Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of April 2026

Discovered in 1779 by the Italian astronomer Barnaba Oriani, M61 (NGC 4303, also known as the Swelling Spiral Galaxy) is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Virgo. Charles Messier noticed it on the same night as Oriani, but he mistook the galaxy for a passing comet. A member of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies, M61 is roughly 55 million light-years away from Earth and has an apparent magnitude of 10.2. It can be observed using a moderately sized telescope. M61 is a type of galaxy known as a starburst galaxy. Starburst galaxies experience an incredibly high rate of star formation, hungrily using up their reservoir of gas in a very short period of time (in astronomical terms). But this is not the only activity going on within the galaxy; an X-ray source has been detected deep at its heart, leading astronomers to believe that a supermassive black hole sits at its core. This galaxy has also been host to seven observed supernovas — the most of any galaxy in the Messier catalog. [Video and Content Credits: “Tonight’s Sky” – NASA’s Universe of Learning and the Office of Public Outreach – Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). “What’s Up” -- JPL Caltech: Chelsea Gohd, Christopher Harris, and Lisa Poje, with subject matter guidance provided by JPL’s Bill Dunford] [Image Credit: Kenneth Crawford - Astromart Gallery Contributor – See some of his beautiful work at https://www.astromart.com/gallery/photo/24969]

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Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of April 2026

Welcome to the night sky report for April 2026 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. This April, Mercury shines extra bright, the Lyrid meteor shower peaks, and Comet C/2025 R3 soars into view. Then hunt for the ancient ball of stars known as globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272). The night sky is truly a celestial showcase. Get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.

On April 3rd, Mercury will be at its most visible all year. On this date, the planet will be at its greatest elongation, or its furthest distance from the Sun, as we see it from Earth, making it easier to see the often hard-to spot-planet. 

To find Mercury, look east before the Sun begins to rise. The planet will be very low on the horizon, just above Mars. 

The Lyrid meteor shower peaks April 21st to 22nd. This meteor shower comes from debris left behind by Comet Thatcher. 

When this debris hits and then burns up in our atmosphere, we see the "shooting stars" of a meteor shower. 

To experience the peak of the April Lyrids, look to the east starting at around 10:00 PM on April 21st and through the night into April 22nd. The meteor shower takes place nearby the star Vega, the fifth brightest star in the night sky, which can be found in the constellation Lyra, the Harp. 

April 17th might be your best chance to see the Comet C/2025 R3, which some think could be the brightest comet of the year. This comet will make its closest approach to Earth on April 27th, coming within 44 million miles of our planet. 

Experts estimate that the comet will likely reach magnitude eight, which means you would need access to a telescope or binoculars to see it. The comet will be visible in the eastern sky in the constellations Pegasus and above Pisces. You'll be able to spot the comet in the predawn hours from mid-April through the end of April in the Northern Hemisphere, and in the evenings in early May for viewers in the Southern Hemisphere. 

April also offers a chance to observe a truly distant wonder – a globular cluster known as M3 (NGC 5272). It’s a vast collection of stars that lies 34,000 light-years from Earth in our galaxy's outer reaches. Astronomer Charles Messier discovered this object in 1764, while searching for new comets. Realizing it wasn’t one, he added it to his list of interesting objects that were not comets, which today we know as Messier’s catalog.

Through binoculars, Messier 3 appears as a small, fuzzy, star-like patch of light. With a small telescope, you'll see a more defined glow with a slightly grainy texture. And with telescopes 8 inches or larger, the cluster begins to resolve into hundreds of individual stars. 

Globular clusters contain some of the oldest stars in the universe, often over 10 billion years old. But unlike open clusters like the Pleiades, which sit within the Milky Way's spiral arms, globular clusters are found to be orbiting far above and below the Milky Way's disk. Our galaxy has around 150 confirmed globular clusters. M3 itself is probably 11 to 13 billion years old and contains around half a million stars. It's relatively easy to spot in April under dark skies with binoculars or a small telescope.

Finding M3 starts with the Big Dipper. Facing east, use the Dipper’s handle to “arc to Arcturus,” the fourth-brightest star in the night sky. From there, look higher in the sky to find the star Cor Caroli located here to the west of the Dipper’s handle. It’s about as bright as this star in the Dipper’s cup. M3 is located roughly a third of the way from Arcturus to Cor Caroli. With binoculars or a finder scope, sweep within this area until you spot a faint, round glow.

M3 is an excellent target for beginners and seasoned observers alike. Whether using binoculars or a telescope, you'll be rewarded with a view of one of the oldest objects in our galaxy.

