What to image in April with the DwarfLab DWARF mini
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 mini gets a solid image of 21 of them in under an hour each; 24 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 | 8 min30 subs | 9 min37 subs | 15 min60 subs |
| M3Canes Venatici | Globular cluster | 8 min30 subs | 10 min39 subs | 24 min96 subs |
| M5Serpens | Globular cluster | 8 min30 subs | 10 min41 subs | 25 min102 subs |
| Ghost of JupiterHydra, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 9 min35 subs | 10 min41 subs | 15 min62 subs |
| Spindle GalaxyDraco | Galaxy | 13 min53 subs | 23 min94 subs | 59 min236 subs |
| M94Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 15 min60 subs | 28 min113 subs | 1 h 14 min296 subs |
| M68Hydra | Globular cluster | 17 min67 subs | 32 min127 subs | 1 h 23 min334 subs |
| Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 18 min72 subs | 34 min137 subs | 1 h 30 min361 subs |
| M53Coma Berenices | Globular cluster | 18 min73 subs | 35 min141 subs | 1 h 34 min378 subs |
| Owl NebulaUrsa Major, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 30 min119 subs | 37 min150 subs | 1 h 04 min258 subs |
| M66Leo | Galaxy | 21 min86 subs | 41 min164 subs | 1 h 48 min434 subs |
| Centaurus ACentaurus | Galaxy | 20 min82 subs | 41 min164 subs | 1 h 51 min445 subs |
| Southern PinwheelHydra | Galaxy | 23 min94 subs | 47 min187 subs | 2 h 07 min507 subs |
| Sombrero GalaxyVirgo | Galaxy | 24 min97 subs | 47 min188 subs | 2 h 05 min501 subs |
| M59Virgo | Galaxy | 25 min101 subs | 48 min192 subs | 2 h 06 min505 subs |
| M65Leo | Galaxy | 26 min106 subs | 52 min208 subs | 2 h 20 min561 subs |
| Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 27 min107 subs | 54 min218 subs | 2 h 29 min598 subs |
| Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 29 min117 subs | 58 min234 subs | 2 h 39 min636 subs |
| M60Virgo | Galaxy | 30 min122 subs | 59 min236 subs | 2 h 37 min629 subs |
| M105Leo | Galaxy | 31 min123 subs | 59 min238 subs | 2 h 38 min633 subs |
| M87Virgo | Galaxy | 32 min127 subs | 1 h 02 min250 subs | 2 h 48 min673 subs |
| M106Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 32 min127 subs | 1 h 05 min259 subs | 2 h 59 min717 subs |
| Needle GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 32 min128 subs | 1 h 06 min263 subs | 3 h 02 min728 subs |
| M49Virgo | Galaxy | 34 min138 subs | 1 h 09 min276 subs | 3 h 08 min754 subs |
| M84Virgo | Galaxy | 40 min161 subs | 1 h 19 min317 subs | 3 h 34 min856 subs |
| M85Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 42 min169 subs | 1 h 24 min335 subs | 3 h 47 min909 subs |
| M108Ursa Major | Galaxy | 43 min171 subs | 1 h 26 min344 subs | 3 h 56 min943 subs |
| M89Virgo | Galaxy | 43 min174 subs | 1 h 26 min345 subs | 3 h 54 min936 subs |
| M86Virgo | Galaxy | 43 min172 subs | 1 h 27 min348 subs | 3 h 59 min956 subs |
| M96Leo | Galaxy | 48 min191 subs | 1 h 36 min385 subs | 4 h 24 min1,055 subs |
| Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 47 min190 subs | 1 h 38 min394 subs | 4 h 35 min1,099 subs |
| M88Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 54 min217 subs | 1 h 49 min437 subs | 5 h1,200 subs |
| Antennae GalaxiesCorvus | Galaxy | 59 min236 subs | 1 h 59 min477 subs | 5 h 28 min1,312 subs |
| M100Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 08 min272 subs | 2 h 19 min558 subs | 6 h 26 min1,546 subs |
| Hamburger GalaxyLeo | Galaxy | 1 h 10 min281 subs | 2 h 30 min600 subs | 7 h 05 min1,701 subs |
| M90Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 12 min289 subs | 2 h 31 min604 subs | 7 h 03 min1,694 subs |
| M58Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 16 min303 subs | 2 h 36 min623 subs | 7 h 12 min1,728 subs |
| M99Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 21 min324 subs | 2 h 47 min669 subs | 7 h 45 min1,862 subs |
| M61Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 30 min359 subs | 3 h 07 min747 subs | 8 h 41 min2,084 subs |
| M95Leo | Galaxy | 1 h 40 min399 subs | 3 h 29 min837 subs | 9 h 48 min2,352 subs |
| M98Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 46 min426 subs | 3 h 47 min908 subs | 11 h2,572 subs |
| M109Ursa Major | Galaxy | 1 h 48 min431 subs | 3 h 47 min909 subs | 11 h2,562 subs |
| M91Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 49 min438 subs | 3 h 50 min920 subs | 11 h2,583 subs |
| Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 06 min505 subs | 4 h 35 min1,102 subs | 13 h3,164 subs |
Other telescopes in April: Seestar S50 · Seestar S50 Pro · Seestar S30 · Seestar S30 Pro · DWARF 3 · Draco · DWARF II · Vespera II · Vespera Pro · Vespera 3 · Vespera Pro 2 · eQuinox 2 · Odyssey · Origin · Origin Mark II
Previous: March · Next: May · Tonight with the DWARF mini
Where to buy the DWARF miniDwarfLab store UKDwarfLab store USAmazon product UKAmazon product USThe DwarfLab store link is a plain link; the others are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you. Search links may include other models; check the exact variant and package.