<p>My favorite resource for this sort of thing is the <a href="http://skymaps.com/downloads.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Skymaps.com</a> evening sky map.
The southern hemisphere edition is drawn for 35&deg;S latitude.
The November issue doesn't show the Milky Way, which hugs the horizon at that time.
However, both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are well placed in the evening, and the back page lists several other objects "easily seen with binoculars."
For example:</p>

<ul>
<li>47 Tucanae, a globular cluster visually near the SMC</li>
<li>NGC 2516, an open cluster in Carina</li>
<li>M42, the famous nebula in Orion</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-21T13:34:17.707Z
Ah! The Magellanic Clouds, I totally forgot about those, thanks! I'll have a look at Skymaps.com now.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-21T20:33:59.157Z
And of course, if you can see Orion you can probably also see the Pleiades, which look great in binoculars or a low power scope.
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-22T02:12:40.523Z
Orion is definitely visible, [rising around 2300 h](https://heavens-above.com/skychart2.aspx?lat=-42.3833&lng=147&loc=Bothwell&alt=0&tz=TST)
Fred
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-08T00:41:05.217Z
Skymaps was quite helpful, thank you! Unfortunately the weather was less than fully cooperative this time, but at least Orion's belt was spotted!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-21T13:32:56.000Z
2019-11-21T13:32:56.000Z
Mike G
<p>I concur with those by Mike G but add :</p>

<ul>
<li>eta Carina region: Milky Way between Southern and false cross. Most spectacular region apart from near Scorpius Sagittarius region</li>
<li>Omega Centauri globular: morning sky north of Southern Cross.</li>
<li>the Coal Sack: next to Southern Cross</li>
<li>Kappa Crux "jewel box" probably too small in binoculars. next to Cross on coal sack side</li>
</ul>

<p>Note NGC 2516 is also called "Southern Pleiades"</p>

<p>Catch up with the <a href="https://www.astas.org.au/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Astronomical Society of Tasmania</a> which has regular observing evenings</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-22T07:43:39.403Z
Okay  will look these up, thank you!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-22T13:06:38.023Z
Nice answer. I *almost* mentioned the stuff in the vicinity of the Coal Sack, but I wasn't sure how good it looks in those binoculars.
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-08T00:43:01.117Z
Thanks again! Unfortunately the weather was less than fully cooperative this time, maybe next trip I'll join them.
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-22T06:08:14.547Z
2019-11-22T06:08:14.547Z
TazAstroSpacial
<p>My friends are visiting southern Australia and Tasmania for the next few weeks.</p>

<p>I am lobbying them to bring my Nikon 8x42 binoculars so they can appreciate the Milky Way and possibly see a few other things.</p>

<p>What I need is:</p>

<ol>
<li>What parts of the Milky way will be most spectacular in binoculars at night at about 40° South latitude around this time of year?</li>
<li>Anything else? I've never stargazed in the Southern hemisphere so I have no idea what to point them towards.</li>
</ol>

<p>I can use online star maps (e.g. <a href="https://in-the-sky.org/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">in-the-sky.org</a>) so I can give them directions how to find things if it's not hard, but I don't have any idea what "things" there are.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-21T19:05:06.623Z
If your friends are spending time in Hobart a good viewing platform could be [Mt Wellington (kunyani)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Wellington_(Tasmania)). [Unseasonal snow](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-07/snow-falls-as-cold-snap-hits-tasmania/11680676) fell on [7 Nov 2019](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/snow-falls-on-mt-wellington/image-gallery/52ba67efa292ddcb05b05e3602f301dc). They can always check the [weather forecast](http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts/mtwellington.shtml). Warm clothing is recommended. There is a bitumen road to the summit.
Fred
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-21T23:27:23.210Z
@Fred I'll definitely let them know, that sounds like quite an exciting mini-excursion!
uhoh
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-11-22T15:48:29.630Z
Magellenic clouds should be impossible to miss, if they are up at night this time of year.
Wayfaring Stranger
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-08-23T22:59:45.817Z
related: [What Are Some Good Southern Hemisphere 7x50 Binocular Targets?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/13664/7982)
uhoh
<amateur-observing><star-gazing>
Binocular highlights from Tasmania next few weeks?
uhoh
# Binocular highlights from Tasmania next few weeks?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-21)

My friends are visiting southern Australia and Tasmania for the next few weeks.

I am lobbying them to bring my Nikon 8x42 binoculars so they can appreciate the Milky Way and possibly see a few other things.

What I need is:

1. What parts of the Milky way will be most spectacular in binoculars at night at about 40° South latitude around this time of year?
2. Anything else? I've never stargazed in the Southern hemisphere so I have no idea what to point them towards.

I can use online star maps (e.g. [in-the-sky.org](https://in-the-sky.org/)) so I can give them directions how to find things if it's not hard, but I don't have any idea what "things" there are.

**Tags:** amateur-observing, star-gazing
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: If your friends are spending time in Hobart a good viewing platform could be [Mt Wellington (kunyani)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Wellington_(Tasmania)). [Unseasonal snow](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-07/snow-falls-as-cold-snap-hits-tasmania/11680676) fell on [7 Nov 2019](https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/snow-falls-on-mt-wellington/image-gallery/52ba67efa292ddcb05b05e3602f301dc). They can always check the [weather forecast](http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts/mtwellington.shtml). Warm clothing is recommended. There is a bitumen road to the summit.  
> **username_0**: @Fred I'll definitely let them know, that sounds like quite an exciting mini-excursion!  
> **username_2**: Magellenic clouds should be impossible to miss, if they are up at night this time of year.  
> **username_0**: related: [What Are Some Good Southern Hemisphere 7x50 Binocular Targets?](https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/q/13664/7982)  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-11-21. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

My favorite resource for this sort of thing is the [Skymaps.com](http://skymaps.com/downloads.html) evening sky map.
The southern hemisphere edition is drawn for 35°S latitude.
The November issue doesn't show the Milky Way, which hugs the horizon at that time.
However, both the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds are well placed in the evening, and the back page lists several other objects "easily seen with binoculars."
For example:

* 47 Tucanae, a globular cluster visually near the SMC
* NGC 2516, an open cluster in Carina
* M42, the famous nebula in Orion

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Ah! The Magellanic Clouds, I totally forgot about those, thanks! I'll have a look at Skymaps.com now.  
> **username_4**: And of course, if you can see Orion you can probably also see the Pleiades, which look great in binoculars or a low power scope.  
> **username_1**: Orion is definitely visible, [rising around 2300 h](https://heavens-above.com/skychart2.aspx?lat=-42.3833&lng=147&loc=Bothwell&alt=0&tz=TST)  
> **username_0**: Skymaps was quite helpful, thank you! Unfortunately the weather was less than fully cooperative this time, but at least Orion's belt was spotted!  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-11-22. Score: 3

I concur with those by Mike G but add :

* eta Carina region: Milky Way between Southern and false cross. Most spectacular region apart from near Scorpius Sagittarius region
* Omega Centauri globular: morning sky north of Southern Cross.
* the Coal Sack: next to Southern Cross
* Kappa Crux "jewel box" probably too small in binoculars. next to Cross on coal sack side

Note NGC 2516 is also called "Southern Pleiades"

Catch up with the [Astronomical Society of Tasmania](https://www.astas.org.au/) which has regular observing evenings

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Okay  will look these up, thank you!  
> **username_4**: Nice answer. I *almost* mentioned the stuff in the vicinity of the Coal Sack, but I wasn't sure how good it looks in those binoculars.  
> **username_0**: Thanks again! Unfortunately the weather was less than fully cooperative this time, maybe next trip I'll join them.  

---

