Observing Deep-Sky Objects
Deep-sky objects are simply those objects outside the boundaries of our solar system. They include star clusters, planetary
nebulae, diffuse nebulae, double stars and other galaxies outside our own Milky Way. Unlike the sun, moon and our five
major planets, most deep-sky objects are not visible to the naked eye. Finding them requires a method called star hopping.
Celestron Sky Maps (#93722) can help you locate the brightest deep-sky objects.
Most deep-sky objects have a large angular size. Therefore, a low-to-moderate power eyepiece is all you need to see them.
Visually, they are too faint to reveal any of the color seen in long exposure photographs. Instead, they appear black and
white. Because of their low surface brightness, they should be observed from a “dark-sky” location. Light pollution around
large urban areas washes out most nebulae making them difficult, if not impossible, to observe.
“Seeing” Conditions
Viewing conditions affect what you can see through your telescope during an observing session. Conditions include
transparency, sky illumination and “seeing”. Understanding viewing conditions and the affect they have on observing will
help you get the most out of your telescope.
Transparency
Transparency refers to the clarity of the atmosphere and is affected by clouds, moisture, dust and other airborne particles.
Thick cumulus clouds are completely opaque, while cirrus clouds can be thin, allowing light from the brightest stars through.
Hazy skies absorb more light than clear skies, making fainter objects hard to see and reducing contrast on brighter objects.
Dust particles and gases ejected into the upper atmosphere from volcanic eruptions also affect transparency. Ideal conditions
are when the night sky is inky black.
Sky Illumination
General sky brightening caused by the moon, aurorae, natural airglow and light pollution greatly affect transparency. While
not a problem when viewing brighter stars and planets, bright skies reduce the contrast of extended nebulae, making them
difficult, if not impossible, to see. To maximize your observing, limit deep-sky viewing to moonless nights, far from the
light polluted skies found around major urban areas. Light Pollution Reduction (LPR) filters enhance deep-sky viewing from
light polluted areas by blocking unwanted light, while transmitting light from certain deep-sky objects. Planets and stars can
still be observed from light pollued areas or when the moon is out.
"Seeing"
The terms “seeing conditions” or “seeing” refer to the stability of the atmosphere, which directly effects the amount of fine
detail seen in extended objects. Essentially, extended objects are objects other than stars, of some size, such as nebulae and
galaxies.
The air in our atmosphere acts as a lens, which bends and distorts incoming light rays. The amount of bending depends on
air density. Varying temperature layers have different densities and, therefore, bend light differently. Light rays from the
same object arrive slightly displaced, creating an imperfect or smeared image. These atmospheric disturbances vary from
time-to-time and place-to-place. Another form of turbulence that affects seeing conditions is referred to as “air parcels”.
These air parcels are the smaller turbulence patterns in the air, within your immediate environment. The size of the air
parcels, compared to the aperture of your telescope, also determines seeing quality. Under good seeing conditions, fine
detail is visible on the brighter planets like Jupiter and Mars, and stars are pinpoint images. Under poor seeing conditions,
images are blurred and star images are diffuse. Seeing conditions are rated on a five-point scale with one being the worst
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