What are the best(most interesting) things to observe using a simple telescope?

Question

What is your favourite thing to observe using a simple telescope?

Stars? Planets? Nebulas?
Can all of these be observed through a telescope, what is the easiest of these to observe, and what is your favourite?

Answer 1

Define simple. A useful refractor will be at least 3" diameter and a useful reflector at least 6" mirror. With either of these you can see interesting things such as the rings of saturn [when not edge on], beautiful nebulae such as M57 ring nebula, Andromeda galaxy, some beautiful double stars such as beta cygni, and some lovely globular clusters such as the one in Hercules - although depends where you are on the globe etc.. Agree with Tim and the other contributor tho - but you only need binoculars to see the moons of jupiter [well 4 of them anyway] and moon is best seen when not full.

Answer 2

As several people have said, you need to clarify what you mean by a "simple telescope." For me, that's at least a 6" Dobsonian, which costs about $300. Given that, my favourite objects would be:

• Jupiter
• The Moon
• Mars
• Star clusters, especially the Double Cluster in Perseus
• Emission nebulae, especially the Orion Nebula and the Swan Nebula
• Double and multiple galaxies: M31/M32/M110 in Andromeda, M81/M82 in Ursa Major, M51/NGC5195 in Canes Venatici
• The variable star SS Cygni
• And hundreds more!

Answer 3

#1 is the Moon. Everyone is impressed by the Moon in a telescope, because it shows so much detail.

#2 is Saturn. Even a really small telescope can show the rings and it never fails to impress people.

#3 is Jupiter.

#4, is star clusters. At least the brighter ones.

#5 is a few bright nebulae.

Forget smaller, dimmer stuff, like galaxies.

Answer 4

following is a list of all objects Which can be looked through simple telescope
but a greater fun is with a 6" or 8" newtonian with EQ1 mount...
All the following objects are interesting:

1.Moon
2. Jupiter with 4 moons
3. Saturn with 1 moon
4. Pleiades in taurus
5. Orion nebula
6. andromeda galaxy
7. Betelguse (note that it is a pulsating variable)
8. Sirius as a brightest star
9. Lagoon nebula
10.The comet holmes

All the best

Answer 5

With a fairly good amateur telescope, I would say the moon. Followed by the planets. I saw the rings of Saturn one night so clearly it looked like you could touch them.
If you have the coin for a telescope with a tracking device to keep it moving with the earth, err opposite of the earth that is, and can attach a camera to it, you could do time exposures and capture more dim objects.
Great hobby, with I had the time.

Answer 6

The moon, anything else is a waste of time looking at through a simple, low power telescope.

Answer 7

Moon
Jupiter
Venus
M31
M81
Eta Carinae
Great nebula in Orion
Pleiads
Comets
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Crucis
PROJECTED images of the Sun

Answer 8

-A- Moon
-B- Double stars
-C- Open clusters
-C- Planets
-D- Globular clusters
-E- Nebula

In this order from -A- easy and rewarding to -E- difficult and potentially frustrating for a beginner with a simple telescope.

Simple telescopes = Refractors (lens telescope) with an opening of less than three inches (less than 76mm). Or reflectors (Newtonian mirror telescope) of less than six inches (less than 150mm).

Answer 9

My first choices would be the planets, with Mars being at the top of the planetary list, and the Orion Nebula.

Answer 10

You should be able to catch a glimpse of the crab nebula I think. Other than that I think there is a comet out there somewhere soon. Youd have to look into it though.