DSO List (Rich-Field Objects)

Introduction | Introduction | Overview of Rich-Field Objects | References

I compiled the following list of rich-field objects* using the Deep Sky Reiseatlas (Stoyan/Feiler & Noack; see references).

*) Rich-field (deep sky) objects denote in the case of my list:

  1. large DSO of an extension of more than 1.5° and
  2. at least two DSO, which are located within a field of view of up to about 4° and thus, can be observed together with corresponding telescopes (low magnification, large field of view).

This list should help me - and maybe others - to select rich-field DSO for observation. The rankings from the Deep Sky Reiseführer/Reiseatlas can be a further help when selecting the objects.

 

Introduction

At the beginning of December 2019, a starfriend of mine had suggested in a forum of the astronomie.de Website to create a list of rich-field DSO, in order to be able to observe these objects specifically with his "rich-field telescope." This includes on the one hand large DSO, which can also be larger than the field of view of a telescope, and on the other hand several DSO, which can be observed together in the same large field of view. It was not exactly defined and also depends on the equipment available, how large the field of view actually should be. Many astronomers have contributed objects to the discussion from their own experience, so that the list grew and grew.

I, however, decided not to participate in this discussion, and to go my own way. This is to browse the Deep Sky Reiseatlas (Stoyan/Feiler & Noac) page by page for DSO that fit into a field of view of about 4° (the Telrad circles in the atlas helped me here) and can thus be observed together. I left out or added to the list one or the other object that did not exactly match these criteria. Certainly, I also made some mistakes, which I hope to be able to correct in the course of time.

First of all, I created an Excel list, because this allows to filter the list according to certain criteria and thus, to find specific information more easily. Nevertheless, I also created a static HTML table for my Website to make the list accessible to others, even if I have to correct the list manually again and again...

Examples

The following examples are intended to illustrate the principle, but were created by me with the SkySafari 6 application for copyright reasons. The red rings are the Telrad circles (0.5°, 2° and 4°).

 

M 36 and M 38 fit into a field of view of 4°

  

Ditto, larger sky section

    

Perseus Double Cluster and Muscle Man fit into a field of view of 4°

  

M 36 and M 37 just fit into a field of view of 4°, larger sky section

 

The Hyades (Mel 25) are too large for a field of view of 4°

 

The Pleiades (M 45) even fit into a field of view of 2°

(Images Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Note: Definitely it would be nicer if I showed maps for the groupings listed below, but that was too much work for me. If you have an astronomy application that can display the Telrad circles, you can easily help yourself by searching for one of the objects within a group in the application. Once the object has been found, the field of view can be shifted so that all objects fit optimally into the field of view of 4° (or 2°).

Eyepiece Selection

In the following, I list the data of my telescopes that are "just so" suited to rich-field and long focal length eyepieces. The TLAPO1027 and the Explorer 150PDS, which I sold in January 2020, can perhaps still be considered as "rich field" telescopes, the Celestron C5 with reducer/corrector with a maximum FOV of 2° probably just so (it is sufficient for the Pleiades M 45).

Telescope
Further Data
Focal Length of Eyepiece (mm)
Magnification
 
Focal Length of
Telescope (mm)
16
24
26
32
35
40
56
PS 72/432
432
27.00
18.00
16.62
13.50
12.34
10.80
7.71
TLAPO1027
714
44.63
29.75
27.46
18.75
17.14
15.00
10.71
150PDS
750
46.88
31.25
28.85
23.44
21.43
18.75
13.39
C5R
787.5
49.22
32.81
---
24.61
---
---
---
 
True Field of View (°)
Apparent Field of View (°) >
82
65
70
52
69
68
52
 
Focal Length of
Telescope (mm)
16
24
26
32
35
40
56
PS 72/432
432
3.04
3.61
4.21
3.85
5.59
6.30
6.74
TLAPO1027
714
1.84
2.18
2.55
2.33
3.38
3.92
4.08
150PDS
750
1.75
2.08
2.43
2.22
3.22
3.63
3.88
C5R
787.5
1.67
1.98
---
2.11
---
---
---
 
Exit Pupil (mm)
 
Focal Ratio
16
24
26
32
35
40
56
PS 72/432
6
2.67
4.00
4.33
5.33
5.83
6.67
9.33
TLAPO1027
7
2.29
3.43
3.71
4.57
5.00
5.71
8.00
150PDS
5
3.20
4.80
5.20
6.40
7.00
8.00
11.20
C5R
6.3
2.58
3.87
---
5.16
---
---
---

Italic: 2" eyepiece; Gray: no longer in my possession

Conclusion: I achieve a FOV of about 4° with the PS 72/432 using the 26 mm-2" eyepiece, and with the TLAPO1027 using the 40 mm-2" eyepiece; with the C5R I only achieve a FOV of about 2° at maximum.