Late in the evening, high in the northern sky, lies the Great Bear, Ursa Major. Whether you call it the Big Dipper, Ursa Major, or the Plough, it's probably the most familiar pattern of bright stars in the northern sky. The Big Dipper is a really useful reference for finding your way around the sky. The constellation of Ursa Major contains the well known star pattern called the Big Dipper. It resembles a large drinking cup with a handle. The two stars that make up the front side of the cup are called "pointer stars" because they point toward the star Polaris, also known as the North Star.

Polaris is a yellow supergiant star located about 400 light-years away in the constellation Ursa Minor. It has two smaller companion stars, making it a triple-star system. It also varies in brightness, making it a special kind of star called a Cepheid variable star.

The North Star isn't the brightest star in the sky. But it can help you find your way and orient yourself nonetheless. Polaris sits more or less directly above Earth's north pole along its rotational axis. This means Polaris doesn't move very far over the course of the night, while the rest of the stars sweep out big circles as they rotate around the sky.

Its location above Earth's north rotational pole is pure coincidence. In fact, Polaris has not always been the North Star. Because Earth's axis rotates like a top (albeit very slowly), over thousands of years the pole points to different stars. Five thousand years ago, the North Star was Thuban, while in 13,000 years, it will be Vega. But since the pole rotates in a circle, in 26,000 years it will point toward Polaris once again.

Finding Polaris is easy on any clear night. Just find the Big Dipper. The two stars on the end of the Dipper's "cup" point the way to Polaris, which is the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper, or the tail of the little bear in the constellation Ursa Minor. Once you're facing toward Polaris, you know you're facing north, which can help you orient yourself any evening you're out stargazing.

The Big Dipper also contains a hidden surprise: One of its stars is really two -- Or, actually, six… What looks at first glance like a single bright star midway along the Dipper's handle, is on closer inspection a double star: Mizar and Alcor. Next time you have a chance, try to see if you can perceive them as two stars with your own eyes. Once you give it try, then grab binoculars if you have them, which will easily show them as separate stars.

The two star systems are around a light-year apart, and are located 80 to 90 light-years away from our solar system, with Alcor taking just shy of a million years to complete an orbit around Mizar.

Lots of stars are bound together by gravity in small groups, especially in pairs – or binaries – that orbit around each other. But usually it takes a telescope to be able to see them as separate stars. Mizar and Alcor are a rare example of a double star that you can see as a pair without the aid of a telescope.

But it gets more interesting: Although they appear as a close pair of two stars, they are in fact six. Alcor is a binary pair of stars, while Mizar is actually four stars – two pairs of binaries. So find the unusual "double" stars Mizar and Alcor in the Big Dipper in April, where what at first appears as one star is, in reality, a six-star system.

During the spring, our view is away from the cloudy plane of the Milky Way, and the clearer view reveals other galaxies. Near the end of the Big Dipper’s handle lies the Pinwheel Galaxy, also known as M101. A ground-based telescope reveals its spiral shape. With the eye of the Hubble Space Telescope, we can see individual stars that make up this spiral galaxy. The Pinwheel Galaxy is similar in both size and shape to our own Milky Way galaxy.

Beyond the Big Dipper’s bowl lies a pair of galaxies: M81 and M82. The two galaxies are relatively nearby, just 12 million light-years away, and very close to each other -- just 150,000 light-years apart.

South of the Great Bear roams another great beast: Leo the Lion. Leo’s bright heart is marked by the star Regulus, a system of four stars -- two double stars circling each other. The star Denebola, which in Arabic means tail, represents Leo’s tail. Within Leo’s belly lie a number of galaxies. M65, M66, and NGC3628 make up the "Leo Triplet," a lovely grouping of galaxies easily seen with a telescope.

Close by is another group: M95 and M96 are two large spirals. An infrared view of M95 shows an orderly galaxy seen face-on, but a visible light view of M96 shows an asymmetric galaxy, probably gravitationally disrupted by encounters with its neighbors. Between the Big Dipper and the head of Leo are three pairs of bright stars known to ancient Arab astronomers as "The Three Leaps of the Gazelle."

The night sky is always a celestial showcase. Explore its wonders from your own backyard.

The following Deep Sky Objects (DSOs) are found in constellations that are observable during the month. Some of the objects listed here can be viewed with binoculars or a small telescope, but the majority will require a moderate to large aperture telescope (7 inches to 12 inches in diameter) with appropriate filters and a dark sky, especially for many of the nebulae. The following is adapted from my personal viewing list: "The Guy Pirro 888 Best and Brightest Deep Sky Objects in the Northern Skies" (See link below). All the objects in this list can be observed from the northern hemisphere up to around the mid-Northern Latitudes (Princeton, New Jersey -- 40 degrees N).

