03/19/2026
Hunting for Herschels
If you have finished the Messiers,
you have already observed 17 Herschels.
Herschel – Messier duplications
• M20, 33, 47, 48, 76, 82, 91, 104 – 110
plus
• M35 (NGC 2158 Background cluster)
• M46 (NGC 2438 Foreground planetary nebula)
• M51 (NGC 5195 Whirlpool Galaxy companion)
Tips
• Use charts with stars plotted to 8th magnitude.
• Magnifications commonly used: 75-125x, and 200x for planetary nebulae and very dim galaxies.
• Hunt for objects in a south to north direction, and in a west to east direction.
• Use contrast enhancement filters for NGC 246, 2264, 2371, and 7000.
• Remember, many Herschels have another Herschel in the same field!
• When viewing in the extreme northerly declinations using a telescope with a fork mount and an equatorial wedge, turn the complete telescope assembly 180º. Polar alignment is lost, but the view in the finder will be right side up, and your back and neck will thank you.
Seeing farther into the depths of space,
especially when using smaller aperture scopes
• Need dark, transparent skies
• Use averted vision
• Tap the tube
• Increase magnification
• Have clean optics
• Eliminate all stray light
Virgo/Coma
and the Spring Wall
• Don't become discouraged at the great many of galaxies in the late winter through spring sky! Proceed in an orderly fashion, locating targets in a south to north and west to east manner.
• Carefully draw a star map of the region between Vindemiatrix and Denebola using small (8x30) binoculars. Add the galaxies as you find them through your scope. That way, you'll keep track of what you've found.
Not all is tough, though
Binocular Herschels
NGC 752, 2353, 2264, 2232, 6633,
1528, 869 & 884, 1647, 6940, and 6682
