Observing with a purpose for me, is having an objective or agenda for observing. This might be to observe the Messier catalog, the Herschel-400 list or even some personal lists of objects. If you can’t decide what to observe: The Astronomical League has plenty to consider.

Some of my observing notes, pencil sketches and deep-sky articles as following:

     When I purchased my first serious telescope in March 1977, one of first observing reference books was “The Finest Deep-Sky Objects” by James Mullaney and Wallace McCall.  This book featured observing notes for double stars, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and a few prominent red stars.

“1,000+ The Amateur Astronomer’s Field Guide to Deep-Sky Observing” by Tom Lorenzin:

      In the early 90’s I began using “1000+” almost exclusively. I really liked how Tom documented his observations, which were relatively brief, but saying so much.  

Visual observing for me is attempting to see the faintest of detail in deep-sky objects, then recording in words, and for some objects, making a pencil sketch.  

Roger Ivester

An few examples as following of my pencil sketches and observing notes: