What to image in April

Peak galaxy season: Whirlpool, Pinwheel, Sombrero, the Leo Triplet and the Virgo cluster all transit in the evening. Broadband targets mean the dual-band filter stays off and dark skies pay double. Nights are shortening fast at northern latitudes.

Moon in April 2027: new on 7 Apr, full on 20 Apr. Broadband targets (galaxies, clusters) want the week either side of new; emission nebulae behind a dual-band filter tolerate the rest.

By telescope

April's targets, Seestar S50 baseline

Solid image with a Seestar S50, default 10 s subs, recommended filter. Pick a telescope above for its own figures.
Target	Type	Bortle 4	Bortle 6	Bortle 8
Omega CentauriCentaurus	Globular cluster	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs
Carina NebulaCarina	Emission nebula	8 min46 subs	9 min56 subs	15 min90 subs
M3Canes Venatici	Globular cluster	5 min33 subs	10 min58 subs	24 min144 subs
M5Serpens	Globular cluster	6 min35 subs	10 min61 subs	25 min153 subs
Ghost of JupiterHydra	Planetary nebula	9 min53 subs	10 min62 subs	15 min93 subs
Spindle GalaxyDraco	Galaxy	13 min80 subs	24 min142 subs	59 min354 subs
M94Canes Venatici	Galaxy	15 min90 subs	28 min170 subs	1 h 14 min445 subs
M68Hydra	Globular cluster	17 min100 subs	32 min190 subs	1 h 24 min502 subs
Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices	Galaxy	18 min109 subs	34 min206 subs	1 h 30 min543 subs
M53Coma Berenices	Globular cluster	18 min110 subs	35 min212 subs	1 h 35 min568 subs
Owl NebulaUrsa Major	Planetary nebula	30 min181 subs	38 min228 subs	1 h 05 min390 subs
M66Leo	Galaxy	21 min129 subs	41 min246 subs	1 h 49 min652 subs
Centaurus ACentaurus	Galaxy	21 min125 subs	41 min247 subs	1 h 51 min669 subs
Southern PinwheelHydra	Galaxy	24 min142 subs	47 min281 subs	2 h 07 min761 subs
Sombrero GalaxyVirgo	Galaxy	24 min146 subs	47 min283 subs	2 h 05 min753 subs
M59Virgo	Galaxy	25 min153 subs	48 min289 subs	2 h 06 min758 subs
M65Leo	Galaxy	27 min160 subs	52 min313 subs	2 h 20 min842 subs
Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici	Galaxy	27 min162 subs	55 min328 subs	2 h 30 min899 subs
Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici	Galaxy	29 min177 subs	59 min352 subs	2 h 39 min955 subs
M60Virgo	Galaxy	31 min184 subs	59 min355 subs	2 h 37 min945 subs
M105Leo	Galaxy	31 min186 subs	1 h358 subs	2 h 38 min950 subs
M87Virgo	Galaxy	32 min193 subs	1 h 03 min376 subs	2 h 48 min1,011 subs
M106Canes Venatici	Galaxy	32 min191 subs	1 h 05 min390 subs	2 h 59 min1,077 subs
Needle GalaxyComa Berenices	Galaxy	32 min194 subs	1 h 06 min396 subs	3 h 02 min1,093 subs
M49Virgo	Galaxy	35 min208 subs	1 h 09 min416 subs	3 h 09 min1,132 subs
M84Virgo	Galaxy	40 min243 subs	1 h 19 min477 subs	3 h 34 min1,285 subs
M85Coma Berenices	Galaxy	42 min255 subs	1 h 24 min504 subs	3 h 48 min1,366 subs
M108Ursa Major	Galaxy	43 min258 subs	1 h 26 min518 subs	3 h 56 min1,417 subs
M89Virgo	Galaxy	44 min263 subs	1 h 27 min520 subs	3 h 54 min1,406 subs
M86Virgo	Galaxy	43 min260 subs	1 h 27 min524 subs	3 h 59 min1,436 subs
M96Leo	Galaxy	48 min289 subs	1 h 37 min580 subs	4 h 24 min1,585 subs
Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici	Galaxy	48 min287 subs	1 h 39 min593 subs	4 h 35 min1,651 subs
M88Coma Berenices	Galaxy	55 min328 subs	1 h 50 min659 subs	5 h1,803 subs
Antennae GalaxiesCorvus	Galaxy	59 min357 subs	2 h719 subs	5 h 28 min1,971 subs
M100Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 09 min412 subs	2 h 20 min841 subs	6 h 27 min2,322 subs
Hamburger GalaxyLeo	Galaxy	1 h 11 min426 subs	2 h 31 min904 subs	7 h 06 min2,556 subs
M90Virgo	Galaxy	1 h 13 min437 subs	2 h 32 min910 subs	7 h 04 min2,545 subs
M58Virgo	Galaxy	1 h 16 min458 subs	2 h 36 min938 subs	7 h 13 min2,596 subs
M99Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 22 min491 subs	2 h 48 min1,008 subs	7 h 46 min2,797 subs
M61Virgo	Galaxy	1 h 31 min544 subs	3 h 07 min1,125 subs	8 h 42 min3,131 subs
M95Leo	Galaxy	1 h 41 min604 subs	3 h 30 min1,261 subs	9 h 49 min3,533 subs
M98Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 47 min645 subs	3 h 48 min1,368 subs	11 h3,864 subs
M109Ursa Major	Galaxy	1 h 49 min652 subs	3 h 48 min1,370 subs	11 h3,849 subs
M91Coma Berenices	Galaxy	1 h 50 min663 subs	3 h 51 min1,385 subs	11 h3,881 subs
Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major	Galaxy	2 h 08 min766 subs	4 h 37 min1,661 subs	13 h4,754 subs

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