Addition: With the Vespera mosaic mode, I can achieve a viewing angle of up to 3.2° in one direction.

EAA

Rich field observation is not possible with the eVscope (2). The situation is different with the Vespera, however, since it has been equipped with the possibility of recording mosaics. Here is a summary of the mosaic characteristics for the Vespera (from the CovalENS article):

Moreover, with the ASI294 camera at my Omegon PS 72/432 refractor, I achieve a field of view of 2.54° x 1.73°, which is also sufficient for many rich-field observations.

 

Overview of Rich-Field Objects

Notes: An object group always starts with the first object of a constellation and ends before the next constellation. Not all objects in a group may belong to the same constellation. In such a case, I added the corresponding constellation in brackets.

I have already observed quite a number of DSO individually and note this in the table below; I also note when I observed objects with the StarTravel 120/600, which I had borrowed in autumn 2019.

Constellation Number       Name Type Rank. Size           Remarks Observed Alone Observed Together, Photos Page*
Cam Kemble's Cascade SP *** 2.8° ST120 Vesp: NGC 1502/KC
 1, 2, 3
NGC 1502 Golden Harp Cluster OC ** 7' At the end of Kemble's Cascade
Dra NGC 6543 Cat's Eye Nebula PN *** 0.3' very small eVs eVs: Cat's Eye Nebula
 1
NGC 6503 G * 4' x 1'
And M 31 Andromeda Galaxy G ***** 3° x 1° Often seen as single object BI, ST120, eVs(2), Vesp Vesp (mosaic): M 31/32/110
2, 8
  M 32   G ** 4' x 3' Companion of M 31 with 31; see there
  M 110   G ** 10' x 15' Companion of M 31 eVs, Vesp
Per Mel 20 Perseus Moving Cluster OC ** 3° Single object yes Vesp, BI 2, 3
Per NGC 884/869 Perseus Double Cluster OC **** 25', 20' BI, ST120, eVs(2) Vesp, BI; double cluster with "Oval"; not seen together with St 2
2
"Oval" SM ? My own star pattern ST120, BI
(Cas) St 2 Muscle Man OC ** 80' Not easy to find yes, BI
Cas NGC 896 GN * 24' x 22' near IC 1805 Vesp Vesp (mosaic): NGC 896, IC1795, IC 1805
Vesp (mosaic): IC 1848
 2
IC 1805 Heart Nebula GN * 1.5° x 1° eVs(2), Vesp
IC 1848 Soul Nebula GN * 1.5° x 0.5° eVs(2), Vesp
Cas M 103 OC *** 6' ST120, eVs, Vesp Vesp: M 103, NGC 654, NGC 659, NGC 663

Eval. with astrometry.net 		2,7
NGC 663 Letter S Cluster OC ** 15' ST120, eVs
NGC 654

+ NGC 659

 OC * 5' x 3' Vesp
Cas M 103 OC *** 6' ST120, eVs, Vesp Vesp: NGC 457
 2
NGC 457 E.T./Owl Cluster OC *** 15' x 10' ST120, eVs, Vesp
Cas M 52 OC *** 10' eVs, Vesp Vesp: M 52, NGC 7635
2, 7
NGC 7635 Bubble Nebula GN * 1' Small eVs, Vesp
(Cep) NGC 7510 OC ** 3'
(Cep) NGC 7538 GN 1,5' Small
UMa M 81 Bode Galaxy G **** 12' x 5' ST120, eVs, Vesp Vesp: M 81/82; M 81, NGC 3077
composite:		 4
M 82 Cigar Galaxy G **** 6' x 2' ST120, eVs, Vesp
NGC 3077 G * 2' Companion of M 81 Vesp
NGC 2976 G 2.5' x 1.5' Companion of M 81
UMa M 97 Owl Nebula PN ** 3,3' eVs(2) Vesp: M 97, M 108
 4, 5
M 108 G ** 5' x 1.5' See from the side eVs, Vesp
Cep NGC 6939 OC * 7' Vesp Vesp: NGC 6939, 6949
6, 7
NGC 6946 Fireworks Galaxy G * 10' eVs, Vesp
Tau M 45 Pleiades, Seven Sisters OC ***** 1,8° x 1,2° Single object ST120, eVs(2), Vesp Too large for eVs(2) and Vesp
Vesp (mosaic): M 45
9
Tau Mel 25 Hyades OC *** 5° x 4° Single object yes, Vesp Too large for eVs(2) and Vesp
Vesp (mosaic): Mel 25
 9, 19
Per NGC 1499 California Nebula GN * 2,5° x 0,8° Single object eVs2 (nothing), Vesp Vesp (mosaic): NGC 1499
9
Aur M 36 OC *** 12' yes, eVs(2), Vesp Vesp (mosaic): M 36/38 & more

