Triangulum

01h33.9'

+30°39'

N3

T

U

Gal

Triangulum or 

Pinwheel Galaxy

NGC 598

M33

Clockwise-swirling spiral with wildly spinning arms.  Mv=5.7

S

Perseus

02h42.0'

+42°47'

N5

T

U

OC

Spiral Cluster

NGC 1039

 M34

Bright, very large cluster.  Mv=5.2

B

Taurus

03h47.0'

24°07'

N5

T

U

OC

Pleiades

M45

Brilliant 1st-magnitude open cluster.  Mv=1.2

How  many stars (Pleiads) can you see with the naked eye?  7 or maybe 17?

E B S

Taurus

04h27m02'

+16°00'03

N5

T

U

OC

Hyades

 NGC 457

Mel25

Bright open cluster. Mv=0.5

E B S

Auriga

05h28.7'

+35°50'

N5

T

U

OC

Starfish Cluster NGC 1912

 M38

About a dozen of the brightest stars are arranged in a distinct cross at the center of this open cluster. Mv=6.4

B

Taurus

05h34.5'

+22°01'

N5

T

U

SNR

Crab Nebula

 NGC 1952

 M1

One of >100 known supernova remnants in our galaxy. Remains of a cataclysmic stellar explosion in A.D.1054 when it shined as bright as Venus in the daytime sky for ~23 days.  Mv=8.4

S

Orion

05h35.4'

-05°27'

N6

T

U

Neb

Great Orion Nebula

 NGC 1976

 M42

An emission nebula. An enormous cloud of fluorescent gas, mainly hydrogen, glowing by the ultraviolet radiation streaming from Theta Orionis, a bright grouping of four massive stars, commonly called the Trapezium. Mv=4

E

Auriga

05h36.1'

+34°08'

N5

T

U

OC

Pinwheel Cluster

NGC 1960

 M36

Neighbour cluster to M38, with a loose central concentration of stars forming a warped cross. A pair of close double stars straddles the cluster centre. Mv=6

S

Dorado

05h38.6'

-69°05'

N15

T

U

Neb

Tarantula Nebula

 NGC 2070

A diffuse nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud, aka  "Great Looped Nebula" and "True Lovers' Knot".  Mv=8.3

M

Auriga

05h 52.4'

+32°33'

N5

T

U

OC

NGC 2099

 M37

Small cluster, with vast network of dark lanes, beautiful red star in the centre. Mv=5.6

S

Monoceros

06h30.3'

+05°03'

N7

T

U

Neb

Rosette Nebula

 NGC 2237

Very large and complex wreath-like nebula, surrounding a bright galactic star cluster NGC 2244. Mv=5.5

M

Monoceros

06h41.1'

+09°53'

N7

T

U

OC

Christmas Tree Cluster

 Cone Nebula

 NGC 2264

Very large and scattered cluster of ~20 bright stars and over hundred fainter members, surrounded by a vast but faint nebulosity. Mv=3.9

B

Canis Major

06h47.0'

-20°44'

N8

T

U

OC

Little Beehive

NGC 2287

 M41

Fills an area of the sky, 30% larger than the full moon. In 7x35 binocs, both Sirius and M41 fit in the field of view. Mv=4.5

B

Canis Major

07h03.2'

-08°20'

N8

T

U

OC

Heart-Shaped Cluster

 NGC 2323

M50

Cluster of faint stars of differing brightness. Mv=5.9

B

Puppis

07h36.6'

-14°30'

N8

T

U

OC

NGC 2422

 M47

Elaborate mix of bright and faint stars.  Contains no nebulosity. Mv=4.4

S

Puppis

07h41.8'

-14°49'

N8

T

U

OC

NGC 2437

 M46

A finger-width from M47. Cluster of very faint stars. Mv=6.1

M

Puppis

07h44.6'

-23°52'

N8

T

U

OC

NGC 2447

 M93

Visual treat.  Core has a distinct arrowhead shape. Mv=6.2

B

Carina

07h58.3'

-60°52'

N16

T

U

OC

NGC 2516

Needs a large field. Scattered groups and irregular sprays of stars.  Mv=3.8

S

Hydra

08h13.8'

-05°48'

N8

T

U

OC

NGC 2548

 M48

A pleasing cluster full of dark lanes and openings.  Mv=5.8

S

Cancer

08h40.1'

+19°59'

N7

T

U

OC

Beehive Cluster

 NGC 2632

 M44

One of the objects easily visible to the naked eye, and thus known since prehistoric times. Also contains one peculiar blue star. Mv=3.1

B

Cancer

08h50.4'

+11°49'

N7

T

U

OC

NGC 2682

M67

One of the oldest known open clusters, being aged at ~ 3.2 billion years, it is of an age of the same order of magnitude as our Solar System and its stars happen to have a similar chemical composition as the Sun.  Mv=6.9

S

Carina

09h12.0'

-64°52'

N16

T

U

GC

NGC 2808

A bright and well condensed cluster, not accessible to northern hemisphere observers. Good resolution is obtained in an 8" telescope. Mv=6.3

M

Carina

10h43.8'

-59°52'

N16

T

U

Neb

Eta Carina Nebula

NGC 3372

Eta Carina with its associated star clusters and the great diffuse gaseous nebulae is one of the finest telescopic objects. Mv=6

S

Carina

11h06.4'

-58°40'

N16

T

U

OC

NGC 3532

Numerous bright scattered stars and a number of bright orange stars. 

