Home / Targets Deep-sky targets
172 objects: the full Messier list plus the NGC, IC and Sharpless favourites smart-telescope owners actually shoot. The last column is the time for a solid image with a Seestar S50 from a Bortle 6 suburban sky, the most common combination, using the recommended filter.
Supernova remnants Globular clusters Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 47 Tucanae NGC 104 Tucana Sep, Oct, Nov 5 min M79 NGC 1904 Lepus Nov, Dec, Jan 18 min M68 NGC 4590 Hydra Mar, Apr, May 36 min M53 NGC 5024 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 40 min Omega Centauri NGC 5139 Centaurus Mar, Apr, May 5 min M3 NGC 5272 Canes Venatici Mar, Apr, May 11 min M5 NGC 5904 Serpens Apr, May, Jun 11 min M80 NGC 6093 Scorpius May, Jun, Jul 12 min M4 NGC 6121 Scorpius May, Jun, Jul 1 h 25 min M107 NGC 6171 Ophiuchus May, Jun, Jul 1 h 07 min Hercules Cluster M13 Hercules May, Jun, Jul 8 min M12 NGC 6218 Ophiuchus May, Jun, Jul 16 min M10 NGC 6254 Ophiuchus May, Jun, Jul 31 min M62 NGC 6266 Ophiuchus May, Jun, Jul 9 min M19 NGC 6273 Ophiuchus May, Jun, Jul 48 min M92 NGC 6341 Hercules May, Jun, Jul 7 min M9 NGC 6333 Ophiuchus May, Jun, Jul 38 min M14 NGC 6402 Ophiuchus May, Jun, Jul 26 min M28 NGC 6626 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 7 min M69 NGC 6637 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 8 min M22 NGC 6656 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 14 min M70 NGC 6681 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 18 min M54 NGC 6715 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 32 min M56 NGC 6779 Lyra Jun, Jul, Aug 46 min M55 NGC 6809 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 51 min M71 NGC 6838 Sagitta Jun, Jul, Aug 21 min M75 NGC 6864 Sagittarius Jul, Aug, Sep 21 min M72 NGC 6981 Aquarius Jul, Aug, Sep 1 h 21 min M15 NGC 7078 Pegasus Jul, Aug, Sep 11 min M2 NGC 7089 Aquarius Jul, Aug, Sep 12 min M30 NGC 7099 Capricornus Jul, Aug, Sep 13 min
Open clusters Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 Owl Cluster NGC 457 Cassiopeia Sep, Oct, Nov 5 min M103 NGC 581 Cassiopeia Sep, Oct, Nov 6 min NGC 663 Caldwell 10 Cassiopeia Sep, Oct, Nov 5 min Double Cluster NGC 869 and NGC 884 Perseus Oct, Nov, Dec 5 min M34 NGC 1039 Perseus Oct, Nov, Dec 5 min NGC 1893 IC 410 cluster Auriga Nov, Dec, Jan 5 min M38 NGC 1912 Auriga Nov, Dec, Jan 5 min M36 NGC 1960 Auriga Nov, Dec, Jan 5 min M37 NGC 2099 Auriga Nov, Dec, Jan 5 min M35 NGC 2168 Gemini Dec, Jan, Feb 5 min Rosette Cluster NGC 2244 Monoceros Dec, Jan, Feb 5 min M41 NGC 2287 Canis Major Dec, Jan, Feb 5 min M50 NGC 2323 Monoceros Dec, Jan, Feb 5 min M47 NGC 2422 Puppis Dec, Jan, Feb 5 min M46 NGC 2437 Puppis Dec, Jan, Feb 5 min M93 NGC 2447 Puppis Dec, Jan, Feb 5 min M48 NGC 2548 Hydra Jan, Feb, Mar 5 min Beehive Cluster M44 Cancer Jan, Feb, Mar 5 min M67 NGC 2682 Cancer Jan, Feb, Mar 5 min Butterfly Cluster M6 Scorpius May, Jun, Jul 5 min Ptolemy's Cluster M7 Scorpius May, Jun, Jul 5 min M23 NGC 6494 Sagittarius May, Jun, Jul 5 min M21 NGC 6531 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 5 min M18 NGC 6613 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 5 min M25 IC 4725 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 5 min M26 NGC 6694 Scutum Jun, Jul, Aug 5 min Wild Duck Cluster M11 Scutum Jun, Jul, Aug 5 min M29 NGC 6913 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 6 min NGC 6939 Cep open cluster Cepheus Jul, Aug, Sep 6 min M39 NGC 7092 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 5 min M52 NGC 7654 Cassiopeia Aug, Sep, Oct 5 min Caroline's Rose NGC 7789 Cassiopeia Aug, Sep, Oct 5 min