Eval. with astrometry.net		 9, 10
M 38 OC *** 25' yes, eVs(2), Vesp
NGC 1907 OC * 4' Vesp
NGC 1931

+ IC 417

GN * 1' Vesp
Gem M 35 OC **** 28' yes, ST120, eVs(2), Vesp Vesp: M 35, NGC 2158
9, 10
NGC 2158 OC 2.5' Close to M 35 Vesp
Gem NGC 2420 OC ** 8' eVs: NGC 2392
 10
NGC 2392 Eskimo Nebula PN *** 0,8' eVs
Leo M 65 Leo Galaxy Triple G ** 5' x 1.5' yes, eVs eVs(2): M 65, M 66
eVs2: M 65, NGC 3628
Vesp: M 65, M 66, NGC 3628
11, 19
M 66 Leo Galaxy Triple G ** 4.5' x 2' yes, eVs
NGC 3628 Leo Galaxy Triple G * 8' x 2' eVs(2)
Com Mel 111 Coma Cluster OC *** 3.5° Single object yes 12
Com M 53 GC ** 4'/12.6' eVs eVs: M 53
 12
  NGC 5053 GC   10' 1° east of M 53   --
Vir M 84 G * 1,5' eVs(2), Vesp eVs(2): Great Galactic Face

Vesp: Markariar's Chain
12, 20
M 86 G * 2' eVs(2), Vesp
Surround Too many to list here... G div. Vesp
M 87 G ** 3' yes, eVs, Vesp
Vir M 98 G * 5' x 2' eVs eVs: M 98
12, 20
Surround Too many to list here... G div.
Vir M 91 G * 2' x 1.5' eVs eVs: M 91
12, 20
Surround Too many to list here... G div.
Cyg M 29 OC *** 6' yes, eVs, Vesp Vesp: M 29
14
IC 1318 GN * 50' x 40'
Cyg NGC 6960 Cirrus Nebula, western part GN *** 45' x 5' eVs(2), Vesp

Vesp (mosaic): NGC 6960, NGC 6992

 14, 15
NGC 6992/5 Cirrus Nebula, eastern part GN *** 55' x 5' eVs(2), Vesp
And NGC 7662 PN ** 0,5' eVs eVs: NGC 7662
 15
NGC 7640 G * 4' x 1' eVs
Ori M 42/43 Orion Nebula GN **** 25' x 30' yes, ST120, eVs(2), Vesp eVs(2), Vesp, other...
Vesp (mosaic): M 42/43, NGC 1977, NGC 1980
17
Surround NGC 1977, NGC 1980 div. div. eVs(2), Vesp
Ori IC 434 GN * 44' x 10' Includes B 33 eVs(2), Vesp Vesp (mosaic): B 33, IC 434, NGC 2024
17
B 33 Horse Head Nebula GN * 4' eVs(2), Vesp
NGC 2024 Flame Nebula GN ** 20' x 15' eVs(2), Vesp
M 78 GN * 5' x 4' eVs(2), Vesp Vesp: M 78
Pup M 46 OC *** 20' x 15'  yes, eVs, Vesp Vesp: M 46/47

Ausw. mit astrometry.net 		18, 26
M 47 OC *** 30' x 20' yes, eVs, Vesp
NGC 2438 PN * 1.1' eVs, Vesp
NGC 2423

+ NGC 2425

 OC * 15' Vesp
Leo M 95 M 96 Galaxy Group G * 4' x 3.5' eVs(2), Vesp Vesp: M 95, M 96, M 105, NGC 3386, NGC 3389

Ausw. mit astrometry.net 		19
M 96 M 96 Galaxy Group G * 3.5' x 3' yes, eVs(2), Vesp
M 105 M 96 Galaxy Group G * 2.5' x 2' eVs(2), Vesp
NGC 3384

+ NGC 3389

M 96 Galaxy Group G * 2.5' x 2' eVs, Vesp
Oph M 10 OC ** 8' ST120, eVs, Vesp Vesp: M 10
 21
M 12 OC ** 5' ST120, eVs, Vesp Vesp: M 12
Aqu M 72 GC ** 3' eVs eVs: M 72
 22, 23, 31
M 73   SM * 1'   eVs
NGC 7009 Saturn Nebula PN ** 0,4' Very small eVs
Del Rhombus of the Dolphin yes 22
Sct M 11 Wild Duck Cluster OC **** 7' ST120, eVs(2), Vesp Vesp: M 11
 22
B 111 Dark Nebula 1.8° x 1°
NGC 6751 PN 0.3' Small, ring eVs
B 133 Dark Nebula 10'
Sct M 11 Wild Duck Cluster OC **** 7' ST120, eVs(2), Vesp eVs: M 26

