What to image in April with the DwarfLab DWARF 3
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.
45 targets transit near midnight in April. From a suburban sky the DWARF 3 gets a solid image of 13 of them in under an hour each; 32 need longer, or a darker sky, or several nights. Times below use the recommended filter and 15 s subs.
| Target | Type | Bortle 4 | Bortle 6 | Bortle 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omega CentauriCentaurus | Globular cluster | 8 min30 subs | 8 min30 subs | 8 min30 subs |
| Carina NebulaCarina, dual-band | Emission nebula | 10 min40 subs | 12 min50 subs | 21 min85 subs |
| Ghost of JupiterHydra, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 12 min48 subs | 14 min57 subs | 22 min89 subs |
| M3Canes Venatici | Globular cluster | 8 min32 subs | 14 min57 subs | 36 min146 subs |
| M5Serpens | Globular cluster | 8 min33 subs | 15 min60 subs | 38 min154 subs |
| Spindle GalaxyDraco | Galaxy | 19 min76 subs | 35 min139 subs | 1 h 29 min357 subs |
| M94Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 21 min84 subs | 41 min166 subs | 1 h 52 min449 subs |
| M68Hydra | Globular cluster | 23 min93 subs | 46 min185 subs | 2 h 06 min506 subs |
| Owl NebulaUrsa Major, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 37 min150 subs | 49 min198 subs | 1 h 31 min364 subs |
| Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 25 min100 subs | 50 min201 subs | 2 h 17 min547 subs |
| M53Coma Berenices | Globular cluster | 25 min101 subs | 52 min207 subs | 2 h 23 min573 subs |
| Centaurus ACentaurus | Galaxy | 28 min114 subs | 1 h239 subs | 2 h 48 min674 subs |
| M66Leo | Galaxy | 30 min119 subs | 1 h240 subs | 2 h 44 min657 subs |
| Southern PinwheelHydra | Galaxy | 32 min130 subs | 1 h 08 min273 subs | 3 h 12 min768 subs |
| Sombrero GalaxyVirgo | Galaxy | 34 min135 subs | 1 h 09 min275 subs | 3 h 10 min759 subs |
| M59Virgo | Galaxy | 35 min142 subs | 1 h 10 min281 subs | 3 h 11 min765 subs |
| M65Leo | Galaxy | 36 min146 subs | 1 h 16 min304 subs | 3 h 32 min849 subs |
| Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 37 min148 subs | 1 h 19 min318 subs | 3 h 46 min906 subs |
| Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 40 min161 subs | 1 h 25 min341 subs | 4 h 01 min963 subs |
| M60Virgo | Galaxy | 42 min170 subs | 1 h 26 min345 subs | 3 h 58 min953 subs |
| M105Leo | Galaxy | 43 min172 subs | 1 h 27 min348 subs | 3 h 59 min958 subs |
| M87Virgo | Galaxy | 44 min177 subs | 1 h 31 min366 subs | 4 h 15 min1,019 subs |
| M106Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 43 min174 subs | 1 h 34 min378 subs | 4 h 31 min1,086 subs |
| Needle GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 44 min176 subs | 1 h 36 min384 subs | 4 h 35 min1,102 subs |
| M49Virgo | Galaxy | 47 min190 subs | 1 h 41 min403 subs | 4 h 45 min1,142 subs |
| M84Virgo | Galaxy | 56 min223 subs | 1 h 56 min464 subs | 5 h 24 min1,296 subs |
| M85Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 58 min233 subs | 2 h 02 min490 subs | 5 h 44 min1,377 subs |
| M108Ursa Major | Galaxy | 59 min235 subs | 2 h 06 min503 subs | 5 h 57 min1,428 subs |
| M89Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h241 subs | 2 h 06 min505 subs | 5 h 54 min1,417 subs |
| M86Virgo | Galaxy | 59 min237 subs | 2 h 07 min508 subs | 6 h 02 min1,447 subs |
| M96Leo | Galaxy | 1 h 06 min263 subs | 2 h 21 min563 subs | 6 h 39 min1,598 subs |
| Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 1 h 05 min259 subs | 2 h 24 min575 subs | 6 h 56 min1,664 subs |
| M88Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 14 min298 subs | 2 h 40 min639 subs | 7 h 34 min1,817 subs |
| Antennae GalaxiesCorvus | Galaxy | 1 h 21 min324 subs | 2 h 54 min697 subs | 8 h 16 min1,986 subs |
| M100Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 33 min374 subs | 3 h 24 min815 subs | 9 h 45 min2,341 subs |
| Hamburger GalaxyLeo | Galaxy | 1 h 35 min382 subs | 3 h 38 min874 subs | 11 h2,575 subs |
| M90Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 38 min394 subs | 3 h 40 min881 subs | 11 h2,565 subs |
| M58Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 44 min415 subs | 3 h 47 min909 subs | 11 h2,617 subs |
| M99Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 51 min444 subs | 4 h 04 min977 subs | 12 h2,819 subs |
| M61Virgo | Galaxy | 2 h 03 min491 subs | 4 h 32 min1,089 subs | 13 h3,155 subs |
| M95Leo | Galaxy | 2 h 16 min544 subs | 5 h 05 min1,221 subs | 15 h3,561 subs |
| M98Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 2 h 25 min579 subs | 5 h 31 min1,323 subs | 16 h3,893 subs |
| M109Ursa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 27 min587 subs | 5 h 31 min1,325 subs | 16 h3,878 subs |
| M91Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 2 h 29 min598 subs | 5 h 35 min1,341 subs | 16 h3,911 subs |
| Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 50 min682 subs | 6 h 41 min1,604 subs | 20 h4,789 subs |
Other telescopes in April: Seestar S50 · Seestar S50 Pro · Seestar S30 · Seestar S30 Pro · DWARF mini · Draco · DWARF II · Vespera II · Vespera Pro · Vespera 3 · Vespera Pro 2 · eQuinox 2 · Odyssey · Origin · Origin Mark II
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