What to image in April with the ZWO Seestar S30
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 gets a solid image of 18 of them in under an hour each; 27 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 min30 subs |
| M3Canes Venatici | Globular cluster | 6 min36 subs | 10 min61 subs | 24 min147 subs |
| Carina NebulaCarina, dual-band | Emission nebula | 9 min52 subs | 10 min62 subs | 16 min97 subs |
| M5Serpens | Globular cluster | 6 min38 subs | 11 min64 subs | 26 min155 subs |
| Ghost of JupiterHydra, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 10 min59 subs | 11 min68 subs | 16 min99 subs |
| Spindle GalaxyDraco | Galaxy | 14 min86 subs | 25 min148 subs | 1 h360 subs |
| M94Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 16 min98 subs | 30 min178 subs | 1 h 15 min453 subs |
| M68Hydra | Globular cluster | 18 min109 subs | 33 min199 subs | 1 h 25 min511 subs |
| Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 20 min118 subs | 36 min216 subs | 1 h 32 min552 subs |
| M53Coma Berenices | Globular cluster | 20 min120 subs | 37 min223 subs | 1 h 36 min578 subs |
| M66Leo | Galaxy | 23 min141 subs | 43 min258 subs | 1 h 50 min663 subs |
| Owl NebulaUrsa Major, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 35 min212 subs | 43 min258 subs | 1 h 10 min420 subs |
| Centaurus ACentaurus | Galaxy | 23 min136 subs | 43 min259 subs | 1 h 53 min680 subs |
| Southern PinwheelHydra | Galaxy | 26 min156 subs | 49 min295 subs | 2 h 09 min775 subs |
| Sombrero GalaxyVirgo | Galaxy | 27 min160 subs | 49 min296 subs | 2 h 08 min766 subs |
| M59Virgo | Galaxy | 28 min166 subs | 50 min302 subs | 2 h 08 min771 subs |
| M65Leo | Galaxy | 29 min175 subs | 55 min328 subs | 2 h 23 min857 subs |
| Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 30 min179 subs | 57 min344 subs | 2 h 32 min915 subs |
| Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 32 min194 subs | 1 h 01 min369 subs | 2 h 42 min972 subs |
| M60Virgo | Galaxy | 33 min201 subs | 1 h 02 min372 subs | 2 h 40 min961 subs |
| M105Leo | Galaxy | 34 min203 subs | 1 h 02 min374 subs | 2 h 41 min967 subs |
| M87Virgo | Galaxy | 35 min210 subs | 1 h 06 min394 subs | 2 h 51 min1,029 subs |
| M106Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 35 min211 subs | 1 h 08 min410 subs | 3 h 03 min1,096 subs |
| Needle GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 36 min214 subs | 1 h 09 min416 subs | 3 h 05 min1,113 subs |
| M49Virgo | Galaxy | 38 min228 subs | 1 h 13 min436 subs | 3 h 12 min1,153 subs |
| M84Virgo | Galaxy | 44 min266 subs | 1 h 23 min500 subs | 3 h 38 min1,308 subs |
| M85Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 47 min280 subs | 1 h 28 min529 subs | 3 h 52 min1,390 subs |
| M108Ursa Major | Galaxy | 47 min283 subs | 1 h 30 min543 subs | 4 h1,442 subs |
| M89Virgo | Galaxy | 48 min288 subs | 1 h 31 min545 subs | 3 h 58 min1,431 subs |
| M86Virgo | Galaxy | 48 min286 subs | 1 h 32 min550 subs | 4 h 03 min1,461 subs |
| M96Leo | Galaxy | 53 min318 subs | 1 h 41 min608 subs | 4 h 29 min1,613 subs |
| Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 53 min317 subs | 1 h 44 min623 subs | 4 h 40 min1,681 subs |
| M88Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h360 subs | 1 h 55 min691 subs | 5 h 06 min1,835 subs |
| Antennae GalaxiesCorvus | Galaxy | 1 h 05 min392 subs | 2 h 06 min754 subs | 5 h 34 min2,006 subs |
| M100Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 16 min454 subs | 2 h 27 min883 subs | 6 h 34 min2,364 subs |
| Hamburger GalaxyLeo | Galaxy | 1 h 19 min472 subs | 2 h 38 min950 subs | 7 h 14 min2,602 subs |
| M90Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 20 min483 subs | 2 h 39 min957 subs | 7 h 12 min2,591 subs |
| M58Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 24 min505 subs | 2 h 44 min985 subs | 7 h 20 min2,643 subs |
| M99Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 30 min541 subs | 2 h 56 min1,059 subs | 7 h 55 min2,848 subs |
| M61Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 40 min601 subs | 3 h 17 min1,181 subs | 8 h 51 min3,187 subs |
| M95Leo | Galaxy | 1 h 51 min668 subs | 3 h 41 min1,325 subs | 9 h 59 min3,597 subs |
| M98Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 59 min716 subs | 4 h1,438 subs | 11 h3,934 subs |
| M109Ursa Major | Galaxy | 2 h722 subs | 4 h1,440 subs | 11 h3,919 subs |
| M91Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 2 h 02 min734 subs | 4 h 03 min1,456 subs | 11 h3,951 subs |
| Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 22 min853 subs | 4 h 51 min1,748 subs | 13 h4,841 subs |
Other telescopes in April: Seestar S50 · Seestar S50 Pro · Seestar S30 Pro · 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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