Astronomers Viewing Deep-Sky Galaxies and Constellations

For Astronomers viewing deep-sky and galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, constellations, and all the other deep-space objects can be a beautiful experience. And there are two main categories of objects most people want to look at when considering buying a new telescope. Objects in our Solar system The Moon, Planets, Comets and objects beyond the Solar System Galaxies, Nebulas, Star Clusters, Constellations.

While most telescopes can capture all those objects, some perform better at specific tasks. So, if your primary target is galaxies and deep-sky objects, these telescopes will improve the experience.

Best Magnification and Aperture for Astronomers Viewing Deep-Sky

Aperture

The best aperture to view galaxies is the biggest you can get. The aperture is the most important specification for your telescope because it determines the amount of light the lens can capture. More light equals more information, resulting in an image with more colors, details, and sharpness.

Galaxies are no different than other objects in this regard. The aperture should be your first consideration for a telescope, and you want to get the biggest one that your budget and viewing conditions allow. For example, if you plan to buy a telescope for camping, you will have to consider things like weight and size, but within that pool of options, the ones with the larger aperture should be your top choice.

Magnification

When it comes to galaxies, there is a wide variety of sizes, brightness, and types. Grouping them all is impossible, so a single magnification is the definitive “best” answer to observe them all and get perfect results every time. There’s a bit of trial and error.

That being said, for most home telescopes, the optimal magnification to view most galaxies and deep sky objects will be between 80x, and 150x, depending on the specific object you are looking at and the specifications of the telescope.

Going beyond that to a magnification of 200x-300x is usually unnecessary, but it can be detrimental in most situations.

The magnification results from dividing the telescope’s focal length by the eyepiece’s length.

The Good News

The good news is that there are multiple ways to increase and decrease the magnification you get out of a telescope because of two reasons:

• The focal length of a telescope can be increased or reduced using certain accessories
• You can change eyepieces also to get more or less power

So, don’t worry too much about magnification because you can increase your options later through reasonably priced accessories like eyepieces and Barlow lenses.

However, in that formula, there’s a number that does matter and can significantly improve your viewing experience when it comes to seeing galaxies, and that’s the telescope’s focal length, so let’s talk about that.

The Focal Length to View Galaxies

After the aperture, the focal length is the characteristic that matters the most in a telescope to optimize for certain types of objects. We have gone into depth about this in our article about focal length, but to summarize, long focal lengths are better for planetary viewing, and short focal lengths are better for deep-sky objects.

If you are a complete beginner, the focal length of a telescope is the distance the light travels inside the telescope’s tube to reach the exit point or focuser.

The telescope designs with shorter focal lengths are refractors, Newtonians, and some Dobsonians, so our recommendations below will focus mainly on those.

There are two reasons why a short focal length is recommended for galaxies and DSOs.

First, these telescopes tend to show brighter images with slightly better colors due to the lower obstruction. These features can make a massive difference in the spectacularity of the images you’ll see.

Second, the shorter the focal length of the telescope, the longer the field of view it has. A large field of view allows you to see larger objects (like nebulas and galaxies) more comfortably and without leaving out parts of them.

 

Best Galaxies To See with a Telescope

Here’s a small list of targets you can expect to reach with a home or enthusiast-grade telescope. There are millions of galaxies in the observable universe, and from your backyard, you can observe a few hundred of these. Remember that sky conditions and location is essential. You will always get better results and access to more deep sky objects with clear skies and from a place with low light pollution.

Andromeda

Also known as M31, Andromeda is the closest galaxy to ours, located “only” 2.5 million light-years away from Earth.

It is a classic spiral, disc-shaped galaxy. So it’s a perfect introduction to what a universe is and what they look like. It has a mass and size very similar to the Milky Way.

It is located in the same direction as the Andromeda constellation, from which it gets its name.

The Whirpool Galaxy

Also known as M51. It is located in the direction of the small constellation of Canes Venatici, which is formed by only two stars.

It’s located 28 million light-years away and has a diameter of 76,000 light-years.

It has an apparent magnitude of 8.4, so it’s no problem to observe it even for a 70mm telescope.

The Sombrero Galaxy

One of the most peculiar galaxies that can be seen with a telescope. It gets its name because it has a dark band in the middle, making it look like a sombrero.

It is also known as M104 and can be found in the direction of the Virgo constellation.

The Pinwheel Galaxy

The Pinwheel galaxy is positioned so that it seems to be “facing” us. It has various colors, and its arms shaped like a spiral can be perfectly appreciated. It makes it one of the best targets to start with if you want to get into astrophotography.

It can be found in the direction of the Ursa Major constellation.

 

What Galaxies Can be Seen From a Telescope?