Constellation: Antlia (ANT)

NGC 2997 Galaxy P276

Constellation: Auriga (AUR)

IC 405 Emission/Reflect Neb C31 Flaming Star Nebula

IC 410 Emission Nebula P277 Tadpole Nebula

IC 417 HII Ionized Nebula P314 Spider Nebula

IC 2149 Planetary Nebula P126

NGC 1664 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H59-8

NGC 1778 Open Cluster P68

NGC 1798 Open Cluster P253

NGC 1857 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H33-7

NGC 1883 Open Cluster P211

NGC 1893 Open Cluster P69, embedded in IC410 Tadpole Nebula

NGC 1907 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H39-7

NGC 1912 Open Cluster M38 Starfish Cluster

NGC 1931 Emission/Reflect Neb Herschel 400 H261-1 Fly Nebula

NGC 1960 Open Cluster M36 Pinwheel Cluster

NGC 2099 Open Cluster M37 Salt and Pepper Cluster

NGC 2126 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H68-8

NGC 2192 Open Cluster P212

NGC 2281 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H71-8 Broken Heart Cluster

Constellation: Bootes (BOO)

NGC 5248 Galaxy C45, Herschel 400 H34-1

NGC 5466 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H9-6

NGC 5557 Galaxy Herschel 400 H99-1

NGC 5676 Galaxy Herschel 400 H189-1

NGC 5689 Galaxy Herschel 400 H188-1

Constellation: Camelopardalis (CAM)

IC 342 Galaxy C5 Hidden Galaxy

IC 356 Galaxy P127

IC 361 Open Cluster P213

IC 3568 Planetary Nebula P128 Lemon Slice Nebula

NGC 1501 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H53-4 Camel’s Eye Nebula

NGC 1502 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H47-7, endpoint of Kemble’s Cascade

NGC 1569 Galaxy P136

NGC 1961 Galaxy Herschel 400 H747-3

NGC 2146 Galaxy P130 Dusty Hand Galaxy

NGC 2336 Galaxy P70

NGC 2403 Galaxy C7, Herschel 400 H44-5

NGC 2655 Galaxy Herschel 400 H288-1

NGC 2715 Galaxy P265

Constellation: Cancer (CNC)

NGC 2632 Open Cluster M44 Beehive Cluster, Praesepe

NGC 2682 Open Cluster M67 King Cobra Cluster

NGC 2775 Galaxy C48, Herschel 400 H2-1

Constellation: Canes Venatici (CVN)

NGC 4111 Galaxy Herschel 400 H195-1

NGC 4143 Galaxy Herschel 400 H54-4

NGC 4145 Galaxy P342

NGC 4151 Galaxy Herschel 400 H165-1

NGC 4214 Galaxy Herschel 400 H95-1

NGC 4217 Galaxy P83

NGC 4242 Galaxy P214

NGC 4244 Galaxy C26

NGC 4258 Galaxy M106, Herschel 400 H43-5

NGC 4346 Galaxy Herschel 400 H210-1

NGC 4395 Galaxy P71

NGC 4449 Galaxy C21, Herschel 400 H213-1

NGC 4485 Galaxy Herschel 400 H197-1, paired with NGC 4490

NGC 4490 Galaxy Herschel 400 H198-1 Cocoon Galaxy, w/NGC 4485

NGC 4618 Galaxy Herschel 400 H178-1

NGC 4631 Galaxy C32, Herschel 400 H42-4 Whale Galaxy

NGC 4656 Galaxy Herschel 400 H176-1 Hockey Stick Galaxy

NGC 4736 Galaxy M94 Cat’s Eye Galaxy

NGC 4800 Galaxy Herschel 400 H211-1

NGC 5005 Galaxy C29, Herschel 400 H96-1, paired with NGC 5033

NGC 5033 Galaxy Herschel 400 H97-1, paired with NGC 5005

NGC 5055 Galaxy M63 Sunflower Galaxy

NGC 5194 Galaxy M51 Whirlpool Galaxy, paired with NGC 5195

NGC 5195 Galaxy Herschel 400 H186-1, paired with M51 (NGC 5194)

NGC 5272 Globular Cluster M3

NGC 5273 Galaxy Herschel 400 H98-1

NGC 5353 Galaxy P215, paired with NGC 5354

NGC 5371 Galaxy P177

Constellation: Coma Berenices (COM)

NGC 4147 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H19-1

NGC 4150 Galaxy Herschel 400 H73-1

NGC 4192 Galaxy M98

NGC 4203 Galaxy Herschel 400 H175-1

NGC 4212 Galaxy P193

NGC 4245 Galaxy Herschel 400 H74-1

NGC 4251 Galaxy Herschel 400 H89-1

NGC 4254 Galaxy M99 Saint Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy

NGC 4274 Galaxy Herschel 400 H75-1

NGC 4278 Galaxy Herschel 400 H90-1

NGC 4293 Galaxy Herschel 400 H5-5

NGC 4314 Galaxy Herschel 400 H76-1

NGC 4321 Galaxy M100

NGC 4340 Galaxy P54, paired with NGC 4350

NGC 4350 Galaxy Herschel 400 H86-2, paired with NGC 4340

NGC 4382 Galaxy M85, paired with NGC 4394

NGC 4394 Galaxy Herschel 400 H55-2, paired with M85 (NGC 4382)