Needs a large field. Mv=3

E

Centaurus

11h50.3'

-57°11'

N16

T

U

Pln

Blue Planetary Nebula

 NGC 3918

The nebula appears round, well defined and vivid pale blue.

It lies in a fine starry field.  Mv=8.4

M

Virgo

12h30.8'

+12°24'

N9

T

U

Gal

Virgo A

 NGC 4486

M87

Elliptical galaxy, resembling an unresolved globular cluster with a total mass of nearly 800b suns.  Mv=8.6

M

Virgo

12h40.0'

-11°37'

N10

T

U

Gal

Sombrero Galaxy NGC 4594

M104

Picturesque, nearly edge-on spiral galaxy with prominent central bulge. Mv=8

M

Crux

12h53.6'

-60°20'

N16

T

U

OC

Jewel Box Cluster

NGC 4755

Described by John Herschel as a 'casket of variously coloured precious stones'.  Mv=4.2

S

Coma Berenices

12h56.7'

+21°41'

N9

T

U

Gal

Black Eye Galaxy

 NGC 4826

M64

Spiral galaxy with a small dark absorption area distinctly concave  resembling a closed human eye. Mv=8.5

M

Coma Berenices

13h12.9'

+18°10'

N9

T

U

GC

NGC 5024

M53

Bright, very compressed, irregularly round. William Herschel described M53 as one of the most beautiful sights in the heavens. Mv=7.7

S

Centaurus

13h25.5'

-43°01'

N10

T

U

Gal

Centaurus A

 NGC 5128

One of the most interesting and peculiar galaxies in the sky, a strong source of radio radiation, is the nearest radio galaxy. Mv=6.8

S

Centaurus

13h26.8'

-47°29'

N10

T

U

GC

Omega Centauri

NGC 5139

Biggest of all globular clusters in our galaxy, massive (~ 5m solar masses),  also the most luminous Milky Way globular and the brightest globular cluster in the sky. Mv=3.7

E

Hydra

13h37.0'

-29°52'

N8

T

U

Gal

Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

NGC 5236

M83

A gorgeous face-on spiral galaxy with one beautiful dark lane.  Mv=7.5

S

Canes Venatici

13h42.2'

+28°23'

N9

T

U

GC

NGC 5272

M3

Extremely bright and very large with >180 variable stars and mysterious dark spots in the nuclear region.  Mv=6.4

S

N

T

U

N

T

U

Serpens

15h18.6'

+02°05'

N11

T

U

GC

NGC 5904

M5

A 13-billion-year-old object, one of the finest clusters in the sky. Mv=5.8

S

Scorpius

16h23.6'

-26°32'

N12

T

U

GC

NGC 6121

M4

Close to red supergiant Antares, and the closest of all the globular clusters.  Can be seen with the unaided eye from a dark-sky location. It would be the brightest and prettiest globular in the sky if it were not obscured by thick clouds of dark interstellar matter. Mv=5.9

B

Hercules

16h41.7'

+36°28'

N11

T

U

GC

Hercules Cluster

NGC 6205

M13

A large and bright object that provides a good view even in a small telescope. Mv=5.9

S

Ophiuchus

16h47.2'

-01°57'

N12

T

U

GC

NGC 6218

M12

Nearly identical to M10. Use binoculars to view both together.  Mv=6.6

B

Ophiuchus

16h57.1'

-04°06'

N12

T

U

GC

NGC 6254

M10

Nearly identical to M12. Use binoculars to view both together. Mv=6.6

B

Ophiuchus

17h01.2'

-30°07'

N12

T

U

GC

NGC 6266

M62

One of the most irregular shaped clusters, has large number of known variable stars and  contains a large number of X-ray binaries. Mv=6.6

S

Hercules

17h17.1'

+43°08'

N11

T

U

GC

NGC 6341

M92

M92 is a splendid object, visible to the naked eye under very good conditions and a showpiece for every optics. Mv=6.5

S

Scorpius

17h40.1'

-32°13'

N12

T

U

OC

Butterfly Cluster

NGC 6405

M6

A cluster of faint stars, next to M7 and is another well observed open cluster in star-rich Scorpius. Mv=4.2

B

Ara

17h40.7'

-53°40'

N16

T

U

GC

NGC 6397

A large and loosely scattered star cluster well seen in binoculars. Mv=5.7

B

Scorpius

17h53.9'

-34°49'

