Finally got the scope outside of my house-- Mt Pinos was out of the question at 5 above zero.
Anyway, check out the "peanuts" a double-lobed planetary, NGC 2371-2, located in Gemini:
http://observing.skyhound.com/archives/feb/NGC_2371.html
Skyhound pegs it at mag 13 but the Observer's Guide has it at 11.3 and I think the latter is more accurate. A UHC or 0111 filter will help but I detected it without any filter in my 16" dob, despite high ambient lighting from my neighbor's holiday lights.
Another fun and interesting target in Orion is planetary nebula NGC 2022:
http://observing.skyhound.com/archives/jan/NGC_2022.html
The thing looks like a freaking egg in my scope. I got hungry looking at it!
While you're in Orion, look for the "eyes" in M78/NGC2068:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_78
You're not the only one looking up!
Happy holidays...
Anyway, check out the "peanuts" a double-lobed planetary, NGC 2371-2, located in Gemini:
http://observing.skyhound.com/archives/feb/NGC_2371.html
Skyhound pegs it at mag 13 but the Observer's Guide has it at 11.3 and I think the latter is more accurate. A UHC or 0111 filter will help but I detected it without any filter in my 16" dob, despite high ambient lighting from my neighbor's holiday lights.
Another fun and interesting target in Orion is planetary nebula NGC 2022:
http://observing.skyhound.com/archives/jan/NGC_2022.html
The thing looks like a freaking egg in my scope. I got hungry looking at it!
While you're in Orion, look for the "eyes" in M78/NGC2068:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_78
You're not the only one looking up!
Happy holidays...