To figure out which galaxies a telescope will be able to observe under normal conditions, you need to know its limiting magnitude.

The magnitude is the brightness of an object in the sky as seen from Earth. The limiting magnitude of a telescope is simply the maximum magnitude the device can reach. So if you have a telescope with a limiting magnitude of 14, anything below that should be visible.

There is a formula to calculate the limiting magnitude of a telescope, but the easiest way is to use a calculator like this. You will need to know the telescope’s aperture and type. For power, use 100 or 120 and leave the rest of the setting with the default values unless you have enough experience to know what each of them means.

Here’s a list of the limiting magnitudes for some of the most common deep-sky objects. We have also saved you time and listed the approximate limiting magnitude for our telescope recommendations below.

Remember that a lower magnitude means a brighter object.

• DSOMagnitude
• Large Magellanic Cloud 0.13
• Small Magellanic Cloud 1.87
• Andromeda Galaxy 3.4
• Beehive Cluster 4
• Lagoon Nebula 5
• Triangulum Galaxy 5.7
• Hercules Cluster 5.9
• Saggitarius Cluster 6.5
• Centaurus A Galaxy 6.84
• Bode’s Galaxy 6.9
• Sculptor Galaxy 7.2
• Dumbbell Nebula 7.5
• Whirpool Galaxy 8
• Crab Nebula 8.4
• Ring Nebula 9.5

 

Best Telescopes for Astronomers Viewing Deep-Sky

 

Beginners: Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ

• Model Celestron StarSense Explorer
• Brand Celestron
• Type Newtonian / Reflector
• Aperture 114mm
• Focal length 1000mm
• Limiting magnitude 12.8
• Max useful magnification 269x

 

Easy for a Beginner

The StarSense technology makes it easy for a beginner to learn and eliminates many complications of starting with stargazing.

For astronomers viewing deep-sky and galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, and all the other deep-space objects is a beautiful experience. But the part that needs to be discussed when introducing you to the stargazing hobby is that finding all those objects is complex and time-consuming.

It is possible to spend 10-30 minutes figuring out where that galaxy you are trying to view is, especially if it is far from any prominent star formation you could use as a reference point. This part can frustrate beginners who want to enjoy their brand-new device.

There’s a solution, though. The StarSense line of telescopes does a lot to fix this issue. It is a regular telescope, but it comes with a smartphone holder. Attach your phone, and start the included app. You will be asked to follow some instructions to align the telescope. The app will then map out the sky for your location and date and show you what you are looking at on the screen.

 

Database for Galaxies, Stars and Other Objects

You can also search in the database for a specific galaxy, star, or other objects, and the app will guide you to where you need to point the mirror so you can see it. It helps you find everything you want to see and saves lots of time and peace of mind.

The aperture of this model is 114mm which could be more powerful. Still, it is good enough to view any objects of a magnitude of 13.2 and below, which includes dozens of galaxies, including Andromeda (3.4 magnitude), the Whirpool Galaxy (5.1), the Sombrero Galaxy (8.9), and many others.

The optical quality is on par with what you’d expect out of any Celestron telescope. It is in the good to excellent category and free of chromatic or spherical errors.

A larger 130mm version of this comes with a slightly better mount, but the jump in price is steep for my taste. If you are okay with it and have the budget, it is also a great choice to get you more detailed images.

Check Price

 

Best mid-range: Orion 6″ f/4 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector

• Model Orion 6″ f/4 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector
• Brand Orion
• Type Newtonian / Reflector
• Aperture 150mm
• Focal length 610mm
• Limiting magnitude 13.5
• Max useful magnification 177x

 

Packed with Beneficial Features

Orion’s 6″ f/4 Newtonian Astrograph Reflector is packed with many beneficial features to aid in capturing high-resolution night sky images. High-speed f/4 optics and 94% reflectivity coatings enable the procurement of incredibly sharp images of deep sky objects through wonderfully short exposure times for superb results in less time. Furthermore, at only 12.7 pounds, this imaging reflector must be lighter to require a large, bulky mount for support.

Orion Astrograph features a 6″ aperture parabolic primary mirror with a 610 mm focal length. For an optically fast f/4 instrument optimally suited for capturing wide-field images of remote deep sky objects. Made of thermally stable B270 glass, the primary mirror adjusts to ambient temperature quicker when compared to standard reflectors. A jumbo-sized 63 mm minor axis secondary mirror offers superb field illumination for DSLR and CCD cameras. Enhanced 94% reflectivity aluminum coatings allow primary and secondary mirrors to sharpen contrast using a protective silicon dioxide (quartz) overcoat.