N12

T

U

OC

NGC 6475

M7

Next to M6, but larger and surrounded by as much light as M6 is by darkness. Mv=3.3

B

Sagittarius

17h56.8'

-19°01'

N

T

U

OC

NGC 6494

M23

Another glorious cluster for small telescopes and binoculars, ~150 stars spread across 30' (one full moon diameter). Mv=5.5

S

Sagittarius

18h02.3'

-23°02'

N14

T

U

Neb

Trifid Nebula

 NGC 6514

M20

A cluster of stars enveloped in nebulosity famous for its three-lobed appearance. Close to the larger Lagoon Nebula (M8) so that both nebulae form a nice target for wide field photographs. It is even closer to the open cluster M21. Mv=6.3

S

Sagittarius

18h03.8'

-24°23'

N14

T

U

Neb

Lagoon Nebula

 NGC 6523

M8

The Lagoon Nebula, a fine object in binoculars and small telescopes. This irregularly shaped nebula is twice the apparent size of the full moon. Mv=5

S

Sagittarius

18h04.6'

-22°30'

N14

T

U

OC

NGC 6531

M21

A very young cluster of hot blue stars in a dense region of the Milky Way that it shares with the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae. Mv=5.9

S

Sagittarius

18h18.8'

-13°47'

N14

T

U

OC

Eagle Nebula

 NGC 6611

M16

A marvelous deep sky object, about 60-70 stars sparkle in this cluster with an associated nebula. The dark dust clouds have given this nebula the name "Eagle Nebula". Mv=6

M

Sagittarius

18h19.9'

-17°08'

N14

T

U

OC

NGC 6613

M18

Sparse, quite young cluster (~ 32m years) with bright blue and bright yellow/ orange stars. Mv=6.9

S

Sagittarius

18h20.8'

-16°11'

N14

T

U

Neb

Omega (Swan) Nebula

NGC 6618

M17

Emission nebula. Also called the Lobster or Horse Shoe Nebula. A small cluster of about 35 bright but obscured stars seems to be imbedded in nebulosity. Mv=6

S

Sagittarius

18h24.5'

-24°52'

N14

T

U

GC

NGC 6626

M28

Appears considerably smaller and more compressed than its more impressive neighbour, M22.   Mv=6.9

S

Sagittarius

18h31.6'

-19°15'

N14

T

U

OC

M25

A conspicuous cluster, even in the smallest telescopes. Mv=4.6

S

Sagittarius

18h36.4'

-23°54'

N14

T

U

GC

NGC 6656

M22

Brightest globular visible from the northern hemisphere and may be the first known globular, having been observed by A.Ihle in 1665.Mv=5.1

S

Scutum

18h51.1'

-06°16'

N14

T

U

OC

Wild Duck Cluster

 NGC 6705

M11

"One of the richest and most compact of the galactic (open) clusters"  - Robert Burnham, Jr. Mv=5.8

S

Lyra

18h53.6'

+33°02'

N13

T

U

Pln

Ring Nebula

NGC 6720

M57

It is, most probably, actually a ring (torus) of bright light-emitting material surrounding its central star. Mv=9.4

M

Pavo

19h10.9'

-59°59'

N15

T

U

GC

NGC 6752

It hosts in its halo a binary millisecond pulsar which is the most distant pulsar ever known from the core of a globular cluster. Mv=5.4

S

Sagittarius

19h40.0'

-30°58'

N14

T

U

GC

NGC 6809

M55

A splendid large globular. On nights of exceptional transparency, it is well worth viewing with a 10-inch. Mv=7

M

Vulpecula

19h59.6'

+22°43'

N13

T

U

Neb

Dumbbell Nebula

 NGC 6853

M27

This nebula was ejected approximately 3000 years ago by the old bluish central star, which can be seen in the very center of M 27. MV=7.3

M

N

T

U

N

T

U

Aquarius

21h04.2'

-11°22'

N14

T

U

Pln

Saturn Nebula

NGC 7009

Bright planetary nebula. Mv=8.3

M

Pegasus

21h30.0'

+12°10'

N3

T

U

GC

NGC 7078

M15

Nearly a twin of M2. Is unusual in that it contains a planetary nebula. Mv=6.4

S

Aquarius

21h33.5'

-00°49'

N14

T

U

GC

NGC 7089

M2

Compact and fairly dense globular cluster, one of the richer globulars, within it are mostly red and yellow giants.  Mv=6.5

S

Capricornus

21h40.4'

-23°11'

N14

T

U

GC

NGC 7099

M30

Has a fairly dense stellar population - a fine object in even small telescopes. Mv=7.5

S

Aquarius

22h29.6'

-20°48'

N4

T

U

Pln

Helix Nebula

 NGC 7293

One of the closest planetary nebulae, also one of the apparently largest planetaries known. Although quite bright, its light is spread over this large area so not an easy object for visual observing.  Mv=6.3

M

N

T

U

N

T

U

N

T

U

N

T

U