Best deep-sky targets by month
A page for each month with the galaxies, nebulae and clusters that are well placed for imaging, from 45° N and 35° S. Each list counts dark hours above 30° on the 15th of the month and links to a guide for every target.
| Month | Top picks from 45° N | Top picks from 35° S |
|---|---|---|
| January | Beehive Cluster, Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster, Orion Nebula | Omicron Velorum Cluster, Carina Nebula, Wishing Well Cluster |
| February | Beehive Cluster, Bode's Galaxy, Pinwheel Galaxy | Omicron Velorum Cluster, Carina Nebula, Wishing Well Cluster |
| March | Hercules Cluster, Bode's Galaxy, Pinwheel Galaxy | Omicron Velorum Cluster, Carina Nebula, Wishing Well Cluster |
| April | Hercules Cluster, Bode's Galaxy, Pinwheel Galaxy | Carina Nebula, Wishing Well Cluster, Running Chicken Nebula |
| May | Hercules Cluster, Bode's Galaxy, Iris Nebula | Ptolemy's Cluster, Blue Horsehead Nebula, Butterfly Cluster |
| June | North America Nebula, Wild Duck Cluster, Hercules Cluster | Ptolemy's Cluster, Blue Horsehead Nebula, Butterfly Cluster |
| July | North America Nebula, Wild Duck Cluster, Hercules Cluster | Ptolemy's Cluster, Butterfly Cluster, Wild Duck Cluster |
| August | Andromeda Galaxy, North America Nebula, Owl Cluster | 47 Tucanae, Wild Duck Cluster, Helix Nebula |
| September | Andromeda Galaxy, North America Nebula, Triangulum Galaxy | 47 Tucanae, Helix Nebula, Dumbbell Nebula |
| October | Andromeda Galaxy, North America Nebula, California Nebula | Pleiades, 47 Tucanae, Tarantula Nebula |
| November | Pleiades, Andromeda Galaxy, Orion Nebula | Pleiades, Orion Nebula, 47 Tucanae |
| December | Pleiades, Beehive Cluster, Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster | Pleiades, Omicron Velorum Cluster, Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster |