Visual Observing SIG

This SIG provides a forum for new, intermediate and advanced observers to share their experiences around visual observing and to grow interest in Visual observing.

Brian Hayward and Bhavesh Parekh are the Visual SIG Coordinators. You can reach us at VisualSIG@rosecityastronomers.org

Virtual Meeting Topics

  • Sharing visual observations and anything else related to telescope equipment or observing the night sky

  • Targets of the Month

  • An educational presentation covering a topic related to Telescopes or Visual Observing

  • Useful information and past presentations can be found here

Visual Observing SIG Resources:

  • Monthly Virtual Meeting

  • Guided Field Sessions at Stub Stewart

  • SIG Web Forum

Visual Observing SIG Guided Field Sessions

These sessions are intended to teach New Visual Observers how setup their telescopes and navigate the night sky. These will be scheduled regularly when SIG coordinators are available.

Some things to expect when you attend one of these sessions:

  • Information on what to prepare before attending the sessions

  • On arrival, help with setting up your telescope

    • Scope setup and collimation

    • Review and discuss your accessories

    • Aligning your finder (telrad, etc)

  • General Observing

    • Review Print Materials (Books, Observing Guides, Sky Atlas, etc).

    • Dark site etiquette

    • Observing tips, such as use of averted vision

    • What you should expect to see through a telescope

  • Sky tour

    • Overview of the vast scale of the night sky.

    • Constellation tour

    • Review of what is available to observe.

  • Using your scope to find targets

    • Open Clusters (Double cluster, Owl Cluster)

    • Big bright galaxies

    • Globular Clusters

    • Nebulae

  • Equipment Breakdown and pack-up

The following photo was from one of our Guided observing sessions: