Stargazing What should I observe in Southern Skies during my trip to South Africa?

[russ_watters]

Next week, I'll be traveling on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa. I'll have with me a nice pair of compact binoculars, a 60mm 20-60x zoom spotting scope and a nice superzoom point and shoot camera. I'm looking for advice on things to see. So far, I have:

-The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds
-Crux
-Coal Sack and Jewel Box
-Omega Centauri Globular Cluster

Other suggestions?!

 

[davenn]

Next week, I'll be traveling on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa. I'll have with me a nice pair of compact binoculars, a 60mm 20-60x zoom spotting scope and a nice superzoom point and shoot camera. I'm looking for advice on things to see. So far, I have:

-The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds
-Crux
-Coal Sack and Jewel Box
-Omega Centauri Globular Cluster

Other suggestions?!

awesome Was in Uganda and South Africa myself a few months ago

There is also the Eta Carina nebula not far from the southern Cross (Crux), huge nebula, pretty much naked eye from a dark site
close to Omega Centauri globular, there is the Centaurus A radio galaxy ... tho may a bit tough with what you have
you mite just visually see it from a dark site

ummm ...
not sure if NGC 253 is above the horizon yet in the late evening ... very large edge on galaxy
47 Tuc bright globular cluster close to the SMC
NGC2070 the Tarantula nebula at one end of the LMCthere's a few off the top of my head Dave

 

[Borg]

Unfortunately you'll be too early to see a big (complete) MeerKAT.

 

[davenn]

Unfortunately you'll be too early to see a big (complete) MeerKAT.

.
cool !

 

[Astronuc]

Adding to the several davenn mentioned, Southern Pleaides (an open star cluster) in addition to omega Centauri (a globular cluster), the eta Carinae Nebula (a bright nebula). Apparently, one can get a good look at the Milky Way.

http://assa.saao.ac.za/sections/deep-sky/nebulae-clusters/big5/

 

[davenn]

Apparently, one can get a good look at the Milky Way.

indeed
at the moment and around 8 - 9PM the Milky Way is overhead
a deckchair and a pair of binoculars are ideal for slowly working along all the objects in the Milky WayDave

 

[1oldman2]

I was looking at http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160725.html and got linked here.

 

[1oldman2]