NGC 4414 Galaxy Herschel 400 H77-1 Dusty Spiral Galaxy

NGC 4419 Galaxy Herschel 400 H113-1

NGC 4448 Galaxy Herschel 400 H91-1

NGC 4450 Galaxy Herschel 400 H56-2

NGC 4459 Galaxy Herschel 400 H161-1

NGC 4473 Galaxy Herschel 400 H114-2

NGC 4477 Galaxy Herschel 400 H115-2

NGC 4494 Galaxy Herschel 400 H83-1

NGC 4501 Galaxy M88

NGC 4548 Galaxy M91, Herschel 400 H120-2

NGC 4559 Galaxy C36, Herschel 400 H92-1

NGC 4565 Galaxy C38, Herschel 400 H24-5 Needle Galaxy

NGC 4651 Galaxy P222

NGC 4689 Galaxy Herschel 400 H128-2

NGC 4710 Galaxy P175

NGC 4725 Galaxy Herschel 400 H84-1

NGC 4826 Galaxy M64 Black Eye Galaxy

NGC 4889 Galaxy C35

NGC 5024 Globular Cluster M53

NGC 5053 Globular Cluster P78

Constellation: Corvus (CRV)

NGC 4027 Galaxy Herschel 400 H296-2

NGC 4038 Galaxy C60, Herschel 400 H28.1-4 Antenna Galaxy (North)

NGC 4039 Galaxy C61, Herschel 400 H28.2-4 Antenna Galaxy (South)

NGC 4361 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H65-1 Garden Sprinkler Nebula

Constellation: Crater (CRT)

NGC 3511 Galaxy P181

NGC 3887 Galaxy P105

NGC 3892 Galaxy P53

NGC 3962 Galaxy Herschel 400 H67-1

NGC 3981 Galaxy P245

Constellation: Draco (DRA)

NGC 3147 Galaxy Herschel 400 H79-1

NGC 4125 Galaxy P26

NGC 4236 Galaxy C3

NGC 4589 Galaxy P279

NGC 4750 Galaxy P292

NGC 5866 Galaxy M102, Herschel 400 H215-1

NGC 5907 Galaxy Herschel 400 H759-2 Splinter Galaxy

NGC 5982 Galaxy Herschel 400 H764-2

NGC 6015 Galaxy P151

NGC 6340 Galaxy P142

NGC 6503 Galaxy P80 Shooting Star Galaxy

NGC 6543 Planetary Nebula C6, Herschel 400 H37-4 Cat’s Eye Nebula

NGC 6643 Galaxy P194

Constellation: Gemini (GEM)

IC 443 Supernova Remnant P249 Jellyfish Nebula

IC 444 Reflection Nebula P306

IC 2157 Open Cluster P156

NGC 2129 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H26-8

NGC 2158 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H17-6

NGC 2168 Open Cluster M35 Shoe Buckle Cluster

NGC 2266 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H21-6

NGC 2304 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H2-6

NGC 2331 Open Cluster P157

NGC 2355 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H6-6

NGC 2371 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H316-2 Double Bubble Nebula (South)

NGC 2372 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H317-2 Double Bubble Nebula (North)

NGC 2392 Planetary Nebula C39, Herschel 400 H45-4 Eskimo Nebula

NGC 2395 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H11-8

NGC 2420 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H1-6

Constellation: Hercules (HER)

IC 4593 Planetary Nebula P158 White Eyed Pea Nebula

NGC 6205 Globular Cluster M13 Great Hercules Globular Cluster

NGC 6207 Galaxy Herschel 400 H701-2

NGC 6210 Planetary Nebula P34 Turtle Nebula

NGC 6229 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H50-4

NGC 6341 Globular Cluster M92

Constellation: Hydra (HYA)

