Monthly Observing Targets: AL Beginner Observing Plans by Rod Gallagher
How many times have you shown up at an observing site, set up your equipment and said: "Now, what am I going to look at tonight?" Then, after a quick review of the current sky, you just look at the same old things — Jupiter, Saturn, M13, M51, M57, M31, ... and... well... now what? Not that you will ever tire of some of the most spectacular objects but there are many beautiful objects that are often overlooked. This page provides an organized list of objects to observe. These lists and targets are objects from six different Astronomical League Observing Programs.
Interested? Check it out here: https://okcastro.club/observing
Novice Assistance Program
Welcome to the Novice Assistance Program! This year long program will provide you with the instruction you need to become a fully qualified amateur astronomer and we hope you'll return to instruct the next class of novices or enter into the pro-am programs the club offers.
The following links are for the documentation for this program. Most are in Adobe PDF format and a few are in Microsoft Word format so that you can save and edit them for your own needs. If you need Adobe Acrobat Reader, Click Here.
Observing Log Documents
General Observation Log Template - Word Format
An observation log template for most Astronomical League observing clubs. This one's in Microsoft Word format so you can modify it for your own use and save it to your computer.
General Observation Log Template - PDF Format
An observation log template for most Astronomical League observing clubs. Adobe Acrobat format.
AL Lunar Club Observing Log Template - Word Format
An observation log template for the Astronomical League Lunar Club. This is in Microsoft Word format so you can modify and save it to your own computer.
AL Lunar Club Observing Log Template - PDF Format
An observation log template for the Astronomical League Lunar Club. Adobe Acrobat format.
AL Urban Club - Doubles and Variables Observing Log Template - Word Format
An observation log template for the Astronomical League Urban Club - Doubles and Variables. This is in Microsoft Word format so you can modify and save it to your own computer.
AL Urban Club - Doubles and Variables Observing Log Template - PDF Format
An observation log template for the Astronomical League Urban Club - Doubles and Variables. Adobe Acrobat Format.
AL Club Observation Log Sample Entries - PDF Format
This document provides samples of log entries required to qualify for the Astronomical League observing clubs.
Lunar Observing Documents
Day Four Lunar Observing -PDF Format
Documents the objects from the Astronomical League Lunar Club day four object list.
Day Seven Lunar Observing - PDF Format
Documents the objects from the Astronomical League Lunar Club day seven object list.
Day Ten Lunar Observing - PDF Format
Documents the objects from the Astronomical League Lunar Club day ten object list.
Day Fourteen Lunar Observing - PDF Format
Documents the objects from the Astronomical League Lunar Club day fourteen object list.
Deep Sky Observing
Deep Sky Introduction - PDF Format
Start here! This document provides an introduction to the novice program's deep sky observing.
November Deep Sky (0h to 2h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 0h and 2h of Right Ascension Best Observed in November
December Deep Sky (2h to 4h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 2h and 4h of Right Ascension Best Observed in December
January Deep Sky (4h to 6h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 4h and 6h of Right Ascension Best Observed in January
February Deep Sky (6h to 8h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 6h and 8h of Right Ascension Best Observed in February
March Deep Sky (8h to 10h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 8h and 10h of Right Ascension Best Observed in March
April Deep Sky (10h to 12h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 10h and 12h of Right Ascension Best Observed in April
May Deep Sky (12h to 14h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 12h and 14h of Right Ascension Best Observed in May
June Deep Sky (14h to 16h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 14h and 16h of Right Ascension Best Observed in June
July Deep Sky (16h to 18h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 16h and 18h of Right Ascension Best Observed in July
August Deep Sky (18h to 20h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 18h and 20h of Right Ascension Best Observed in August
September Deep Sky (20h to 22h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 20h and 22h of Right Ascension Best Observed in September
October Deep Sky (22h to 0h R.A.) - PDF Format
Messier Objects and Constellations Between 22h and 0h of Right Ascension Best Observed in October
