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The Astronomical League's
BINOCULAR
DEEP SKY CLUB
by John Wagoner
American Association of Amateur Astronomers
INTRODUCTION
 Welcome
to the Astronomical League’s Deep Sky Binocular Club. The Deep Sky Binocular
Club is a list of sixty selected non-Messier objects which picks up where the
Binocular Messier Club leaves off. The purpose of the Deep Sky Binocular Club is
not to put your observing skills to the test by including the toughest objects
observable with binoculars, but to allow you to observe and enjoy sixty of the
most beautiful objects in the heavens: objects other than those discovered and
catalogued by Charles Messier.
Just because the Deep Sky Binocular Club comes after the Binocular Messier
Club does not mean you have to do your Messier observations before you can do
this program. However, it is recommended that you do complete the Binocular
Messier program first, because, let’s face it, Messier got most of the good
(easy) objects already.
Even though the sixty objects in the Deep Sky Binocular Club are the best
objects for small binoculars, it doesn’t mean that they are all easy. For some
of the objects on this list, you will have to go to a good dark sky site on a
clear night with good seeing, and then observe those objects on the meridian for
best results. But luckily, this is easy to do with binoculars, since they
are so portable.
All objects in the Deep Sky Binocular Club were observed with 7X50 Orion
Explorer binoculars which retailed for $149.00. For our northern observes, no
object on the list is below minus 35 degrees declination, which is the
declination of M7, the most southerly of the Messier objects.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
To qualify for the AL’s Deep Sky Binocular Certificate, you need only be a
member of the Astronomical League, either through an affiliated club or as a
Member-at-Large, and observe all sixty of the selected objects on this list
using binoculars. Any pair of binoculars may be used, but those with objectives
between 50mm and 80mm in diameter are recommended. To record your observations,
you may use log sheets similar to those found in the back of the Astronomical
League’s manual Observe: A Guide to the Messier Objects. Or you can use
a sheet of plain paper. Your own log sheets should include: object, date, time,
power, seeing, type of binocular, and observing notes. You can order a copy the
AL’s Observe manual through Astronomical League Sales, P.O. Box 572, West
Burlington, IA 52655. www.AstronomicalLeague.com.
If you need to become a member of the Astronomical League as a
Member-at-Large, contact Jackie Beucher, AL Executive Secretary, 11305 King
Street, Overland Park, KS 66210-3421. (913) 469-0135. E-Mail: M31@sky.net.
You may also join The American Association of Amateur Astronomers, The
Internet Astronomy Club, which is a member society of the Astronomical
League. Join on-line at our web page: www.AstroMax.com. Or send a check
for $20 ($25 family) for each membership to: AAAA, P.O. Box 7981, Dallas, TX
75209-0981. E-Mail: aaaa@astromax.com
To receive your Deep Sky Binocular Certificate and pin, send your
observations along with your name, address, phone number, and club affiliation,
to your club’s Awards Coordinator, or to:
Michael Benson,
AL Binocular Coordinator,
2308 Dundee Lane,
Nashville, TN 37214-1520
Telephone: (615) 883-6571.
E-mail: ocentaurus@aol.com.
Upon verification of your observations, your certificate and pin will be
forwarded either directly to you or to your club’s Awards Coordinator,
whomever you choose.
AAAA Members who have completed AL observing projects should submit their
observations directly to the AAAA for certification. Be sure to send COPIES
only. Do NOT send original photographs or observing logs.
I hope you enjoy observing this list of objects as much as I enjoyed
compiling it. Sometimes, it absolutely amazes me what can be seen with a small
objective. Between the Binocular Messier Club and the Deep Sky Binocular Club,
there are more than 135 objects that can easily be seen with a small pair of
binoculars, which proves that you can do a lot of astronomy for a small amount
of money.
Good luck, clear skies, and good observing.
Jon Wagoner, AAAA
[ Home ] [ Up ] [ Binocular Messier ] [ Binocular Deep Sky ] [ Double Star Club ] [ Urban Club ] [ Lunar Club ] [ Universe Sampler ] [ Planetary Observers Club ] [ Asteroid Club ] [ Southern Skies Binocular Club ] [ New AL Observing Programs ] [ Arp Peculiar Galaxies ] [ AL Observing Program Contact Info ] [ Observing Forms and Sketch Log ]
You MUST be a member of the Astronomical League, either through membership in an affiliated
astronomical society or as a Member-at-Large, to receive certification for the
Binocular Deep Sky Club.
As a member of the AAAA, not only are you eligible to earn this observing award, but you will
also get your own subscription to the Astronomical League's newsletter, the REFLECTOR, as well as our own quarterly
newsletter, The American Astronomer.
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