How Many Subs

What to image in September

Cygnus overhead, Andromeda rising in the east and Pegasus behind it. The North America and Veil pages are the busiest on the site this month for a reason; the dual-band filter and 30 to 60 s subs make them possible from a suburban garden.

Moon in September 2027: new on 30 Sep, full on 15 Sep. Broadband targets (galaxies, clusters) want the week either side of new; emission nebulae behind a dual-band filter tolerate the rest.

By telescope

September's targets, Seestar S50 baseline

Solid image with a Seestar S50, default 10 s subs, recommended filter. Pick a telescope above for its own figures.
TargetTypeBortle 4Bortle 6Bortle 8
M39CygnusOpen cluster5 min30 subs5 min30 subs6 min34 subs
M52CassiopeiaOpen cluster5 min30 subs5 min30 subs6 min39 subs
47 TucanaeTucanaGlobular cluster5 min30 subs5 min30 subs5 min30 subs
Owl ClusterCassiopeiaOpen cluster5 min30 subs5 min30 subs6 min39 subs
NGC 663CassiopeiaOpen cluster5 min30 subs5 min30 subs6 min34 subs
Caroline's RoseCassiopeiaOpen cluster5 min30 subs5 min30 subs6 min34 subs
M29CygnusOpen cluster5 min30 subs6 min34 subs12 min72 subs
NGC 6939CepheusOpen cluster5 min30 subs6 min34 subs12 min72 subs
M103CassiopeiaOpen cluster5 min30 subs6 min35 subs12 min75 subs
M15PegasusGlobular cluster5 min33 subs10 min58 subs24 min144 subs
Saturn NebulaAquariusPlanetary nebula9 min53 subs10 min62 subs15 min93 subs
M2AquariusGlobular cluster6 min36 subs10 min63 subs26 min156 subs
M30CapricornusGlobular cluster7 min41 subs12 min71 subs29 min174 subs
M75SagittariusGlobular cluster11 min66 subs19 min114 subs46 min279 subs
M32AndromedaGalaxy12 min70 subs20 min123 subs51 min309 subs
Bow-Tie NebulaCepheusPlanetary nebula17 min103 subs21 min125 subs34 min203 subs
Sculptor GalaxySculptorGalaxy15 min91 subs29 min175 subs1 h 18 min468 subs
Little DumbbellPerseusPlanetary nebula26 min157 subs33 min196 subs55 min330 subs
M72AquariusGlobular cluster37 min220 subs1 h 11 min429 subs3 h 12 min1,150 subs
Eastern Veil NebulaCygnusSupernova remnant58 min351 subs1 h 18 min471 subs2 h 27 min884 subs
North America NebulaCygnusEmission nebula1 h 03 min381 subs1 h 25 min512 subs2 h 41 min965 subs
Andromeda GalaxyAndromedaGalaxy42 min254 subs1 h 27 min525 subs4 h 04 min1,465 subs
Western Veil NebulaCygnusSupernova remnant1 h 09 min414 subs1 h 33 min557 subs2 h 56 min1,054 subs
Pacman NebulaCassiopeiaEmission nebula1 h 15 min449 subs1 h 41 min607 subs3 h 12 min1,152 subs
Ghost of CassiopeiaCassiopeiaEmission nebula1 h 21 min485 subs1 h 48 min649 subs3 h 22 min1,214 subs
Iris NebulaCepheusReflection nebula54 min325 subs1 h 53 min681 subs5 h 19 min1,913 subs
Pelican NebulaCygnusEmission nebula1 h 28 min530 subs2 h720 subs3 h 49 min1,375 subs
Helix NebulaAquariusPlanetary nebula1 h 28 min530 subs2 h720 subs3 h 49 min1,375 subs
NGC 7331PegasusGalaxy1 h 01 min368 subs2 h 07 min762 subs5 h 53 min2,121 subs
Elephant's Trunk NebulaCepheusEmission nebula1 h 44 min627 subs2 h 22 min855 subs4 h 34 min1,642 subs
Wizard NebulaCepheusEmission nebula1 h 44 min627 subs2 h 22 min855 subs4 h 34 min1,642 subs
Tulip NebulaCygnusEmission nebula1 h 44 min627 subs2 h 22 min855 subs4 h 34 min1,642 subs
Triangulum GalaxyTriangulumGalaxy1 h 16 min456 subs2 h 42 min971 subs7 h 38 min2,751 subs
Crescent NebulaCygnusEmission nebula2 h 04 min742 subs2 h 49 min1,016 subs5 h 27 min1,963 subs
Bubble NebulaCassiopeiaEmission nebula2 h 04 min742 subs2 h 49 min1,016 subs5 h 27 min1,963 subs
Cocoon NebulaCygnusEmission nebula2 h 10 min783 subs2 h 58 min1,068 subs5 h 42 min2,053 subs
M110AndromedaGalaxy1 h 45 min631 subs3 h 46 min1,359 subs11 h3,875 subs
Cave NebulaCepheusEmission nebula2 h 54 min1,043 subs4 h1,439 subs7 h 48 min2,807 subs
Fireworks GalaxyCygnusGalaxy2 h 26 min878 subs5 h 15 min1,893 subs15 h5,401 subs
M74PiscesGalaxy2 h 33 min921 subs5 h 30 min1,983 subs16 h5,654 subs
NGC 6914CygnusReflection nebula2 h 51 min1,026 subs6 h 04 min2,185 subs17 h6,190 subs

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