Since I live north of Houston, TX light pollution is a real problem. To make matters worse I have alot of trees in my yard. That limits my viewing opportunities to objects that will be to my southwest to southeast. Which objects (aside from planets) can I realistically expect to see using a 135mm Dobsonian? I would be greatful for any suggestions!

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Rmclain3

Galileo 135mm Dobsonian \ Galileo 20X60 Binoculars \ Canon EOS Rebel XT (black body) \ Canon BG-E3 Battery Grip \ Canon RS-60E3 \ Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III \ Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II \ Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 \ Canon A60 \ HP 735xi \ Sakar Bounce Flash \ Sandisk Ultra II 1Gb \ Tripod & Monopod

Hum,
there are many possibilities...
my suggestion is...
Double stars...

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`Irony` actually does mean `metal like`...

It depends on the time of year, but you'll be able to see a fair amount of objects. Right now, Leo and Virgo are in the night sky after dusk, and they're loaded with galaxies. You should be able to see some of them with 135mm aperature, though I don't know how much light pollution you're dealing with. Scorpios and Sagittarius will be up in a few months, they're loaded with globulars, open clusters, and several nebulas as well.

I'd recommend a trip or several far away enough from your light pollution to really enjoy that scope.

You may be able to see a number of the brighter Messier galaxies but the Virgo-Coma Cluster is going to be pretty tough with Houston to your south, your limited horizons, and only 135mm of aperture.

The brighter planetary nebulae, globular and open star clusters, and carbon and binary stars are certainly possible targets.

http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/12months/m-apr.html

http://www.saguaroastro.org/content/...AL-CATALOG.htm

http://www.seds.org/messier/xtra/similar/rasc-ngc.html

You might want to start with the objects on the AL's Urban Club list - http://www.astroleague.org/al/obsclubs/urban/urban.html

Dave Mitsky

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Chance favors the prepared mind.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.

Almost all the Messiers (at least the ones you can see through the trees) should be visible with 135mm. I can see most of them with my 115mm refractor from my light-polluted back yard, seven miles north of downtown Seattle. Galaxies tend to look more or less the same as each other, except for M81 and M82 (which will probably be too far north for you to see from your yard), but globular and open clusters and planetary nebulae can show a lot of personality. And as Blob said, double stars are good - you should be able to resolve hundreds of these.

I agree with Redshifter, get away from the light. Our club goes out into the woods on the side or top of a mountain several times each summer (we get snowy winter and closed roads) to view away from all light except the sky. You should check around for a hill to hide behind for a full night, with lots of coffee, maybe some (not too loud) favorite music to make a good background in the REAL quiet, and a friend or 2 for more enjoyment of the trip. Watch the weatherman before planning this so it isn't spoiled and dangerous for the scope and maybe even you. Here's really wishing you a GOOD NIGHT! Have fun