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Beginners guide to: top deep sky targets
So you have done your research, ordered your equipment, set it up, now what? Astrophotography can be a daunting hobby to start with for the beginner. What object do you point your telescope at that you know you can image and you won’t be too frustrated in the process during what is about to be a hugely rewarding learning curve.
I have read ‘newbie’ questions on forums, astronomy publication recommendations, and gained expert advice from Atik Cameras, all in the pursuit of making this incredibly diverse hobby easier to navigate.
There are a number of sky chart apps available for iPhone and Android that will help you get started on pointing in the right direction. Our favourite beginner-friendly (informative and easy to use) app is Sky Safari.
Nebulae
M42 [Orion Nebula]
Looking just below Orion’s belt, near Theta Orionis, the middle star in the Sword of Orion, south of Orion’s Belt, is the very popular Orion Nebula within the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex. It is in close proximity to, and often photographed with, the Running Man Nebula. Orion Nebula is one of the brightest and nearest nebulae to Earth.
Observed: Winter & Spring
Constellation: Orion
NGC 1977 [The Running Man Nebula]
Just left of the Orion Nebula is this reflection nebula resembling a ghostly man running through space. Its blue hue comes from interstellar dust reflecting light from hot young stars in the open cluster NGC 1981.
Observed: Winter & Spring
Constellation: Orion
Horses Head Nebula
A dark nebula in Orion, just south of the star Alnitak. Identifiable by its illuminated silhouette resembling a horse’s head.
Observed: Winter & Spring
Constellation: Orion
Flame Nebula
Near the bright star Alnitak, ultraviolet light illuminates the nebula, producing ionized hydrogen glow with dark gas and dust forming a flame-like shape.
Observed: Winter & Spring
Constellation: Orion
M27 [Dumbbell Nebula]
A bright planetary nebula formed by an old star shedding outer layers. Easy to locate north of Sagitta, starting from gamma Sagittae.
Observed: Autumn, Winter, Spring
Constellation: Vulpecula
M57 [The Ring Nebula]
The glowing remains of a Sun-like star. The tiny dot in the centre is the star’s hot core. To locate M57, find Vega, then look just down to the left at the two stars Sulafat and Sheliak; M57 lies between them.
Observed: August
Constellation: Lyra
Stars, galaxies and clusters
M31 [Andromeda Galaxy and M110]
This spiral galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way (not for billions of years). M110, a dwarf elliptical galaxy, is a satellite of Andromeda. Through a small telescope, M31 appears as a faint diffuse light, but larger scopes reveal an oval shape with a bright core.
Observed: Summer, Fall, Winter
Constellation: Andromeda
M13 [Hercules Cluster]
A bright globular cluster containing hundreds of thousands of stars. Red and blue giant stars appear yellow and blue in images. Located around Hercules’ “right hip,” between Vega and Arcturus.
Observed: Spring, Summer, Autumn
Constellation: Hercules
M45 [Pleiades, Seven Sisters]
An open star cluster dominated by seven bright stars, visible to the naked eye. Maia illuminates the Maia Nebula, and Merope illuminates the Merope Nebula.
Observed: January
Constellation: Taurus
Albireo [Beta Cygni]
A beautiful double star. With the naked eye, it looks like a single star, but through a telescope, it shows contrasting colors: the larger star shines yellow, the smaller blue.
Observed: Spring to Fall
Constellation: Cygnus
These are just a few favourites for beginners and even for those more experienced using our cameras for astrophotography!
Once you start observing, you will find huge amounts of valuable information online. The Atik Cameras CCD Field Calculator app helps you find the best targets for your setup. Other useful resources include:
Wishing you clear skies and beautiful imaging!