NGC 2548 Open Cluster M48, Herschel 400 H22-6

NGC 2784 Galaxy P87

NGC 2811 Galaxy Herschel 400 H505-2

NGC 2835 Galaxy P291

NGC 2935 Galaxy P263

NGC 2986 Galaxy P297

NGC 3078 Galaxy P243

NGC 3091 Galaxy P317

NGC 3109 Galaxy P88

NGC 3242 Planetary Nebula C59, Herschel 400 H27-4 Ghost of Jupiter Nebula

NGC 3311 Galaxy P98

NGC 3585 Galaxy P35

NGC 3621 Galaxy Herschel 400 H241-1

NGC 3717 Galaxy P345

NGC 3904 Galaxy P310

NGC 3923 Galaxy P89

NGC 4105 Galaxy P284, paired with NGC 4106

NGC 4590 Globular Cluster M68

NGC 5061 Galaxy P264

NGC 5078 Galaxy P304

NGC 5101 Galaxy P271

NGC 5236 Galaxy M83 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

NGC 5694 Globular Cluster C66, Herschel 400 H196-2

Constellation: Leo (LEO)

NGC 2903 Galaxy Herschel 400 H56-1

NGC 2964 Galaxy Herschel 400 H114-1

NGC 3190 Galaxy Herschel 400 H44-2

NGC 3193 Galaxy Herschel 400 H45-2

NGC 3226 Galaxy Herschel 400 H28-2, paired with NGC 3227

NGC 3227 Galaxy Herschel 400 H29-2, paired with NGC 3226

NGC 3351 Galaxy M95

NGC 3338 Galaxy P307

NGC 3368 Galaxy M96

NGC 3377 Galaxy Herschel 400 H99-2

NGC 3379 Galaxy M105, Herschel 400 H17-1

NGC 3384 Galaxy Herschel 400 H18-1

NGC 3412 Galaxy Herschel 400 H27-1

NGC 3489 Galaxy Herschel 400 H101-2

NGC 3521 Galaxy Herschel 400 H13-1

NGC 3593 Galaxy Herschel 400 H29-1

NGC 3607 Galaxy Herschel 400 H50-2, paired with NGC 3608

NGC 3608 Galaxy Herschel 400 H51-2, paired with NGC 3607

NGC 3623 Galaxy M65

NGC 3626 Galaxy C40, Herschel 400 H52-2

NGC 3627 Galaxy M66

NGC 3628 Galaxy Herschel 400 H8-5 Hamburger Galaxy

NGC 3640 Galaxy Herschel 400 H33-2

NGC 3646 Galaxy P180

NGC 3655 Galaxy Herschel 400 H5-1

NGC 3686 Galaxy Herschel 400 H160-2

NGC 3705 Galaxy P311

NGC 3810 Galaxy Herschel 400 H21-1

NGC 3900 Galaxy Herschel 400 H82-1

NGC 3912 Galaxy Herschel 400 H342-2

Constellation: Leo Minor (LMI)

NGC 2859 Galaxy Herschel 400 H137-1

NGC 3245 Galaxy Herschel 400 H86-1

NGC 3277 Galaxy Herschel 400 H359-2

NGC 3294 Galaxy Herschel 400 H164-1

NGC 3344 Galaxy Herschel 400 H81-1

NGC 3395 Galaxy Herschel 400 H116-1

NGC 3414 Galaxy Herschel 400 H362-2

NGC 3432 Galaxy Herschel 400 H172-1

NGC 3486 Galaxy Herschel 400 H87-1

NGC 3504 Galaxy Herschel 400 H88-1

Constellation: Lynx (LYN)

NGC 2419 Globular Cluster C25, Herschel 400 H218-1 Intergalactic Wanderer

NGC 2549 Galaxy P252

NGC 2683 Galaxy Herschel 400 H200-1 UFO Galaxy

NGC 2782 Galaxy Herschel 400 H167-1

Constellation: Monoceros (MON)

IC 447 HII Ionized Nebula P125 Dreyer’s Nebula

IC 448 HII Ionized Nebula P172

IC 2177 HII Ionized Nebula P52 Seagull Nebula includes Star SAO 152320 at center

NGC 2149 Reflection Nebula P303

NGC 2170 Reflection Nebula P296

NGC 2182 Reflection Nebula P262

NGC 2185 Reflection Nebula Herschel 400 H20-4

NGC 2215 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H20-7

NGC 2232 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H25-8

NGC 2236 Open Cluster P163

NGC 2237 HII Ionized Nebula C49 Rosette Nebula, includes NGC 2238 and NGC 2246

NGC 2239 Open Cluster P254, embedded in NGC 2237 Rosette Nebula

NGC 2244 Open Cluster C50, Herschel 400 H2-7, embedded in NGC 2237

NGC 2245 Reflection Nebula P255

NGC 2250 Open Cluster P164

NGC 2251 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H3-8

NGC 2252 Open Cluster P91

NGC 2254 Open Cluster P165

NGC 2259 Open Cluster P231

NGC 2261 Reflection Nebula C46 Hubble’s Variable Nebula

NGC 2262 Open Cluster P232

NGC 2264 Open Cluster H 400 H27-5 Cone Nebula, H5-8 Christmas Tree Cluster

NGC 2269 Open Cluster P166

NGC 2282 HII Ionized Nebula P269

NGC 2286 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H31-8

NGC 2299 Open Cluster P167

NGC 2301 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H27-6

NGC 2309 Open Cluster P233

NGC 2311 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H60-8

NGC 2323 Open Cluster M50 Heart Shaped Cluster

NGC 2324 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H38-7

NGC 2335 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H32-8, overlaps IC 2177 Seagull Nebula

