Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of December 2025
Roughly 3000 light-years away and lying in the plane of our Milky Way galaxy, Caldwell 9 (The Cave Nebula) is an emission nebula, formed of gases that emit their own light. The bright arc that forms the mouth of the cave is an active birthplace for stars, known as an H II region, where hot clouds of atomic hydrogen have become ionized. Though boasting a magnitude of about 8 and a span of roughly 40 light-years, Caldwell 9 is a diffuse and low-contrast object, so it can still be difficult to find in the sky. Its first known notation, surprisingly, was not until 1959 after astronomer Stewart Sharpless captured it on photographic plates and included it as the 155th object in his second catalog of H II regions, giving Caldwell 9 its alternate catalog name, Sh2-155. Caldwell 9 is tantalizing to researchers because, according to radio and near-infrared studies of this nebula, the area is bursting with young, hot stars popping into existence. Investigating such regions of star birth helps astronomers learn more about how stars begin their lives. The Cave Nebula is faint and one of the most difficult Caldwell objects to spot, so to search for it, use a large telescope far from city lights on a clear, dark night. If possible, use a nebula filter to dim other sources of light and improve your view of this challenging target. [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: David Massa - Astromart Gallery Contributor – Taken with a Takahashi e180ED, 36 ten minute frames taken during 5 imaging sessions, Takahashi EM200 mount, and SBIG 2000XCM https://www.astromart.com/gallery/photo/40266 ]
Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of December 2025
Welcome to the night sky report for December 2025 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. During the month, Comet 3I/ATLAS makes its closest approach to Earth, the Geminid meteor shower sparkles across the sky, and the Moon and Jupiter get close for a conjunction. Step outside on a cold December night when the stars shine bright to find the Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and Cepheus. They will help you locate a binary star system (Eta Cassiopeiae), a fan-shaped open star cluster M103 (NGC 581), and a variable star (Mu Cephei). Also, throughout the month, you can find Pegasus, the winged stallion, high overhead in the south. The night sky is truly a celestial showcase. Get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.
Comet 3I/ATLAS is making its closest approach to Earth on December 19. This could be your best bet to see this interstellar interloper. Comet 3I/ATLAS is the third object in history from outside of our Solar System to be discovered within our Solar System.
NASA continues to observe and study the object using a variety of spacecraft and telescopes so we can learn as much as we can about it while it's in our solar neighborhood. Comet 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth and will remain far away. On its closest approach to our planet on December 19, it will still be about 170 million miles away, or more than 700 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
Still, at this distance, skywatchers looking east to northeast in the early pre-dawn morning could catch the comet right under Regulus, a star at the heart of the constellation Leo, the lion. To see the comet before it leaves our vicinity, you'll need to be looking through a telescope with an aperture of at least 12 inches or 300 millimeters. Look for observatories and skywatching events in your local area.
The Geminid meteor shower will sparkle across the skies this December, peaking on the evenings of December 13 and 14. This meteor shower is known for being bright and colorful, made up of debris trailing the asteroid 3200 Phaethon.
To catch the Geminids peak, look to the eastern sky all evening on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14. The meteors will appear near the bright planet Jupiter. With the darkest possible skies, you could see up to 120 Geminid meteors per hour.
On the evening of December 7, the Moon will have a friend in the night sky as the Moon and Jupiter get close for a conjunction.
During a conjunction, objects in the sky - like planets and the Moon - appear close together even though they're actually far apart. For example, while the Moon and Jupiter will buddy up this month from our view, in space, they're actually hundreds of millions of miles apart. To see the pair together, look up to the Moon in the eastern sky on December 7, and Jupiter will be just above and to the right.
The long, frosty nights of December make for good sky gazing when the stars shine clear and bright. Face east to find Orion the hunter with his shining belt rising over the early winter landscape. The glittering stars of winter rise with Orion and promise many fine stargazing nights to come. As evening falls, you’ll see the mighty hunter Orion rising in the east, with Taurus the bull above it, and the stars of the twins in Gemini to their left. These constellations host some wonderful sights – like the Crab Nebula and Pleiades star cluster in Taurus and the Orion Nebula, which hangs below Orion's belt. If you look to the western sky soon after dark, you can still spot the three bright stars of the Summer Triangle getting quite low on the horizon. But as they depart, three bright stars of winter bring their own prominent triangular shape to mark the season.
Once you spot Orion's distinctive belt of three stars, you’re well on your way to finding the Winter Triangle. Just follow the belt stars to the left and slightly downward – they point right to Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Then look upward and to the left of Sirius to spot Procyon and then back up toward Orion to find reddish Betelgeuse at its shoulder. These three bright stars form an equilateral triangle that’s visible throughout the season.
Looking high in the southwest sky on December evenings, you can find a constellation named for one of the more fantastical beasts of ancient mythology. That's Pegasus, the winged horse. In Greek myth, Pegasus rode into adventures with the hero Belaraphon, and later carried the thunderbolts of Zeus himself, who rewarded him by placing him among the stars.
