How Many Subs

DwarfLab Draco: how long to image deep-sky targets

DwarfLab’s big scope: 90 mm of folded f/3.8 optics, the most aperture of any Seestar or DWARF, a narrow 13 nm dual-band filter and 300 s subs with built-in guiding. A small-target scope; big nebulae need its mosaic mode.

SpecValue
Aperture90 mm
Focal length340 mm (f/3.8)
Sensor1/1.3″ 50 MP, 2 × 2 binned (DwarfLab does not name it), 4096 × 3072, 2.4 µm pixels
Pixel scale1.46″ per pixel
Field of view1.66° × 1.24° (99′ × 75′)
Sub exposures30 s, 60 s, 120 s, 300 s (default 30 s)
FiltersBuilt-in Hα + OIII dual-narrowband filter, 13 nm per line; the SHO Edition adds an SII option. What the names mean.
In the calculator“No filter” is the No filter position; “dual-band” is the built-in dual-narrowband (Hα + OIII).
Read noise used1.8 e⁻
Where to buy the DracoDwarfLab store UKDwarfLab store USAmazon UKAmazon USThe DwarfLab store link is a plain link; the others are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Editions, price and delivery

Launched 9 Sep 2026 on pre-order. DwarfLab’s UK and US stores show the Standard Edition sold out and the SHO Edition on pre-order, both estimated to ship within three months of the order date.

EditionPriceFilters
Standard£1,299 / $1,399Astro, dark-frame and Hα + OIII dual-narrowband; built-in ND filter for the Sun
SHO£1,449 / $1,599As the Standard, plus a built-in SII + OIII dual-narrowband filter, so it captures SII, Hα and OIII and combines them into a Hubble-palette image; the ND filter for the Sun is external and in the box

In the box: Aluminium tripod, protective carrying case, USB-C cable and a cleaning cloth. Weight: 5.5 kg body, by DwarfLab’s figure.

What needs mosaic mode

A single frame is 1.66° × 1.24°. DwarfLab says mosaic mode stretches it up to 1.8× each way, which makes about 3.0° × 2.2°. Of the 170 targets on this site, 10 are wider than one frame.

These fit once mosaic mode is on:

These are bigger than even the full mosaic, so you frame the part you want:

A mosaic takes several panels, so each target costs roughly that many times the integration shown on its page.

From DwarfLab’s store, checked 25 Sep 2026. Not yet published: the sensor model and the charging input.

Weighing it against the others? The buying guide puts every scope on one table.

Popular targets

Total integration for a solid image, 30 s subs, recommended filter.
TargetBortle 4Bortle 6Bortle 8
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy34 min69 subs1 h 12 min144 subs3 h 22 min405 subs
Orion NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band15 min30 subs15 min30 subs17 min34 subs
PleiadesReflection nebula1 h 01 min123 subs2 h 13 min266 subs6 h 20 min761 subs
Whirlpool GalaxyGalaxy24 min48 subs48 min97 subs2 h 12 min264 subs
Bode's GalaxyGalaxy25 min51 subs52 min105 subs2 h 26 min292 subs
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy1 h 43 min206 subs3 h 47 min454 subs11 h1,314 subs
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster15 min30 subs15 min30 subs15 min30 subs
Dumbbell NebulaPlanetary nebula, dual-band15 min30 subs16 min33 subs27 min54 subs
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula, dual-band15 min30 subs15 min30 subs15 min30 subs
Lagoon NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band15 min30 subs16 min32 subs28 min56 subs
Eagle NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band36 min72 subs48 min97 subs1 h 32 min184 subs
Omega NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band15 min30 subs18 min37 subs32 min64 subs
Trifid NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band26 min53 subs35 min70 subs1 h 05 min130 subs
Triangulum GalaxyGalaxy1 h 01 min123 subs2 h 13 min266 subs6 h 20 min761 subs
North America NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band49 min99 subs1 h 08 min136 subs2 h 10 min261 subs
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant, dual-band53 min107 subs1 h 13 min147 subs2 h 22 min285 subs
Eastern Veil NebulaSupernova remnant, dual-band45 min91 subs1 h 02 min125 subs1 h 59 min239 subs
Elephant's Trunk NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band1 h 21 min162 subs1 h 52 min225 subs3 h 42 min444 subs
Iris NebulaReflection nebula44 min88 subs1 h 33 min187 subs4 h 24 min529 subs
Pacman NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band58 min117 subs1 h 20 min160 subs2 h 36 min312 subs
Heart NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band1 h 36 min192 subs2 h 14 min268 subs4 h 25 min531 subs
Rosette NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band49 min99 subs1 h 08 min136 subs2 h 10 min261 subs
Horsehead NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band1 h 08 min137 subs1 h 35 min190 subs3 h 06 min372 subs
Flame NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band19 min39 subs25 min51 subs46 min93 subs
California NebulaEmission nebula, dual-band1 h 08 min137 subs1 h 35 min190 subs3 h 06 min372 subs
Helix NebulaPlanetary nebula, dual-band1 h 08 min137 subs1 h 35 min190 subs3 h 06 min372 subs
Double ClusterOpen cluster15 min30 subs15 min30 subs15 min30 subs
NGC 891Galaxy1 h 02 min125 subs2 h 15 min270 subs6 h 25 min770 subs
Sombrero GalaxyGalaxy20 min40 subs39 min78 subs1 h 44 min208 subs
Sunflower GalaxyGalaxy39 min78 subs1 h 21 min163 subs3 h 48 min456 subs

All 170 targets have a page for the Draco.

Every target for the Draco

Supernova remnants

Globular clusters

Open clusters

Emission nebulas

Star clouds

Planetary nebulas

Galaxies

Reflection nebulas

Getting the most from the Draco

Auto Mode picks the exposure; Pro Mode allows up to 300 s, held by built-in guiding and field derotation. The 30 s default here is our assumption. Built-in Hα + OIII dual-narrowband filter, 13 nm per line; the SHO Edition adds an SII option.

Longer subs matter most under dark skies, where read noise rather than skyglow sets the floor. From a city the difference between 30 s and 300 s subs is small; from a rural site it can halve the total time, especially with a dual-band filter in place.

Stack across nights. Every smart scope app can continue a stack or you can combine the saved frames on a computer; the figures here are totals, not single-session limits.

Compare the Draco

Useful gear

What actually fits this scope, checked against the maker's own pages: power, EQ mode, dew and carry.

Affiliate links: the retailer pays us a small commission and you pay the same price. These are search links to the named product, not endorsements of a particular listing; check the listing matches your model.

All Draco accessories, and what to take on a cold night →