Choosing a deep-sky object and planning an imaging session

This is the landing page for some of the resources mentioned in a talk called “Choosing a deep-sky object and planning an imaging session” delivered by Nico Carver at the Astrophotography Special Interest Group (AP-SIG) on Saturday, August 10, 2018. Below you will find links to the handouts, various catalogs, books, tools, and websites that were recommended.

Presentation and Handouts

• My presentation slides [PDF]
• Useful Deep-Sky Catalogs [PDF]
• 12 Deep-Sky Objects to Photograph [PDF]

Online Catalogs of Deep-Sky Objects

• Messier (M)
• NGC/IC
• Sharpless (Sh2)
• Green’s SNR (G)
• Arp's peculiar galaxies (Arp)
• van den Bergh reflection nebulae (vdB)
• Lynd's Bright Nebulae (LBN)
• Lynd's Dark Nebulae (LDN)

Recommended Atlas

• The Astrophotography Sky Atlas by Charles Bracken

Web Tools

• DSO Browser
• Blackwater Skies Imaging Toolbox
• Astronomy Tools
• Astrobin

Free Software for planning

• KStars
• Cartes du Ciel
• Aladin
• CCD Calc

Astrophotographer's websites

• Eder Ivan
• Robert Gendler
• Scott Rosen
• Rogelio Bernal Andreo
• Fabian Neyer
• Jerry Lodriguss
• Tony and Daphne Hallas
• Bob Franke