Pegasus is one of the largest of the 88 constellations. Its most prominent feature and the key to finding it in the sky is the asterism, or pattern of stars, called the Great Square. These four stars of roughly equal brightness form the central part of the horse's body.
Pegasus is a useful constellation for stargazers, as it's a good starting place for finding your way to other features in the night sky. The constellation itself contains a number of dazzling deep-sky objects, including globular cluster M15, and the tangled galaxies of Stephan's Quintet.
Face north to find the Big Dipper scraping the northern horizon. The constellation of Cassiopeia the queen swings high on the other side of Polaris, the North Star. The queen’s star pattern forms a clear “W” shape in the sky. Snuggled in the W pattern is Eta Cassiopeiae, a binary with a pale yellow Sun-sized star and a less massive orange companion.
Also tucked within the W pattern is the open star cluster M103 (NGC 581). Binoculars or a small telescope show a fan-shaped group of about 170 stars, with a red giant star near the center.
To the east of Cassiopeia lies the fainter constellation of Cepheus, the king. His dim shape looks like the outline of a house. Along the base of the house lies Mu Cephei, a red giant also known as the Garnet Star for its deep red color. It’s also a variable star, changing in brightness over hundreds to thousands of days.
To one side of the house’s base sits NGC 6946, a ragged spiral galaxy that appears as a ghostly patch of light in modest telescopes. NGC 6946 is known as the Fireworks Galaxy because of the frequency of supernovas occurring within it -- ten within the past century. By comparison, the larger Milky Way averages just two per century.
To the west of Cassiopeia we find the sprawling pattern of Perseus, the Greek hero and slayer of Medusa, whose head he carries. Among Perseus stars lies the open star cluster M34. Small telescopes or binoculars show a concentrated scatter of about 100 stars.
Face north again to locate the Big Dipper and find galaxy M82. In binoculars and small telescopes, the galaxy appears as a thin rod of light. M82, seen edge-on, experienced a tremendous burst of star formation after an encounter with another galaxy.
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: Andromeda (AND)
IC 239 Galaxy P27
NGC 205 Galaxy M110, Herschel 400 H18-5 Satellite of Andromeda
NGC 221 Galaxy M32 Satellite of Andromeda
NGC 224 Galaxy M31 Andromeda Galaxy
NGC 404 Galaxy Herschel 400 H224-2 Not Found 404 Galaxy
NGC 752 Open Cluster C28, Herschel 400 H32-7
NGC 891 Galaxy C23, Herschel 400 H19-5 Outer Limits Galaxy
NGC 956 Asterism P123
NGC 7640 Galaxy P218
NGC 7662 Planetary Nebula C22, Herschel 400 H18-4 Blue Snowball Nebula
NGC 7686 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H69-8
Constellation: Aries (ARI)
NGC 772 Galaxy Herschel 400 H112-1 Fiddlehead Galaxy
NGC 821 Galaxy P234, partially obscured by Star SAO 92805
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: 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: Cassiopeia (CAS)
IC 10 Galaxy P77
IC 59 Emission/Reflect Neb P21 Gamma Cassiopeiae Nebula (West)
IC 63 Emission/Reflect Neb P22 Gamma Cassiopeiae Nebula (East)
IC 166 Open Cluster P217
IC 289 Planetary Nebula P290
IC 1590 Open Cluster P144, included in NGC 281 Pacman Nebula
IC 1747 Planetary Nebula P146
IC 1795 HII Ionized Nebula P122 Fish Head Nebula, partially overlaps NGC 896
IC 1805 Emission Nebula P2 Heart Nebula, includes Open Cluster Melotte 15
IC 1848 Emission Nebula P3 Soul Nebula, Westerhout 5
NGC 103 Open Cluster P137
NGC 110 Open Cluster P250
NGC 129 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H79-8
NGC 133 Open Cluster P138
NGC 136 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H35-6
NGC 146 Open Cluster P204
NGC 147 Galaxy C17 Satellite of Andromeda
NGC 185 Galaxy C18, Herschel 400 H707-2 Satellite of Andromeda
NGC 189 Open Cluster P5
NGC 225 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H78-8 Sailboat Cluster
NGC 278 Galaxy Herschel 400 H159-1
NGC 281 HII Ionized Nebula P4 Pacman Nebula
NGC 366 Open Cluster P220
NGC 381 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H64-8
NGC 436 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H45-7
NGC 457 Open Cluster C13, Herschel 400 H42-1 Dragonfly Cluster
NGC 559 Open Cluster C8, Herschel 400 H48-7
NGC 581 Open Cluster M103
NGC 609 Open Cluster P219
NGC 637 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H49-7
