Targets for 2014

Hi all

Seeing as Aubrey has started the ball rolling by asking for our favourite memories of 2013, how about we look to 2014? Do you have any specific targets for the coming year? Something that you are itching to observe or sketch or image?

I'll start. This year I plan to finally get around to go double hunting in Hercules, looking back over my observations I find it hard to believe that I have only observed a single double in this vast constellation. This year, I'm going to rectify that, weather gods permitting.

Paul

Hi, Paul. I was able to observe Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune in 2013. So Mars will get my top priority in 2014.
It would be nice to be able to say I studied all the planets through 2014!
And I am sure you enjoy double star splitting in Hercules in 2014. No doubt your 1 single double has been Rasalgethi?

Aubrey.

I have a few imaging targets - Now that I have the Skywatcher 80ED and HEQ5 Pro and autoguiding with the QHY5

Jupiter- a better job needed on this one (Ill use the 8" SCT)
Virgo Cluster - I want to try a wide field Virgo shot
M101
M57
M51 - I need a much better result than previous.

Observing targets - with the 12" Dob

M1
M44
Cygnus - a sweep of everything that's worth observing in a 12"

Hopefully I get enough nights

Hi Paul,

I'll continue to trawl through doubles, and hope to complete the list of "double doubles" (47 listed, 18 more candidates to check). I'll keep an eye on the planets, and hope to spend some time getting to know some of the more prominent features on the moon - it's so spectacular that I hardly ever do more than just feast my eyes.

Hercules has some great doubles, Rasalgethi being my favourite too. Here are some others that I would recommend:

Name Type RA Dec Mag Mag 2 Sep
κ Her, 7 Her, STF2010, Maasym Dbl 16:08:05 +17:02:49 5.1 6.2 27.7
STF2021 Dbl 16:13:18 +13:31:37 7.4 7.5 4
STF2052 Dbl 16:28:53 +18:24:51 7.7 7.9 2.2
STF2063 Dbl 16:31:47 +45:35:54 5.7 8.7 16.4
STF2085 Dbl 16:42:26 +21:35:34 7.4 9.2 6
STF2095 Dbl 16:45:05 +28:21:29 7.4 9.2 5.3
STF2101 Dbl 16:45:48 +35:37:51 7.5 9.4 4.1
STF2104 Dbl 16:48:41 +35:55:19 7.5 8.8 5.9
STF2135 Dbl 17:12:06 +21:13:44 7.6 8.9 8.4
δ Her, 65 Her, STF3127 Dbl 17:15:02 +24:50:22 3.1 8.3 12.3
ρ Her, 75 Her, STF2161 Dbl 17:23:41 +37:08:45 4.5 5.4 4
STT329 Dbl 17:24:27 +36:57:07 6.3 9.9 33.1
STF2245 Dbl 17:56:24 +18:19:37 7.4 7.6 2.6
95 Her, STF2264 Dbl 18:01:30 +21:35:45 4.8 5.2 6.3
100 Her, STF2280 Dbl 18:07:50 +26:06:04 5.8 5.8 14.2
STT358 Dbl 18:35:53 +16:58:33 6.9 7.1 1.6

For 2014 I want to get better images with my DSLR and Astrotrac.
Im considering buying a small APO in the 66-72mm range with a focal length of 400mm (ish)

I want to get a few long exposures of my primary target list

M45
M31
M44
M51
M13
M34