One of the challenges in imaging is simply figuring out what to image. Fortunately, there are plenty of targets out there. Attached is a excel file that contains information sorted by Hour Angle. Using this list, it should be easy to find a target that is currently available for imaging. Simply figure out what hour angle is at transit around the middle of the night and then choose targets that are around that hour angle. Enjoy!
This list was produced using SkyTools 3. Fortunately, they have a generous policy for sharing data made with the tool. They just ask for attribution.
The list includes all Messier Objects that are not double stars, and all Spiral and Barred Galaxies that are greater than or equal to 11th Magnitude and are greater than or equal to 4 minutes in size. It contains many named Nebulae (both bright and dark) and assortment of other excellent objects that were added to the list. Sometimes an item is in the list simply because I enjoyed imaging it, even if it was a somewhat more challenging target.
The list is made for those in the Northern Hemisphere. The most southerly object is currently the Cat's Paw Nebula, NGC 6334 at -36 06'.
For those who don't have Excel, I suggest either getting the viewer or the excellent LibreOffice. Both are currently free.
This list was produced using SkyTools 3. Fortunately, they have a generous policy for sharing data made with the tool. They just ask for attribution.
The list includes all Messier Objects that are not double stars, and all Spiral and Barred Galaxies that are greater than or equal to 11th Magnitude and are greater than or equal to 4 minutes in size. It contains many named Nebulae (both bright and dark) and assortment of other excellent objects that were added to the list. Sometimes an item is in the list simply because I enjoyed imaging it, even if it was a somewhat more challenging target.
The list is made for those in the Northern Hemisphere. The most southerly object is currently the Cat's Paw Nebula, NGC 6334 at -36 06'.
For those who don't have Excel, I suggest either getting the viewer or the excellent LibreOffice. Both are currently free.
imaging_targets_20191226.xlsx |