What to image in April with the ZWO Seestar S50
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 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 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 min46 subs | 9 min56 subs | 15 min90 subs |
| M3Canes Venatici | Globular cluster | 5 min33 subs | 10 min58 subs | 24 min144 subs |
| M5Serpens | Globular cluster | 6 min35 subs | 10 min61 subs | 25 min153 subs |
| Ghost of JupiterHydra, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 9 min53 subs | 10 min62 subs | 15 min93 subs |
| Spindle GalaxyDraco | Galaxy | 13 min80 subs | 24 min142 subs | 59 min354 subs |
| M94Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 15 min90 subs | 28 min170 subs | 1 h 14 min445 subs |
| M68Hydra | Globular cluster | 17 min100 subs | 32 min190 subs | 1 h 24 min502 subs |
| Black Eye GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 18 min109 subs | 34 min206 subs | 1 h 30 min543 subs |
| M53Coma Berenices | Globular cluster | 18 min110 subs | 35 min212 subs | 1 h 35 min568 subs |
| Owl NebulaUrsa Major, dual-band | Planetary nebula | 30 min181 subs | 38 min228 subs | 1 h 05 min390 subs |
| M66Leo | Galaxy | 21 min129 subs | 41 min246 subs | 1 h 49 min652 subs |
| Centaurus ACentaurus | Galaxy | 21 min125 subs | 41 min247 subs | 1 h 51 min669 subs |
| Southern PinwheelHydra | Galaxy | 24 min142 subs | 47 min281 subs | 2 h 07 min761 subs |
| Sombrero GalaxyVirgo | Galaxy | 24 min146 subs | 47 min283 subs | 2 h 05 min753 subs |
| M59Virgo | Galaxy | 25 min153 subs | 48 min289 subs | 2 h 06 min758 subs |
| M65Leo | Galaxy | 27 min160 subs | 52 min313 subs | 2 h 20 min842 subs |
| Whale GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 27 min162 subs | 55 min328 subs | 2 h 30 min899 subs |
| Whirlpool GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 29 min177 subs | 59 min352 subs | 2 h 39 min955 subs |
| M60Virgo | Galaxy | 31 min184 subs | 59 min355 subs | 2 h 37 min945 subs |
| M105Leo | Galaxy | 31 min186 subs | 1 h358 subs | 2 h 38 min950 subs |
| M87Virgo | Galaxy | 32 min193 subs | 1 h 03 min376 subs | 2 h 48 min1,011 subs |
| M106Canes Venatici | Galaxy | 32 min191 subs | 1 h 05 min390 subs | 2 h 59 min1,077 subs |
| Needle GalaxyComa Berenices | Galaxy | 32 min194 subs | 1 h 06 min396 subs | 3 h 02 min1,093 subs |
| M49Virgo | Galaxy | 35 min208 subs | 1 h 09 min416 subs | 3 h 09 min1,132 subs |
| M84Virgo | Galaxy | 40 min243 subs | 1 h 19 min477 subs | 3 h 34 min1,285 subs |
| M85Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 42 min255 subs | 1 h 24 min504 subs | 3 h 48 min1,366 subs |
| M108Ursa Major | Galaxy | 43 min258 subs | 1 h 26 min518 subs | 3 h 56 min1,417 subs |
| M89Virgo | Galaxy | 44 min263 subs | 1 h 27 min520 subs | 3 h 54 min1,406 subs |
| M86Virgo | Galaxy | 43 min260 subs | 1 h 27 min524 subs | 3 h 59 min1,436 subs |
| M96Leo | Galaxy | 48 min289 subs | 1 h 37 min580 subs | 4 h 24 min1,585 subs |
| Sunflower GalaxyCanes Venatici | Galaxy | 48 min287 subs | 1 h 39 min593 subs | 4 h 35 min1,651 subs |
| M88Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 55 min328 subs | 1 h 50 min659 subs | 5 h1,803 subs |
| Antennae GalaxiesCorvus | Galaxy | 59 min357 subs | 2 h719 subs | 5 h 28 min1,971 subs |
| M100Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 09 min412 subs | 2 h 20 min841 subs | 6 h 27 min2,322 subs |
| Hamburger GalaxyLeo | Galaxy | 1 h 11 min426 subs | 2 h 31 min904 subs | 7 h 06 min2,556 subs |
| M90Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 13 min437 subs | 2 h 32 min910 subs | 7 h 04 min2,545 subs |
| M58Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 16 min458 subs | 2 h 36 min938 subs | 7 h 13 min2,596 subs |
| M99Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 22 min491 subs | 2 h 48 min1,008 subs | 7 h 46 min2,797 subs |
| M61Virgo | Galaxy | 1 h 31 min544 subs | 3 h 07 min1,125 subs | 8 h 42 min3,131 subs |
| M95Leo | Galaxy | 1 h 41 min604 subs | 3 h 30 min1,261 subs | 9 h 49 min3,533 subs |
| M98Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 47 min645 subs | 3 h 48 min1,368 subs | 11 h3,864 subs |
| M109Ursa Major | Galaxy | 1 h 49 min652 subs | 3 h 48 min1,370 subs | 11 h3,849 subs |
| M91Coma Berenices | Galaxy | 1 h 50 min663 subs | 3 h 51 min1,385 subs | 11 h3,881 subs |
| Pinwheel GalaxyUrsa Major | Galaxy | 2 h 08 min766 subs | 4 h 37 min1,661 subs | 13 h4,754 subs |
Other telescopes in April: Seestar S50 Pro · 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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