Emission nebulas Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 Pacman Nebula NGC 281 Cassiopeia Sep, Oct, Nov 2 h 30 min Ghost of Cassiopeia IC 63 Cassiopeia Sep, Oct, Nov 2 h 38 min Heart Nebula IC 1805 Cassiopeia Oct, Nov, Dec 4 h 13 min Soul Nebula IC 1848 Cassiopeia Oct, Nov, Dec 5 h 03 min California Nebula NGC 1499 Perseus Nov, Dec, Jan 2 h 58 min Flaming Star Nebula IC 405 Auriga Nov, Dec, Jan 2 h 30 min Tadpoles Nebula IC 410 Auriga Nov, Dec, Jan 3 h 32 min Orion Nebula M42 Orion Nov, Dec, Jan 17 min De Mairan's Nebula M43 Orion Nov, Dec, Jan 45 min Tarantula Nebula NGC 2070 Dorado Nov, Dec, Jan 45 min Horsehead Nebula IC 434 Orion Nov, Dec, Jan 2 h 58 min Flame Nebula NGC 2024 Orion Nov, Dec, Jan 45 min Monkey Head Nebula NGC 2174 Orion Dec, Jan, Feb 2 h 30 min Rosette Nebula NGC 2237 Monoceros Dec, Jan, Feb 2 h 06 min Cone and Christmas Tree NGC 2264 Monoceros Dec, Jan, Feb 6 h 01 min Thor's Helmet NGC 2359 Canis Major Dec, Jan, Feb 9 h 27 min Carina Nebula NGC 3372 Carina Feb, Mar, Apr 12 min Trifid Nebula M20 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 1 h 03 min Lagoon Nebula M8 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 27 min Eagle Nebula M16 Serpens Jun, Jul, Aug 1 h 29 min Omega Nebula M17 Sagittarius Jun, Jul, Aug 23 min Tulip Nebula Sh2-101 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 3 h 32 min Crescent Nebula NGC 6888 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 4 h 13 min Pelican Nebula IC 5070 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 2 h 58 min North America Nebula NGC 7000 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 2 h 06 min Elephant's Trunk Nebula IC 1396 Cepheus Jul, Aug, Sep 3 h 32 min Cocoon Nebula IC 5146 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 4 h 25 min Wizard Nebula NGC 7380 Cepheus Aug, Sep, Oct 3 h 32 min Cave Nebula Sh2-155 Cepheus Aug, Sep, Oct 6 h 01 min Bubble Nebula NGC 7635 Cassiopeia Aug, Sep, Oct 4 h 13 min
Star clouds Planetary nebulas Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 Bow-Tie Nebula NGC 40 Cepheus Sep, Oct, Nov 28 min Little Dumbbell M76 Perseus Sep, Oct, Nov 44 min Eskimo Nebula NGC 2392 Gemini Dec, Jan, Feb 13 min Ghost of Jupiter NGC 3242 Hydra Feb, Mar, Apr 13 min Owl Nebula M97 Ursa Major Feb, Mar, Apr 52 min Abell 39 PN A66 39 Hercules May, Jun, Jul 33 h Turtle Nebula NGC 6210 Hercules May, Jun, Jul 13 min Cat's Eye Nebula NGC 6543 Draco May, Jun, Jul 13 min Ring Nebula M57 Lyra Jun, Jul, Aug 8 min NGC 6781 Aquila planetary Aquila Jun, Jul, Aug 3 h 58 min Blinking Planetary NGC 6826 Cygnus Jun, Jul, Aug 13 min Dumbbell Nebula M27 Vulpecula Jun, Jul, Aug 27 min Saturn Nebula NGC 7009 Aquarius Jul, Aug, Sep 13 min Helix Nebula NGC 7293 Aquarius Aug, Sep, Oct 2 h 58 min
