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List of targets available per season, location, etc - any software to suggest ?

Off-topic Observing Lists
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Aygen avatar
Aygen avatar
Hello,

I am looking for an alternative to CCD Navigator (for the ones who are aware of this tool) to better organize my targets all year long.

I have a few planetarium softwares at home (starry night 8, sky safari), but none of these seems to offer the option that I am looking for (what is in the sky tonight but for astrophography purpose). 

I was wondering if the Sky offers such a planner ? Any other suggestions from your end ? 

Thanks and best,
Aygen
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Ron avatar
Ron avatar
Aygen avatar
Aygen avatar
Woooo, this is madness lol. Seems very complete, thanks for sharing it. I will have a look at it.
Gary Imm avatar
Gary Imm avatar
Woooo, this is madness lol. Seems very complete, thanks for sharing it. I will have a look at it.

Aygen, if you have any questions about it, either ask here or PM me.

The similar Astrobin post for these free resources is here.
Aygen avatar
Aygen avatar
Gary Imm:
Woooo, this is madness lol. Seems very complete, thanks for sharing it. I will have a look at it.

Aygen, if you have any questions about it, either ask here or PM me.

The similar Astrobin post for these free resources is here.

Thank you so much Gary. This is exceptional work ! Much appreciated.
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Ron avatar
Ron avatar
Thanks for the AstroBin link, Gary.  I knew I saw it here, but found the Cloudy Nights post first.

In case I've not said it before, it's a great resource.  I especially like the way it can be sorted.  That makes it incredibly useful.

Ron
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Gary Imm avatar
Gary Imm avatar
Thanks so much, Ron!  It was a lot of work and heartening to know that you find it to be useful.
I created it because it is tough to find interesting targets once you start this hobby and get through the first 25 or so popular ones.
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Ron avatar
Ron avatar
Precisely!smile
Stuart Taylor avatar
Stuart Taylor avatar
Ron:
@Gary Imm  put together a great resource that I find extremely useful.

Imm Deep Sky Compendium Released (Free Download) - Beginning Deep Sky Imaging - Cloudy Nights

Oh boy! This looks really fab! I have been trying to construct my own month by month list but this looks WAY better! Thank you @Gary Imm 
Samuel Kohler avatar
Samuel Kohler avatar
Hi Aygen

Perhaps telescopius.com may be another good planning-tool for you to consider. It is a convenient webbrowser-based application. Although it provides different functions, I primarily use it for planning since I can make an obervationlist and the tool gives me an overview for the optimal moment my selected objecs are likely to observe/capture in respect to my location.



I will have to check Gary's compendium though since I wasn't aware of it and it looks very promising.


Kind regards
Emmanuel Valin avatar
Emmanuel Valin avatar
+1 for Telescopius!
Ali Alhawas avatar
Ali Alhawas avatar
Hi Aygen,

For me I used different recourses:
- Astrobin,com, Telescopius.com and Stellarium..
- When I choose 1 or 2 targets I go to NINA- Framing-( Offline sky map)  and see how the target looks like regarding my FL, rotation, etc.
- Before the imaging session, I always choose 2 or more targets and decide under the sky after taking quick test images.

CS!
Concise
Aygen avatar
Aygen avatar
Thank you all for your inputs ! I got enough resources I think smile
Pistachio_Enjoyer avatar
Pistachio_Enjoyer avatar
I can recommend Stellarium. Not only is it a great tool to learn the night sky (gives you a rough idea of what targets are available each season), but you can also see how targets will frame up with your camera and telescope combination.
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Stuart Taylor avatar
Stuart Taylor avatar
Hi Aygen

Perhaps telescopius.com may be another good planning-tool for you to consider. It is a convenient webbrowser-based application. Although it provides different functions, I primarily use it for planning since I can make an obervationlist and the tool gives me an overview for the optimal moment my selected objecs are likely to observe/capture in respect to my location.



I will have to check Gary's compendium though since I wasn't aware of it and it looks very promising.


Kind regards

I used to use Telescopius, but now I have watched the video about Gary's amazing tool I shall no longer be!
Samuel Kohler avatar
Samuel Kohler avatar
Stuart Taylor:
I used to use Telescopius, but now I have watched the video about Gary's amazing tool I shall no longer be!


Thank you for the video-link. Yesterday I downloaded the compendium: The amount of work and dedication the author had put in it is remarkable. For me as a beginner it provides a huge amount of depth, information and inspiration for years to come.
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