What to image in April with the ZWO Seestar S50 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 S50 Pro 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 |
| Carina NebulaCarina, dual-band | Emission nebula | 8 min51 subs | 10 min62 subs | 16 min99 subs |
| M3Canes Venatici | Globular cluster | 6 min37 subs | 11 min64 subs | 26 min157 subs |
| M5Serpens | Globular cluster | 6 min39 subs | 11 min67 subs | 28 min166 subs |
| Ghost of JupiterHydra, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 10 min59 subs | 11 min69 subs | 17 min102 subs |
| Spindle GalaxyDraco | Galaxy | 15 min88 subs | 26 min155 subs | 1 h 04 min385 subs |
| M94Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 17 min100 subs | 31 min186 subs | 1 h 20 min483 subs |
| M68Hydra | Globular cluster | 18 min111 subs | 35 min208 subs | 1 h 31 min545 subs |
| Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 20 min120 subs | 37 min225 subs | 1 h 38 min589 subs |
| M53Coma Berenices | Globular cluster | 20 min121 subs | 39 min232 subs | 1 h 43 min617 subs |
| Owl NebulaUrsa Major, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 34 min203 subs | 42 min254 subs | 1 h 11 min429 subs |
| M66Leo | Galaxy | 24 min142 subs | 45 min269 subs | 1 h 58 min707 subs |
| Centaurus ACentaurus | Galaxy | 23 min138 subs | 45 min270 subs | 2 h 01 min726 subs |
| Southern PinwheelHydra | Galaxy | 26 min157 subs | 51 min307 subs | 2 h 18 min827 subs |
| Sombrero GalaxyVirgo | Galaxy | 27 min162 subs | 51 min309 subs | 2 h 16 min817 subs |
| M59Virgo | Galaxy | 28 min169 subs | 53 min316 subs | 2 h 17 min823 subs |
| M65Leo | Galaxy | 29 min176 subs | 57 min342 subs | 2 h 32 min914 subs |
| Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 30 min180 subs | 1 h358 subs | 2 h 43 min976 subs |
| Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 32 min195 subs | 1 h 04 min384 subs | 2 h 53 min1,037 subs |
| M60Virgo | Galaxy | 34 min203 subs | 1 h 05 min388 subs | 2 h 51 min1,026 subs |
| M105Leo | Galaxy | 34 min206 subs | 1 h 05 min391 subs | 2 h 52 min1,032 subs |
| M87Virgo | Galaxy | 35 min213 subs | 1 h 08 min411 subs | 3 h 03 min1,098 subs |
| M106Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 35 min212 subs | 1 h 11 min427 subs | 3 h 15 min1,170 subs |
| Needle GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 36 min215 subs | 1 h 12 min433 subs | 3 h 18 min1,187 subs |
| M49Virgo | Galaxy | 38 min230 subs | 1 h 16 min454 subs | 3 h 25 min1,230 subs |
| M84Virgo | Galaxy | 45 min268 subs | 1 h 27 min521 subs | 3 h 53 min1,396 subs |
| M85Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 47 min282 subs | 1 h 32 min551 subs | 4 h 07 min1,483 subs |
| M108Ursa Major | Galaxy | 47 min285 subs | 1 h 34 min566 subs | 4 h 16 min1,539 subs |
| M89Virgo | Galaxy | 48 min291 subs | 1 h 35 min568 subs | 4 h 14 min1,526 subs |
| M86Virgo | Galaxy | 48 min288 subs | 1 h 35 min573 subs | 4 h 20 min1,559 subs |
| M96Leo | Galaxy | 53 min320 subs | 1 h 46 min634 subs | 4 h 47 min1,721 subs |
| Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 53 min318 subs | 1 h 48 min649 subs | 4 h 59 min1,793 subs |
| M88Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h362 subs | 2 h720 subs | 5 h 26 min1,958 subs |
| Antennae GalaxiesCorvus | Galaxy | 1 h 06 min394 subs | 2 h 11 min786 subs | 5 h 57 min2,140 subs |
| M100Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 16 min456 subs | 2 h 33 min919 subs | 7 h2,522 subs |
| Hamburger GalaxyLeo | Galaxy | 1 h 19 min472 subs | 2 h 45 min989 subs | 7 h 42 min2,775 subs |
| M90Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 21 min484 subs | 2 h 46 min996 subs | 7 h 41 min2,764 subs |
| M58Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 24 min507 subs | 2 h 51 min1,026 subs | 7 h 50 min2,819 subs |
| M99Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 30 min543 subs | 3 h 04 min1,103 subs | 8 h 26 min3,038 subs |
| M61Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 40 min602 subs | 3 h 25 min1,230 subs | 9 h 27 min3,400 subs |
| M95Leo | Galaxy | 1 h 51 min668 subs | 3 h 50 min1,379 subs | 11 h3,837 subs |
| M98Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 59 min715 subs | 4 h 09 min1,496 subs | 12 h4,196 subs |
| M109Ursa Major | Galaxy | 2 h722 subs | 4 h 10 min1,498 subs | 12 h4,180 subs |
| M91Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 2 h 02 min734 subs | 4 h 12 min1,515 subs | 12 h4,214 subs |
| Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 21 min849 subs | 5 h 03 min1,817 subs | 14 h5,163 subs |
Other telescopes in April: Seestar S50 · Seestar S30 · 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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