What to image in April with the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro
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 Seestar S30 Pro gets a solid image of 16 of them in under an hour each; 29 need longer, or a darker sky, or several nights. Times below use the recommended filter and 10 s subs.
| Target | Type | Bortle 4 | Bortle 6 | Bortle 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omega CentauriCentaurus | Globular cluster | 5 min30 subs | 5 min30 subs | 5 min31 subs |
| Carina NebulaCarina, dual-band | Emission nebula | 9 min55 subs | 11 min66 subs | 17 min105 subs |
| M3Canes Venatici | Globular cluster | 6 min39 subs | 11 min67 subs | 27 min165 subs |
| M5Serpens | Globular cluster | 7 min41 subs | 12 min71 subs | 29 min175 subs |
| Ghost of JupiterHydra, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 10 min63 subs | 12 min73 subs | 18 min108 subs |
| Spindle GalaxyDraco | Galaxy | 16 min94 subs | 27 min164 subs | 1 h 08 min406 subs |
| M94Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 18 min106 subs | 33 min197 subs | 1 h 25 min509 subs |
| M68Hydra | Globular cluster | 20 min118 subs | 37 min220 subs | 1 h 36 min575 subs |
| Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 21 min128 subs | 40 min239 subs | 1 h 44 min622 subs |
| M53Coma Berenices | Globular cluster | 21 min129 subs | 41 min246 subs | 1 h 48 min651 subs |
| Owl NebulaUrsa Major, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 36 min219 subs | 45 min272 subs | 1 h 16 min456 subs |
| M66Leo | Galaxy | 25 min152 subs | 47 min285 subs | 2 h 04 min746 subs |
| Centaurus ACentaurus | Galaxy | 24 min147 subs | 48 min286 subs | 2 h 08 min766 subs |
| Southern PinwheelHydra | Galaxy | 28 min167 subs | 54 min325 subs | 2 h 25 min872 subs |
| Sombrero GalaxyVirgo | Galaxy | 29 min172 subs | 54 min327 subs | 2 h 24 min862 subs |
| M59Virgo | Galaxy | 30 min180 subs | 56 min334 subs | 2 h 25 min868 subs |
| M65Leo | Galaxy | 31 min188 subs | 1 h362 subs | 2 h 41 min964 subs |
| Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 32 min192 subs | 1 h 03 min380 subs | 2 h 51 min1,029 subs |
| Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 35 min209 subs | 1 h 08 min407 subs | 3 h 02 min1,094 subs |
| M60Virgo | Galaxy | 36 min217 subs | 1 h 08 min411 subs | 3 h1,082 subs |
| M105Leo | Galaxy | 36 min219 subs | 1 h 09 min414 subs | 3 h 01 min1,088 subs |
| M87Virgo | Galaxy | 38 min227 subs | 1 h 13 min436 subs | 3 h 13 min1,158 subs |
| M106Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 38 min226 subs | 1 h 15 min452 subs | 3 h 26 min1,234 subs |
| Needle GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 38 min229 subs | 1 h 16 min459 subs | 3 h 29 min1,252 subs |
| M49Virgo | Galaxy | 41 min245 subs | 1 h 20 min481 subs | 3 h 36 min1,297 subs |
| M84Virgo | Galaxy | 48 min286 subs | 1 h 32 min552 subs | 4 h 05 min1,472 subs |
| M85Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 50 min301 subs | 1 h 37 min584 subs | 4 h 21 min1,564 subs |
| M108Ursa Major | Galaxy | 51 min304 subs | 1 h 40 min600 subs | 4 h 30 min1,623 subs |
| M89Virgo | Galaxy | 52 min310 subs | 1 h 40 min602 subs | 4 h 28 min1,610 subs |
| M86Virgo | Galaxy | 51 min307 subs | 1 h 41 min607 subs | 4 h 34 min1,644 subs |
| M96Leo | Galaxy | 57 min341 subs | 1 h 52 min672 subs | 5 h 02 min1,815 subs |
| Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 56 min339 subs | 1 h 55 min688 subs | 5 h 15 min1,891 subs |
| M88Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 04 min386 subs | 2 h 07 min763 subs | 5 h 44 min2,065 subs |
| Antennae GalaxiesCorvus | Galaxy | 1 h 10 min421 subs | 2 h 19 min833 subs | 6 h 16 min2,257 subs |
| M100Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 21 min487 subs | 2 h 42 min974 subs | 7 h 23 min2,660 subs |
| Hamburger GalaxyLeo | Galaxy | 1 h 24 min504 subs | 2 h 55 min1,048 subs | 8 h 08 min2,928 subs |
| M90Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 26 min517 subs | 2 h 56 min1,056 subs | 8 h 06 min2,915 subs |
| M58Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 30 min541 subs | 3 h 01 min1,087 subs | 8 h 16 min2,974 subs |
| M99Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 37 min580 subs | 3 h 15 min1,169 subs | 8 h 54 min3,204 subs |
| M61Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 47 min643 subs | 3 h 37 min1,304 subs | 9 h 58 min3,586 subs |
| M95Leo | Galaxy | 1 h 59 min714 subs | 4 h 04 min1,462 subs | 11 h4,047 subs |
| M98Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 2 h 07 min764 subs | 4 h 24 min1,586 subs | 12 h4,426 subs |
| M109Ursa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 09 min772 subs | 4 h 25 min1,588 subs | 12 h4,409 subs |
| M91Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 2 h 11 min785 subs | 4 h 28 min1,606 subs | 12 h4,445 subs |
| Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 31 min908 subs | 5 h 21 min1,927 subs | 15 h5,446 subs |
Other telescopes in April: Seestar S50 · Seestar S50 Pro · Seestar S30 · DWARF 3 · 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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