TheSkySearchers

Over the years I've tweaked how I plan my observing sessions based on hearing how others plan the evening and figured I'd check in to see what others are doing these days.

When I first started I would just print a huge observing list from SkyTools covering a large amount of constellations available at that time (talk about making things difficult). These days I've added a lot more focus on a much smaller data set. This is how I generally prep for the session...

1. Identify 3 constellations that will be in the part of the sky that I plan on observing
2. Try to grab roughly 10 or so objects in each constellation
3. Lookup some of the objects in an atlas and/or locate some finder charts online to print & study them a bit (since my main scope is fully manual)

That's the outline I tend to use. Although I never plan on trying to observe 30+ objects (but it could still happen) I like to have fall backs just in case. If I am having viewing issues with one constellation (partial clouds, lights, etc..) then I can just move on to the next one and keep rolling.

How do you all plan your sessions?

I use Stellarium to make my own hand written map of times and objects I want to observe. I also like to go in a circle up and down with my 20x80 ED binoculars on a parallelogram mount. Sometimes I like not to have planned objects and just be surprised at what I find with my binoculars. I then target in on the objects with my scopes.

Nice! I haven't taken my bino's out with my scope in a long time. I used to do that quite a bit too.

Plan? We doan need no steenkin' plan.

I mix it up. At home, I'll check what constellations are located between trees and such, slew to one, and view a few targets that I already know. Then I'll see what shows on SkySafari if I want (and have time) to check some other targets out.

If I'm going to a dark site, I'll check my Jumbo atlas and make a list after looking up object characteristics. The Saguaro Astro Club has an easy-to-use page for generating target lists by type, constellation, magnitude, etc., which is quite handy. I find some sites like Telescopius to be too cluttered for my tastes.
And sometimes I'll take my 80mm outside, aim randomly like I did at Cygnus this morning, look in the EP, and note there are stars.

Here's a snippet of a Saguaro OC list:

I used to make customized lists for each session using Telescopius site. Very convenient tool to customize your list for time, location, constellation, etc. But often plans, sky conditions your preferences would change and you end up with bunch of started and partially overlapping lists.

So, eventually I have switched to one large master list of DSOs which covers all visible from my location constellations and all type of targets detectable with my scopes. Now, no matter which constellation I pick I have targets to observe. I also mark my progress and add brief comments as I observe. So it is easy to see what I already observed and what not.

When I am ready to observe I look at the sky, pick constellation, open my master list on the right page and go.

Plan?, I cannot remember the last time I had the luxury to plan a session
Mine have been more like point and look whenever I have time.

Plan? I bring up Cartes du Ciel so as to avoid trying to look at objects in Cygnus in December. Other than that seeing conditions rule. If they’re good then planets and globs. If not so good then I’ll just randomly check on old friends.

Plan Did you say plan


I use something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue!

OLD
Burnham's Celestial Handbooks NEW
Starry Night Pro Plus Wikipaedia

BORROWED
Star Catalogues in Excel format downloaded from the internet I also archive some observing reports by two of the most active observers in this forum, Alan ( @kt4hx ) and Andrey ( @Bigzmey ). The quality of their note taking and reporting is first class. I keep an archive of their observations of any objects in reach from my mid-southern latitude that grab my interest.

BLUE
My favourite blue polarfleece observing shirt, blue 2B note taking pencil, and blue notebook.


I find that having the NGC and Messier catalogues in excel format is the most useful tool. This allows me to sort by Dec, then RA, so I can exclude anything too far north, then highlight the RA range open to my observing window. Beyond that, anything in the Messier catalogue is available to my scopes which are much larger than Charles Messier's. In the NGC catalogue, I will sometimes copy that section of the catalogue's RA range, open for that time of year, paste it then sort by magnitude and or object type to further refine the list into a more practical observing list.

Other tools are good for reading about and vetting objects. Burnham's is the classic reference for this. Burham's observational descriptions are excellent. Wikipaedia has an entry on every objects I've ever searches. Generally more astrophysical info rather than observing info.

Depending upon the size of the list, I will then print out the list or write it into my notebook if it's short enough. If I print it out, I'll leave a column of blank cells on the far right for me to write in comments. I prefer not to use tablet or laptop at the computer at the telescope. Even with brightness turned down, it' s bad for the night vision. A faint red torch and paper list works just fine!

I should warn you that researching and assembling a detailed observing list that suits your skies, scope size, interests, can take much longer to assemble than the actual observing time at the telescope. Sort of like making a slow cooked lamb roast for family or friends; 6 - 8 hrs to make, 20 mins for them to wolf it down!

cheers

Joe

We never plan our sessions. It depends on our mood and what the weather is doing.

