I do something similar, I keep an Excel spreadsheet (bucket list) that is a
composite of many different lists the base of which is the entire NGC/IC
brighter than 17th magnitude and above my horizon and a number of other
catalogs, e.g. the Minkowski PNe, Abell PNe, Abell galaxy clusters, Lynds
Bright nebulae, the best of the MCG, etc. The list also contains the AL
observing programs that I happen to be working on so many objects are
duplicated. When I am satisfied with my observation of an object, it gets
dropped from the list.
Since I can quickly switch from a RA sort to, say, a constellation sort or a
program sort, it is very versatile. I am never without hundreds of visible
targets to choose from at any given observing session. I then go where the
spirit, and these days the cloud patterns, take me.
While I have an extensive library, I find I seldom refer to books for my
observing lists, almost exclusively using Sky Tools 3 to query catalogs and
add to the Excel spreadsheet.
Ted Forte
-----Original Message-----
From: az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:az-observing-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Ken Reeves
Sent: Saturday, April 4, 2015 7:34 AM
To: az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: What do you use to make up an observing list?
For a list that I never intent to complete, I made a list of everything from
the following sources (down to about -50 degrees, I think) NS = The Night
Sky Observers Guide (3* or better)
M = Messier
H = Herschel 400 list
H2 = Herschel 400 list #2
S = SACs Best 110 NGC Objects
S2 = SACs Beyond the NGC
B = Burnham's Celestial Handbook
C = Caldwell
LS = Luginbuhl and Skiff Observing Handbook and Catalogue of Deep-Sky
Objects
On a given night, I can pick and choose based on what I feel like, which
areas of the sky are clear, which scope I have, or other factors.
I have found this really useful.
Anyone interested, I can E-mail you a copy off-line, it is a word
document about 4 Meg.
I can guarantee that it has errors :-)
Ken
On 4/3/2015 10:01 PM, stevecoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
Howdy all;
Well, I am working on the 2ed edition of Deep Sky Observing and I need
some input, please.
In the first version I spent some time talking about using Burnham's and
one or two other resources that are now out of print to create an
observing list.
So, my question is "what source to you use to create an observing list?"
I know some of you are working on a list from the Astronomical League
and some are using the SAC lists that AJ and I created all those years
ago. Do any of you use the handpaddle of your GOTO system to create a
listing to what to see? How about a planetarium program?
Anyone using a specific book as a source? Please provide name and
author.
Thanks for any input you can provide;
Steve Coe
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