The Caldwell List

The Caldwell List neglects many of the best non-Messier NGC objects and includes objects that would only be on a list of obscure objects for owners of very large aperture scopes. (Here’s just one example: for a galaxy in Leo look at NGC 3626 and NGC 2903, and ask yourself who would pick NGC 3626 given a choice between the two, as a Leo galaxy for the Caldwell list?) Also, the Caldwell list claims to include important objects for southern-hemisphere observers (who are unfortunately neglected in most observing lists) but doesn’t include most of the wonderful objects only visible from the southern hemisphere. Sir Patrick Moore has in the past produced some excellent books (see the “Books” page on this site) and BBC television shows, but as he has aged the quality of his work has really declined (his 1998 book The Observer’s Year is, to put it charitably, mediocre at best and until I read that book I had met very few observing books I didn’t like, at least a little). Making matters worse, Sky & Telescope’s publishing of the Caldwell list has spawned a whole new set of inexplicable activities, including books on observing the Caldwell objects by Stephen James O'Meara and by David Ratledge (both of whom are experienced observers and authors who should have known better) and the inclusion of the Caldwell objects in the databases of most new GoTo scopes.  (Diatribe ends. <grin>)