Then we will probably grab our binoculars for a quick peek, or set the fieldscopes up for a longer session.

Mainly, it ends up with us relaxing in our sun-loungers sipping glasses of wine whilst looking up at the stars with just our eyes.

Simple but fun

What I usually do is:
- Check 2 - 3 weather forecasts: whether or not even try.
- Check when the darkness begins.
- Check from planisphere or Stellarium, what area of the sky is visible, when it's dark
- Check from the books and/or Stellarium, what options for targets I have.
- Make a list on some piece of scrap paper of targets to try.
- Go out, and realize, should have checked the moon phase and location,
- Note, that sky, forecasted to be clear, is getting cloudy
- Put the list among other fire starters for the next sauna-session.
- Yell and curse.
- Maybe next time.

turboscrew wrote: ↑Mon Apr 18, 2022 9:43 am What I usually do is:
- Check 2 - 3 weather forecasts: whether or not even try.
- Check when the darkness begins.
- Check from planisphere or Stellarium, what area of the sky is visible, when it's dark
- Check from the books and/or Stellarium, what options for targets I have.
- Make a list on some piece of scrap paper of targets to try.
- Go out, and realize, should have checked the moon phase and location,
- Note, that sky, forecasted to be clear, is getting cloudy
- Put the list among other fire starters for the next sauna-session.
- Yell and curse.
- Maybe next time.

Spoken like a true Scandinavian!!!

Thanks for the laugh!

Very often my observing sessions are outreach with lots of newbies! I usually check sky conditions and Stellarium and pick out no more than five of the best and brightest objects.

Given a solo observing session I normally pick 2-3 of the best positioned constellations and then select a mix of objects from each.

Dave

Butterfly Maiden wrote: ↑Mon Apr 18, 2022 6:15 am Mainly, it ends up with us relaxing in our sun-loungers sipping glasses of wine whilst looking up at the stars with just our eyes.

That might be the best plan of all...

On occasion I have also used the "Tonight's Sky" app: https://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php.

I'm certain there are plenty of other tools out there!

Dave

Wow, I like all of the different tactics that people use. Some sound similar to my overall plans and others have great steps that I might adapt to on occasion.

notFritzArgelander wrote: ↑Sun Apr 17, 2022 9:58 pm Plan? I bring up Cartes du Ciel so as to avoid trying to look at objects in Cygnus in December. Other than that seeing conditions rule. If they’re good then planets and globs. If not so good then I’ll just randomly check on old friends.

hmmm... I have never heard of Cartes du Ciel and after looking it up I am very intrigued. Thanks nFA!

Butterfly Maiden wrote: ↑Mon Apr 18, 2022 6:15 am We never plan our sessions. It depends on our mood and what the weather is doing.

Then we will probably grab our binoculars for a quick peek, or set the fieldscopes up for a longer session.

Mainly, it ends up with us relaxing in our sun-loungers sipping glasses of wine whilst looking up at the stars with just our eyes.

Simple but fun

I think that has got to be one of the best session plans I've ever heard.

Unitron48 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 18, 2022 4:41 pm On occasion I have also used the "Tonight's Sky" app: https://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php.

I'm certain there are plenty of other tools out there!

Dave

Bookmarked that.

to tell the truth, I don't plan anything.
I go out, look at the sky and my landmarks and if everything is fine, I take out the equipment.
in my field of profession everything is to plan, so to escape I do not plan anything.

Bigzmey wrote: ↑Sun Apr 17, 2022 9:00 pm I used to make customized lists for each session using Telescopius site. Very convenient tool to customize your list for time, location, constellation, etc. But often plans, sky conditions your preferences would change and you end up with bunch of started and partially overlapping lists.

Hi Andrey,
This is a great site! How did I not know about it? I guess I'm just a bit bogged down in the old ways. Thanks for posting.
Have been playing with it. I have 4 friends bringing scopes out this weekend so am creating a list using filters for the weekend.

Unitron48 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 18, 2022 12:06 pm Very often my observing sessions are outreach with lots of newbies! I usually check sky conditions and Stellarium and pick out no more than five of the best and brightest objects.

Given a solo observing session I normally pick 2-3 of the best positioned constellations and then select a mix of objects from each.

Dave

When I have newbies out here, I do something similar to you and have a goto list. It's pretty easy here in the deep south, sort of the Noah's Ark of deep sky, two of everything, all bright and well defined in the scope and those on this list though not all circumpolar are visible for a large part of the year.

There's no point showing faint fuzzies to newbies. Half the time, I don't think they even see them. I've had occasions where for even medium brightness objects, newbies have told me they must have bumped the scope, I look there and it's right there.

Joe