What are Deep Space Objects?
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A deep space object is any celestial body other than a single star or an object in the solar system. The deep space classification is mainly used by amateur skywatchers to identify very faint naked-eye and telescopically visible objects like galaxies, nebulae, and star groups. The classification was used for non-stellar objects soon after the telescope was invented, and one of the earliest detailed lists was the 1774 Messier catalogue, which listed over one hundred nebulae and other faint objects. Charles Messier made the list because he was annoyed by these barely-visible objects, which he believed interfered in his nightly sky-watching. The origin of the term is not known, but it was first made popular by the “Deep Sky Wonders” column in Sky and Telescope. It debuted in the magazine’s first edition, released in 1941 and written by Walter Scott Houston, later by Sue French. Various compilations of these magazine columns helped give further credence to the term, as each month the column would provide a tour of a segment of the sky, focusing on both well-known and not-so-well-known objects. There are many astronomical activities that center on these deep space objects, as some are bright enough to be seen with a small telescope or a pair of binoculars. However, the faintest of these objects require a light-gathering telescope and are thus harder to find. Becoming more and more popular are “go-to” telescopes that can automatically find deep space objects, and wide-angle telescopes. To observe faint objects, a dark sky is needed, making these telescopes an ideal choice for the amateur astronomer that needs to travel outside the city to watch the night sky. There are also a lot of organized deep space object activities- like the Messier Marathon, which happens at the same time every year, and involves a crew of observers attempting to find all one hundred ten Messier objects in one sitting. Since those objects were first sighted with small, rudimentary telescopes, it’s a good list for today’s observers. There is a more demanding test, the Herschel 400, tailor-made for larger telescopes and more experienced astronomers. | |