 

Crayford focuser

A dual-speed 2″ linear-bearing 10:1 Crayford focuser is 7″ back from the front of the Orion 6″ f/4 Newtonian Astrograph’s 22.5″ long optical tube. Placing the focuser in this indented position enables high-resolution performance by rejecting stray off-axis light for optimal contrast.

This Crayford focuser’s ultra-steady design can support heavy imaging payloads without slippage. A steel reinforcing plate, unique to Orion, is underneath the focuser for consistent flexure-free results night after night, even with heavy cameras and other imaging equipment attached. Inserted cameras and accessories are protected from acquiring scratches or further damage by a 2″ compression ring collar and 1.25″ compression adapter.

 

For Spectacular Visual Observations

The 6″ f/4 Newtonian Astrograph can also be used for spectacular visual observations of deep-sky and solar system-based celestial objects. An included 2″ diameter extension tube adds 1.38″ (35 mm) of length to the focuser for visual use. This reflector’s 6″ aperture and fast focal ratio will amaze you with high-contrast views of the cosmos.

A pair of hinged, die-cast aluminum tube rings with felt lining are included. Each with flat bosses on the top and bottom featuring M6 threaded sockets for easy attachment of the included Vixen-style mounting bar and additional imaging accessories. An 8×50 straight crosshair finder scope with a dovetail bracket and snap-on dust cap are also included.

As with any fast Newtonian reflector telescope. An optional coma corrector is recommended to eliminate inherent coma for optimized imaging performance.

Check Price

 

 

Budget pick: Celestron AstroMaster 114 EQ

• Model Celestron AstroMaster 114 EQ
• Brand Celestron
• Type Newtonian / Reflector
• Aperture 114mm (4.49″)
• Focal length 1000mm
• Limiting magnitude 12.8
• Max useful magnification 269x

 

An Innovative Telescope

The Celestron AstroMaster 114 EQ reflector telescope is also innovative, and here’s why. Most people buy Newtonian reflector telescopes because you get a lot of value for the optics’ size.

The telescope has a 4.5″ mirror as its light-gathering source. With optics that large, an amateur astronomer can see millions of light years into the universe. A similarly sized refractor telescope would cost much more and be much heavier, requiring a larger mount.

Typically, this type of image orientation needs to be corrected in Newtonians. Still, Celestron has created a way to provide erect image optics in their AstroMaster Series to get more use out of your telescope.

Check Price

 

 

High-end pick: Celestron Advanced VX8

• Model Celestron Advanced VX8
• Brand Celestron
• Type Newtonian / Reflector
• Aperture 200mm
• Focal length 1000mm
• Limiting magnitude 14.2
• Max useful magnification 400x

 

 

Great for Astrophotography.

The innovation of the Celestron 8″ EdgeHD Optical Design. And the reliability of the Celestron Advanced Series VX Mount combine to offer one system that is great for astrophotography. The Celestron Advanced Series VX 8-inch EdgeHD telescope delivers amazingly flat field views of the night sky. The new Advanced VX Mount improves overall telescope performance making it a robust astro-imaging platform. You will be amazed at how fast you obtain imaging results. If you are looking for a powerhouse and the budget is acceptable.

The Advanced VX 8 is the most prominent reflector made by Celestron. Its one of the most trusted brands for telescopes.The specifications are perfect for deep-sky astronomers viewing galaxies. It has an aperture of 200mm (8 inches) and a focal length of 1000mm. Resulting in an excellent focal ratio of f/4.9, precisely what you want for deep sky-watching.

 

Large Aperture

Due to the large aperture, the Advanced VX 8 is much heavier than the other recommended telescopes. Making it less practical for travel. It is also harder to set up, so consider that if kids are going to use it, they will need the help of an adult.

The included EQ mount is made of stainless steel instead of aluminum to handle the extra weight. It is robust, and the tube always feels secure. But if you want to add an extra layer of safety, adding vibration pads won’t hurt. The accessories included are also of the highest quality, which is what you would expect for the price.

First, it comes with a Crayford focuser that allows you to use both 1.25″ and 2″ eyepieces. This type of focuser costs money, so it’s always nice to have it pre-packed.The included eyepieces are 10mm and 25mm Sirius Plossls of 1.25″. Standard sizes for a reflector. It lacks a Barlow lens, so you will probably want to grab one separately.

Check Price

 

A life-changing hobby

For many, astrophotography is a life-changing hobby. Astrophotography is one of the most intimate ways we, as human beings, can genuinely engage with the beautiful universe in which we live. You can capture beautiful nebulae and galaxies billions of light-years away from the Earth through astrophotography. For deep-sky astronomers viewing galaxies, nebulas, star clusters, constellations and all the other deep-space objects can be an extraordinary and beautiful experience.