Vesp: NGC 6712
 22
M 26 OC * 8' ST120, eVs(2), Vesp
NGC 6712 GC 2.5' eVs, Vesp
IC 1295 PN 1.5'
Oph IC 4756 OC * 70' eVs eVs: IC 4756

  Vesp: NGC 6633
 22
NGC 6633 OC *** 20' eVs, Vesp
Oph NGC 6633 OC *** 20' eVs, Vesp eVs: NGC 6572
22
NGC 6572 Emerald Nebula PN * 0.1' eVs
Ser IC 4703 Eagle Nebula GN * 45' x 20' eVs(2), Vesp ST120: M 17 and M 18 seen together
Vesp: Eagle Nebula
22, 30
M 16 (OC in the Eagle Nebula) OC *** 10' ST120, eVs(2), Vesp
M 17 Omega/Swan Nebula GN **** 20' x 15' ST120, eVs(2), Vesp
M 18 OC * 8' ST120, eVs
Ser NGC 6645 OC 15' ST120: M 17 and M 18 seen together
Vesp: M 17
 22, 30
M 17 Omega/Swan Nebula GN **** 20' x 15' ST120, eVs(2), Vesp
M 18 OC * 8' ST120, eVs
Scl NGC 288 GC * 6' 24
NGC 253 Sculpture Galaxy G *** 20' x 4' Seen from the edge
Pup M 46 OC *** 20' x 15' yes, eVs eVs: M 46, NGC 2438
 26
NGC 2440 PN * 0.3'
Pup M 93 OC ** 25' yes, eVs eVs: M 93
 26
NGC 2467 GN 4'
CMa NGC 2359 Thor's Helmet Nebula GN ** 9' x 6' Vesp Vesp: NGC 2359
26
NGC 2360 Opened Box Cluster OC * 8'
CMa Cr 140 OC * 1° Far in the South!   26
NGC 2439 OC 5'
Sco M 80 GC ** 5' Fairly in the South ST120, eVs M 4 and M 80 not yet seen together
eVs: M 4/M 80
29
M 4 GC *** 12' Fairly in the South ST120, eVs
NGC 6144 GC 2' ?
Sgr M 21 OC * 7' ST120, eVs 29
M 20 Trifid Nebula GN ** 15' x 10' ST120, eVs
M 8 (OC in Lagoon Nebula) OC **** 7' In the Lagoon Nebula ST120, eVs
M 8 Lagoon Nebula GN **** 20' x 10' ST120, eVs
NGC 6544 GC 1,5'
NGC 6553 GC 2' x 1.5'
Sgr M 6 Butterfly Cluster OC **** 25' x 20' Fairly in the South eVs Too far apart for 4°; eVs: M6
 29, 30
M 7 OC **** 80' Fairly in the South eVs
Sgr M 19 GC ** 3' x 2.5' ST120, eVs eVs: M 19
29
M 62 GC * 3.5' Perhaps too far in the South eVs
Ser M 25 OC *** 30' ST120, eVs Too far apart for 4°
eVs: M 24/25
 30
M 18 OC * 8' ST120, eVs
M 24 Small Sagittarius Cloud SW *** 1.5° x 0.5° ST120, eVs
Sgr M 22 GC **** 9' ST120, eVs More than 4° apart
eVs: M 22/28
 30
M 28 GC ** 5' ST120, eVs
Sgr M 54 GC * 2.5' ST120, eVs More than 4° apart
eVs: M 54/M70
30
M 70 GC * 3' ST120, eVs
Sgr M 70 GC * 3' ST120, eVs More than 4° apart
eVs: M 69/70
 30
M 69 GC * 2.5' ST120, eVs

Legend

*) Page in Deep Sky Reiseatlas (see references)
PN = planetary nebula, GE = galactic emission nebula, GR = galactic reflection nebula, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, DS = double star, SP = star pattern, SC = star cloud
ST120: many first observations were made with the StarTravel 120/600 (ST120) refractor
AI = Atik Infinity, PS72 = Omegon Photoscope 72/432, SM = StellarMate computer
eVs = eVscope (2), Vesp = Vespera, BI = binoculars
yes = observed with any telescope from my equipment

 

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07.10.2024