Thread: What are the best(most interesting) things to observe using a simple telescope?

What is your favourite thing to observe using a simple telescope?

Stars? Planets? Nebulas?
Can all of these be observed through a telescope, what is the easiest of these to observe, and what is your favourite?

I think my favorite is the moon. Then next are the planets.

The Moon, then Jupiter and Saturn and their moons.

Define simple. A useful refractor will be at least 3" diameter and a useful reflector at least 6" mirror. With either of these you can see interesting things such as the rings of saturn [when not edge on], beautiful nebulae such as M57 ring nebula, Andromeda galaxy, some beautiful double stars such as beta cygni, and some lovely globular clusters such as the one in Hercules - although depends where you are on the globe etc.. Agree with Tim and the other contributor tho - but you only need binoculars to see the moons of jupiter [well 4 of them anyway] and moon is best seen when not full.

the lady next door

You should be able to catch a glimpse of the crab nebula I think. Other than that I think there is a comet out there somewhere soon. Youd have to look into it though.

-A- Moon
-B- Double stars
-C- Open clusters
-C- Planets
-D- Globular clusters
-E- Nebula

In this order from -A- easy and rewarding to -E- difficult and potentially frustrating for a beginner with a simple telescope.

Simple telescopes = Refractors (lens telescope) with an opening of less than three inches (less than 76mm). Or reflectors (Newtonian mirror telescope) of less than six inches (less than 150mm).

My first choices would be the planets, with Mars being at the top of the planetary list, and the Orion Nebula.

Moon
Jupiter
Venus
M31
M81
Eta Carinae
Great nebula in Orion
Pleiads
Comets
Alpha Centauri
Alpha Crucis
PROJECTED images of the Sun

following is a list of all objects Which can be looked through simple telescope
but a greater fun is with a 6" or 8" newtonian with EQ1 mount...
All the following objects are interesting:

1.Moon
2. Jupiter with 4 moons
3. Saturn with 1 moon
4. Pleiades in taurus
5. Orion nebula
6. andromeda galaxy
7. Betelguse (note that it is a pulsating variable)
8. Sirius as a brightest star
9. Lagoon nebula
10.The comet holmes

All the best