Galaxys Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 M110 NGC 205 Andromeda Sep, Oct, Nov 4 h 20 min Andromeda Galaxy M31 Andromeda Sep, Oct, Nov 1 h 40 min M32 NGC 221 Andromeda Sep, Oct, Nov 23 min Sculptor Galaxy NGC 253 Sculptor Sep, Oct, Nov 33 min Triangulum Galaxy M33 Triangulum Sep, Oct, Nov 3 h 06 min M74 NGC 628 Pisces Sep, Oct, Nov 6 h 19 min NGC 891 Caldwell 23 Andromeda Oct, Nov, Dec 3 h 08 min M77 NGC 1068 Cetus Oct, Nov, Dec 34 min NGC 2403 Caldwell 7 Camelopardalis Dec, Jan, Feb 3 h 42 min NGC 2903 UGC 5079 Leo Jan, Feb, Mar 2 h 42 min Bode's Galaxy M81 Ursa Major Jan, Feb, Mar 1 h 13 min Cigar Galaxy M82 Ursa Major Jan, Feb, Mar 39 min M95 NGC 3351 Leo Feb, Mar, Apr 4 h M96 NGC 3368 Leo Feb, Mar, Apr 1 h 50 min M105 NGC 3379 Leo Feb, Mar, Apr 1 h 07 min M108 NGC 3556 Ursa Major Feb, Mar, Apr 1 h 38 min M65 NGC 3623 Leo Feb, Mar, Apr 59 min M66 NGC 3627 Leo Feb, Mar, Apr 46 min Hamburger Galaxy NGC 3628 Leo Feb, Mar, Apr 2 h 53 min M109 NGC 3992 Ursa Major Feb, Mar, Apr 4 h 21 min Antennae Galaxies NGC 4038 and NGC 4039 Corvus Mar, Apr, May 2 h 16 min M98 NGC 4192 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 4 h 21 min M99 NGC 4254 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 3 h 12 min M106 NGC 4258 Canes Venatici Mar, Apr, May 1 h 14 min M61 NGC 4303 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 3 h 34 min M100 NGC 4321 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 2 h 40 min M84 NGC 4374 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 1 h 30 min M85 NGC 4382 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 1 h 35 min M86 NGC 4406 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 1 h 39 min M49 NGC 4472 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 1 h 19 min M87 NGC 4486 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 1 h 11 min M88 NGC 4501 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 2 h 05 min M91 NGC 4548 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 4 h 24 min M89 NGC 4552 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 1 h 38 min Needle Galaxy NGC 4565 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 1 h 15 min M90 NGC 4569 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 2 h 53 min M58 NGC 4579 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 2 h 58 min Sombrero Galaxy M104 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 53 min M59 NGC 4621 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 54 min Whale Galaxy NGC 4631 Canes Venatici Mar, Apr, May 1 h 02 min M60 NGC 4649 Virgo Mar, Apr, May 1 h 07 min M94 NGC 4736 Canes Venatici Mar, Apr, May 32 min Black Eye Galaxy M64 Coma Berenices Mar, Apr, May 39 min Sunflower Galaxy M63 Canes Venatici Mar, Apr, May 1 h 53 min Centaurus A NGC 5128 Centaurus Mar, Apr, May 47 min Whirlpool Galaxy M51 Canes Venatici Mar, Apr, May 1 h 07 min Southern Pinwheel M83 Hydra Mar, Apr, May 53 min Pinwheel Galaxy M101 Ursa Major Apr, May, Jun 5 h 18 min Spindle Galaxy M102 Draco Apr, May, Jun 26 min Fireworks Galaxy NGC 6946 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 6 h 02 min NGC 7331 Caldwell 30 Pegasus Aug, Sep, Oct 2 h 25 min
Double stars Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 Winnecke 4 M40 Ursa Major Mar, Apr, May —
Reflection nebulas Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 NGC 1333 Perseus Molecular Cloud Perseus Oct, Nov, Dec 6 h 58 min Pleiades M45 Taurus Oct, Nov, Dec 3 h 06 min Witch Head Nebula IC 2118 Eridanus Nov, Dec, Jan 47 h Running Man Nebula NGC 1977 Orion Nov, Dec, Jan 1 h 16 min M78 NGC 2068 Orion Nov, Dec, Jan 1 h 11 min NGC 6914 vdB 131/132 Cygnus Jul, Aug, Sep 6 h 58 min Iris Nebula NGC 7023 Cepheus Jul, Aug, Sep 2 h 10 min
Asterisms Target Catalogue Constellation Best months S50 · Bortle 6 M73 NGC 6994 Aquarius Jul, Aug, Sep —