Help me test my new 22

Hello all.

I should be receiving my new 22" NightSky dobsonian within the next month or so and was wondering if you all could provide me with a list of Fall/Winter objects that would "test" the scope. I am not particualrly knowledgable about optics and it would be great if I had a list of objects against which I could test the new scope.

I live in central Maine so the skies are not great, but usually fairly dark. Assuming relatively steady (but not great) and fairly dark skies (but not black) what kind of objects would be good with which to test the scope? I will look at Jupiter when it comes back for low contrast detail, but what about some double stars and deep sky objects?

I will use the scope for general visual use: plantes, doubles, and deep sky.

Please assume Nagler or Pentax eyepieces.

Any assistance is appreciated.

Gregg

I would go with all the Globs and there are plenty right now. The stuff in Sagitarius, if it is not too low. The Veil, North America, and the Helix (I really like the Helix). I think I would also get the widest field EP that works in that scope and check out M31 for about 3 hours. I know, it's easy, but 22" should give it great detail.

Of course you can chase some of the easier things like the Ring and Dumbell.

What the heck, I would look at eveything.

Ed

Congratulations on the new scope. With 22 inches you should be able to split doubles virtually to the limits of atmospheric conditions, assuming good collimation. You might want to try Beta Delphini, Eta Corona Borealis, Gamma Andromedae (try to split the secondary into its two components,) 36 Andromedae, Zeta Bootes, Zeta Hercules, or Eta Ophiuchus. All of these are sub-arc second doubles that will require good seeing, but should be doable in your scope. If you split some of these, you might want to post results on the double star forum. None of the usual folks there have such a large scope.

Gary