NGC 2343 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H33-8, overlaps IC 2177 Seagull Nebula

NGC 2346 Planetary Nebula P283 Butterfly Nebula

NGC 2353 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H34-8

NGC 2368 Open Cluster P235

NGC 2506 Open Cluster C54, Herschel 400 H37-6

Constellation: Orion (ORI)

IC 431 Reflection Nebula P361

IC 432 Reflection Nebula P362

IC 434 HII Ionized/Dark Neb P92, includes Barnard 33 Horsehead Nebula

IC 435 Reflection Nebula P368

IC 2162 Emission Nebula P358

NGC 1662 Open Cluster P39

NGC 1788 Reflection Nebula Herschel 400 H32-5

NGC 1976 HII Ionized Nebula M42 Great Orion Nebula, includes Trapezium Cluster

NGC 1977 Reflection Nebula P40 Running Man Nebula, includes NGC 1975

NGC 1980 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H31-5 Lost Jewel of Orion Cluster

NGC 1981 Open Cluster P41

NGC 1982 HII Ionized Nebula M43 DeMairan Nebula

NGC 1999 Reflection/Dark Neb Herschel 400 H33-4 Cosmic Keyhole Nebula

NGC 2022 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H34-4

NGC 2023 Emission/Reflect Neb P93

NGC 2024 Emission Nebula Herschel 400 H28-5 Flame Nebula

NGC 2064 Reflection Nebula P356

NGC 2067 Reflection Nebula P357

NGC 2068 Reflection Nebula M78

NGC 2071 Reflection Nebula P42

NGC 2112 Open Cluster P170

NGC 2141 Open Cluster P171

NGC 2169 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H24-8 The 37 Cluster

NGC 2174 HII Ionized Nebula P43 Monkey Head Nebula

NGC 2175 Open Cluster P369, overlaps NGC 2174 Monkey Head Nebula

NGC 2180 Open Cluster P321

NGC 2186 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H25-7

NGC 2194 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H5-6

Constellation: Serpens Caput (SER - Head)

NGC 5904 Globular Cluster M5 Rose Globular Cluster

NGC 5921 Galaxy P336

NGC 6118 Galaxy Herschel 400 H402-2

Constellation: Sextans (SEX)

NGC 2974 Galaxy Herschel 400 H61-1

NGC 3115 Galaxy C53, Herschel 400 H163-1 Spindle Galaxy

NGC 3166 Galaxy Herschel 400 H3-1, paired with NGC 3169

NGC 3169 Galaxy Herschel 400 H4-1, paired with NGC 3166

NGC 3423 Galaxy P187

Constellation: Ursa Major (UMA)

Messier 40 Double Star M40, Winnecke 4 (not a binary pair)

