9

50'

10h 43.2m

-64° 21'

490 ly

Carina

Southern Pleiades

NGC 3532

OC

3.1

55'

11h 06.4m

-58° 40'

1,600 ly

Carina
 

NGC 3766

OC

4.6

12'

11h 36.1m

-61° 37'

5,540 ly

Centaurus
 

NGC 4755

OC

4.2

10'

12h 53.6m

-60° 20'

4,890 ly

Crux

Jewel Box Cluster

NGC 4833

GC

7.0

13'

12h 59.6m

-70° 53'

18,900 ly

Musca

 

NGC 5139

GC

3.5

86'

13h 26.8m

-47° 29'

16,300 ly

Centaurus

Omega Centauri

NGC 5281

OC

5.9

5'

13h 46.6m

-62° 54'

4,240 ly

Centaurus
 

NGC 6193

OC

5.2

14'

16h 41.3m

-48° 46'

4,560 ly

Ara
 

NGC 6231

OC

2.6

15'

16h 54.0m

-41° 48'

5,870 ly

Scorpius
 

NGC 6388

GC

6.7

9'

17h 36.3m

-44° 44'

35,860 ly

Scorpius
 

NGC 6397

GC

5.8

25'

17h 40.7m

-53° 40'

7,820 ly

Ara
 

NGC 6441

GC

7.4

8'

17h 50.3m

-37° 03'

29,340 ly

Scorpius
 

NGC 6520

OC

7.6

4'

18h 03.5m

-27° 54'

5,540 ly

Sagittarius
 

NGC 6752

GC

5.4

20'

19h 10.9m

-59° 59'

13,690 ly

Pavo

Starfish Cluster

 

BRIGHT SOUTHERN DEEP SKY OBJECTS - LEVEL 2

Object

Type

Vmag.

Size

RA

Dec

Distance

Constellation

Common Name

NGC 55

GX

7.9

30' x 6'

00h 14.9m

-39° 11'

5,216,000 ly

Sculptor
 

NGC 247

GX

8.9

20' x 7 '

00h 47.1m

-20° 46'

9,000,000 ? ly

Cetus
 

NGC 253

GX

7.2

25' x 7'

00h 47.6m

-25° 17'

8,150,000 ly

Sculptor

Silver Coin Galaxy

NGC 288

GC

8.1

14'

00h 52.8m

-26° 35'

29,340 ly

Sculptor
 

NGC 1097

GX

9.3

9' x 7 '

01h 24.3m

-30° 17'

39,120,000 ly

Fornax
 

NGC 1291

GX

8.5

7'

03h 17.3m

-41° 08'

26,080,000 ly

Eridanus
 

NGC 1316

GX

8.3

7' x 6 '

03h 22.7m

-37° 12'

55,420,000 ly

Fornax
 

NGC 2070

EN

5.4

40' x 25 '

05h 38.7m

-69° 06'

163,000 ly

Dorado

Tarantula Nebula

NGC 3115

GX

9.1

8' x 3 '

10h 05.2m

-07° 43'

29,340,000 ly

Sextans
 

NGC 3132

PN

9.2

0.8'

10h 07.7m

-40° 26'

2,610 ly

Vela

Eight-Burst Nebula

NGC 3242

PN

7.7

0.7'

10h 24.8m

-18° 38'

2,610 ly

Hydra

Ghost Of Jupiter Nebula

NGC 3372

EM

2.5

120'

10h 45.1m

-59° 41'

1,040 ly

Carina

Eta Carinae Nebula

NGC 3918

PN

8.1

0.2'

11h 50.3m

-57° 11'

2,610 ly

Centaurus

The Blue Planetary Nebula

NGC 4361

PN

10.9

0.8'

12h 24.5m

-18° 48'

 

Corvus
 

NGC 4945

GX

8.4

20' x 4 '

13h 05.1m

-49° 28'

11,410,000 ly

Centaurus
 

NGC 5128

GX

6.8

18' x 14 '

13h 25.5m

-43° 01'

11,410,000 ly

Centaurus

Centaurus A Galaxy

NGC 5139

GC

3.5

86'

13h 26.8m

-47° 29'

16,300 ly

Centaurus

Omega Centauri

NGC 5286

GC

7.6

9'

13h 46.4m

-51° 22'

29,340 ly

Centaurus
 

NGC 5927

GC

8.1

12'

15h 28.0m

-50° 40'

26,080 ly

Lupus
 

NGC 5986

GC

7.5

10'

15h 46.1m

-37° 47'

32,600 ly

Lupus
 

NGC 6302

PN

9.6

1.5' x 0.8 '

17h 13.7m

-37° 06'

4,890 ly

Scorpius

Bug Nebula

NGC 6363

GC

7.9

11'

17h 31.9m

-67° 03'

22,820 ly

Ara
 

NGC 6744

GX

8.4

16' x 10 '

19h 09.8m

-63° 51'

26,080,000 ly

Pavo
 

NGC 7009

PN

8.0

0.5' x 1.5'

21h 04.2m

-11° 22'

2,930 ly

Aquarius

Saturn Nebula

NGC 7293

PN

6.5

15' x 11 '

22h 29.6m

-20° 48'

520 ly

Aquarius

Helix Nebula

 

Notes:

Object Type Codes: OC = Open Cluster, GC = Globular Cluster, GX = Galaxy, PN = Planetary Nebula, EM = Emission (Diffuse) Nebula.

Vmag. is the visual magnitude.

Object Size is given in arc minutes.

Object Distance is given in light years.

 

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Astronomical Association of Queensland 2006. www.aaq.org.au