IC 2574 Galaxy P121 Coddington’s Dwarf Galaxy

NGC 2681 Galaxy Herschel 400 H242-1

NGC 2685 Galaxy P57 Helix Galaxy

NGC 2742 Galaxy Herschel 400 H249-1

NGC 2768 Galaxy Herschel 400 H250-1

NGC 2787 Galaxy Herschel 400 H216-1

NGC 2805 Galaxy P338

NGC 2841 Galaxy Herschel 400 H205-1

NGC 2950 Galaxy Herschel 400 H68-4

NGC 2976 Galaxy Herschel 400 H285-1

NGC 2985 Galaxy Herschel 400 H78-1

NGC 3031 Galaxy M81 Bode’s Galaxy

NGC 3034 Galaxy M82, Herschel 400 H79-4 Cigar Galaxy

NGC 3077 Galaxy Herschel 400 H286-1

NGC 3079 Galaxy Herschel 400 H47-5

NGC 3184 Galaxy Herschel 400 H168-1 Little Pinwheel Galaxy

NGC 3198 Galaxy Herschel 400 H199-1

NGC 3310 Galaxy Herschel 400 H60-4

NGC 3319 Galaxy P244

NGC 3348 Galaxy P282

NGC 3359 Galaxy P202

NGC 3556 Galaxy M108, Herschel 400 H46-5 Surfboard Galaxy

NGC 3587 Planetary Nebula M97 Owl Nebula

NGC 3610 Galaxy Herschel 400 H270-1

NGC 3613 Galaxy Herschel 400 H271-1, paired with NGC 3619

NGC 3619 Galaxy Herschel 400 H244-1, paired with NGC 3613

NGC 3631 Galaxy Herschel 400 H226-1

NGC 3665 Galaxy Herschel 400 H219-1

NGC 3675 Galaxy Herschel 400 H194-1

NGC 3718 Galaxy P275, paired with NGC 3729

NGC 3726 Galaxy Herschel 400 H730-2

NGC 3729 Galaxy Herschel 400 H222-1, paired with NGC 3718

NGC 3813 Galaxy Herschel 400 H94-1

NGC 3877 Galaxy Herschel 400 H201-1

NGC 3893 Galaxy Herschel 400 H738-2

NGC 3898 Galaxy Herschel 400 H228-1

NGC 3938 Galaxy Herschel 400 H203-1

NGC 3941 Galaxy Herschel 400 H173-1

NGC 3945 Galaxy Herschel 400 H251-1

NGC 3949 Galaxy Herschel 400 H202-1

NGC 3953 Galaxy Herschel 400 H45-5

NGC 3982 Galaxy Herschel 400 H62-4

NGC 3992 Galaxy M109, Herschel 400 H61-4 Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy

NGC 3998 Galaxy Herschel 400 H229-1

NGC 4026 Galaxy Herschel 400 H223-1

NGC 4036 Galaxy Herschel 400 H253-1, paired with NGC 4041

NGC 4041 Galaxy Herschel 400 H252-1, paired with NGC 4036

NGC 4051 Galaxy Herschel 400 H56-4

NGC 4062 Galaxy P332

NGC 4085 Galaxy Herschel 400 H224-1, paired with NGC 4088

NGC 4088 Galaxy Herschel 400 H206-1, paired with NGC 4085

NGC 4096 Galaxy P268

NGC 4100 Galaxy P347

NGC 4102 Galaxy Herschel 400 H225-1

NGC 4605 Galaxy P111

NGC 5322 Galaxy Herschel 400 H256-1

NGC 5448 Galaxy P129

NGC 5457 Galaxy M101 Pinwheel Galaxy, paired with NGC 5474

NGC 5473 Galaxy Herschel 400 H231-1

NGC 5474 Galaxy Herschel 400 H214-1, paired with M101 (NGC 5457)

NGC 5585 Galaxy P289

NGC 5631 Galaxy Herschel 400 H236-1

Constellation: Ursa Minor (UMI)

NGC 6217 Galaxy Herschel 400 H280-1

Constellation: Virgo (VIR)

NGC 4030 Galaxy Herschel 400 H121-1

NGC 4179 Galaxy Herschel 400 H9-1

NGC 4216 Galaxy Herschel 400 H35-1

NGC 4261 Galaxy Herschel 400 H139-2

NGC 4267 Galaxy P280

NGC 4273 Galaxy Herschel 400 H569-2

NGC 4281 Galaxy Herschel 400 H573-2

NGC 4303 Galaxy M61, Herschel 400 H139-1 Swelling Spiral Galaxy

NGC 4365 Galaxy Herschel 400 H30-1

NGC 4371 Galaxy Herschel 400 H22-1

NGC 4374 Galaxy M84, part of Markarian’s Chain

NGC 4388 Galaxy P190

NGC 4406 Galaxy M86, part of Markarian’s Chain

NGC 4417 Galaxy P116

NGC 4429 Galaxy Herschel 400 H65-2

NGC 4435 Galaxy Herschel 400 H28.1-1 Markarian’s Eyes Galaxy (North)

NGC 4438 Galaxy Herschel 400 H28.2-1 Markarian’s Eyes Galaxy (South)

NGC 4442 Galaxy Herschel 400 H156-2

NGC 4457 Galaxy P343

NGC 4461 Galaxy P315, paired with NGC 4458, part of Markarian’s Chain

NGC 4469 Galaxy P322

NGC 4472 Galaxy M49

NGC 4478 Galaxy Herschel 400 H124-2

NGC 4486 Galaxy M87 Virgo A Galaxy

NGC 4503 Galaxy P287

NGC 4517 Galaxy P30

NGC 4526 Galaxy Herschel 400 H31-1

NGC 4527 Galaxy Herschel 400 H37-2

NGC 4535 Galaxy Herschel 400 H500-2 Lost Galaxy

NGC 4536 Galaxy Herschel 400 H2-5

NGC 4546 Galaxy Herschel 400 H160-1

NGC 4550 Galaxy Herschel 400 H36-1

NGC 4552 Galaxy M89

NGC 4567/NGC 4568 Galaxy P56 Siamese Twins Galaxies

NGC 4569 Galaxy M90

NGC 4570 Galaxy Herschel 400 H32-1

NGC 4579 Galaxy M58

NGC 4594 Galaxy M104, Herschel 400 H43-1 Sombrero Galaxy

NGC 4596 Galaxy Herschel 400 H24-1

NGC 4608 Galaxy P341

NGC 4621 Galaxy M59

NGC 4636 Galaxy Herschel 400 H38-2

NGC 4638 Galaxy P256

NGC 4643 Galaxy Herschel 400 H10-1

NGC 4649 Galaxy M60

NGC 4654 Galaxy Herschel 400 H126-2

NGC 4660 Galaxy Herschel 400 H71-2

NGC 4665 Galaxy Herschel 400 H142-1

NGC 4666 Galaxy Herschel 400 H15-1

NGC 4691 Galaxy P294

NGC 4697 Galaxy C52, Herschel 400 H39-1

NGC 4698 Galaxy Herschel 400 H8-1

NGC 4699 Galaxy Herschel 400 H129-1

NGC 4742 Galaxy P59

NGC 4753 Galaxy Herschel 400 H16-1

NGC 4754 Galaxy Herschel 400 H25-1, paired with NGC 4762

NGC 4762 Galaxy Herschel 400 H75-2, paired with NGC 4754

NGC 4781 Galaxy Herschel 400 H134-1

NGC 4845 Galaxy Herschel 400 H536-2

NGC 4856 Galaxy Herschel 400 H68-1

NGC 4866 Galaxy Herschel 400 H162-1

NGC 4900 Galaxy Herschel 400 H143-1

NGC 4958 Galaxy Herschel 400 H130-1

NGC 4984 Galaxy P308

NGC 4995 Galaxy Herschel 400 H42-1

NGC 5018 Galaxy P273

NGC 5044 Galaxy P259

NGC 5054 Galaxy Herschel 400 H513-2

NGC 5068 Galaxy P203

NGC 5084 Galaxy P329

NGC 5087 Galaxy P319

NGC 5170 Galaxy P61

NGC 5247 Galaxy P67

NGC 5363 Galaxy Herschel 400 H6-1, paired with NGC 5364

NGC 5364 Galaxy Herschel 400 H534-2, paired with NGC 5363

NGC 5566 Galaxy Herschel 400 H144-1

NGC 5576 Galaxy Herschel 400 H146-1

NGC 5634 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H70-1

NGC 5638 Galaxy P115

NGC 5701 Galaxy P113

NGC 5746 Galaxy Herschel 400 H126-1

NGC 5813 Galaxy P270

NGC 5838 Galaxy P266

NGC 5846 Galaxy Herschel 400 H128-1

NGC 5850 Galaxy P301

For more information:

Northern Latitudes:

https://science.nasa.gov/skywatching/whats-up

https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/planner.cfm

https://blogs.nasa.gov/Watch_the_Skies/

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/skywatching/home/

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/

https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-caldwell-catalog/

http://outreach.as.utexas.edu/public/skywatch.html

https://griffithobservatory.org/explore/observing-the-sky/sky-report/

http://www.beckstromobservatory.com/whats-up-in-tonights-sky-2/

https://www.fairbanksmuseum.org/planetarium/eye-on-the-night-sky

http://dudleyobservatory.org/tonights-sky/

http://www.schoolsobservatory.org.uk/learn/astro/nightsky/maps

https://tonightssky.com/MainPage.php

https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/night/

https://stardate.org/nightsky

https://www.adventuresci.org/starcharts

https://www.astromart.com/news/search?category_id=3&q=kiss+the+sky&from=&to

 

Southern and Equatorial Latitudes:

https://www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/

https://heavens-above.com/SkyChart2.aspx

https://in-the-sky.org/data/constellations_map.php

https://ytliu0.github.io/starCharts/chartGCRS.html

 

This is my personal deep sky observing list. I use it to line up my DSO targets on any particular night:

https://www.astromart.com/reviews/advanced/show/my-celestial-jewel-box-the-guy-pirro-888-best-and-brightest-deep-sky-objects-in-the-northern-skies

 

Daily Moon Observing Guide:

https://moon.nasa.gov/moon-observation/daily-moon-guide/?intent=011

 

Find Astronomy Clubs, Events, and Star Parties in Your Area:

https://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/clubs/

Watch Satellites Pass Over Your Location:

https://james.darpinian.com/satellites/

 

Astromart News Archives:

https://www.astromart.com/news/search?category_id=3&q=.

 

Check out some of my favorite Words of Wisdom:

https://www.astromart.com/news/show/words-of-wisdom-some-are-deep-others-not-so-much

https://www.astromart.com/news/show/words-of-wisdom-my-favorite-proverbs-from-around-the-world

 

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Then click here and buy the Astromart crew a cup of coffee (and maybe even some donuts):

https://www.astromart.com/support-options