NGC 654 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H46-7
NGC 659 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H65-8
NGC 663 Open Cluster C10, Herschel 400 H31-6
NGC 1027 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H66-8, overlaps part of Heart Nebula
NGC 7635 HII Ionized Nebula C11 Bubble Nebula
NGC 7654 Open Cluster M52 Scorpion Cluster
NGC 7788 Open Cluster P139
NGC 7789 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H30-6 White Rose Cluster
NGC 7790 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H56-7
Constellation: Cepheus (CEP)
Caldwell 9 HII Ionized Nebula C9 Cave Nebula, Sharpless 155
IC 1396 Emission Nebula P6 Elephant’s Trunk Nebula
IC 1470 HII Ionized Nebula P192
NGC 40 Planetary Nebula C2, Herschel 400 H58-4 Bow Tie Nebula
NGC 188 Open Cluster C1 Polarissima Cluster
NGC 2300 Galaxy P160
NGC 6939 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H42-6
NGC 6951 Galaxy P267
NGC 7023 Reflection Nebula C4 Iris Nebula
NGC 7129 Reflection Nebula P58
NGC 7142 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H66-7
NGC 7160 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H67-8
NGC 7226 Open Cluster P140
NGC 7235 Open Cluster P7
NGC 7261 Open Cluster P8
NGC 7354 Planetary Nebula P257
NGC 7380 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H77-8, inside the Wizard Nebula
NGC 7510 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H44-7
NGC 7538 Emission Nebula P94
NGC 7762 Open Cluster P141
NGC 7822 HII Ionized Nebula P33
Constellation: Cetus (CET)
IC 1613 Galaxy C51
NGC 45 Galaxy P225
NGC 157 Galaxy Herschel 400 H3-2
NGC 210 Galaxy P251
NGC 246 Planetary Nebula C56, Herschel 400 H25-5 Skull Nebula
NGC 247 Galaxy C62, Herschel 400 H20-5 Claw Galaxy
NGC 578 Galaxy P221
NGC 584 Galaxy Herschel 400 H100-1
NGC 596 Galaxy Herschel 400 H4-2
NGC 615 Galaxy Herschel 400 H282-2
NGC 720 Galaxy Herschel 400 H105-1
NGC 779 Galaxy Herschel 400 H101-1
NGC 864 Galaxy P124
NGC 908 Galaxy Herschel 400 H153-1
NGC 936 Galaxy Herschel 400 H23-4
NGC 988 Galaxy P324, partially obscured by Star SAO 129994
NGC 1022 Galaxy Herschel 400 H102-1
NGC 1042 Galaxy P148
NGC 1052 Galaxy Herschel 400 H63-1
NGC 1055 Galaxy Herschel 400 H1-1
NGC 1068 Galaxy M77 Squid Galaxy
NGC 1073 Galaxy P205
NGC 1087 Galaxy P227 Saint Nikola’s Prayer Galaxy
Constellation: Cygnus (CYG)
IC 1318 Emission Nebula P24 Gamma Cygni Nebula, includes Sadr SAO 49528
IC 1369 Open Cluster P11
IC 4996 Open Cluster P16
IC 5068 HII Ionized Nebula P359 Forsaken Nebula
IC 5070 HII Ionized Nebula P79 Pelican Nebula, includes IC 5067
IC 5076 Reflection Nebula P186
IC 5117 Planetary Nebula P223
IC 5146 Emission/Reflect Neb C19 Cocoon Nebula
NGC 6811 Open Cluster P10 Hole Cluster
NGC 6819 Open Cluster P12
NGC 6826 Planetary Nebula C15, Herschel 400 H73-4 Blinking Planetary Nebula
NGC 6833 Planetary Nebula P278
NGC 6834 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H16-8
NGC 6857 HII Ionized Nebula P64
NGC 6866 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H59-7
NGC 6871 Open Cluster P9
NGC 6883 Open Cluster P17
NGC 6884 Planetary Nebula P195
NGC 6888 HII Ionized Nebula C27 Crescent Nebula
NGC 6894 Planetary Nebula P349
NGC 6910 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H56-8
NGC 6913 Open Cluster M29 Cooling Tower Cluster
NGC 6914 Reflection Nebula P143
NGC 6946 Galaxy C12, Herschel 400 H76-4 Fireworks Galaxy
NGC 6960 Supernova Remnant C34 Veil Nebula (West)
NGC 6992 Supernova Remnant C33 Veil Nebula (East), includes NGC 6995 and IC 1340
NGC 6996 Asterism P224, included in NGC 7000 North America Nebula
NGC 6997 Open Cluster P145, included in NGC 7000 North America Nebula
NGC 7000 HII Ionized Nebula C20, Herschel 400 H37-5 North America Nebula
NGC 7008 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H192-1
NGC 7026 Planetary Nebula P147
NGC 7027 Planetary Nebula P25 Jewel Bug Nebula
NGC 7039 Open Cluster P13
NGC 7044 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H24-6
NGC 7048 Planetary Nebula P226
NGC 7062 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H51-7
NGC 7063 Open Cluster P14
NGC 7067 Open Cluster P149
NGC 7082 Open Cluster P15
NGC 7086 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H32-6
NGC 7092 Open Cluster M39
NGC 7128 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H40-7
Constellation: Eridanus (ERI)
IC 2118 Reflection Nebula P112 Witch Head Nebula
NGC 1084 Galaxy Herschel 400 H64-1
NGC 1187 Galaxy P293
NGC 1232 Galaxy P28 Eye of God Galaxy
NGC 1300 Galaxy P81
NGC 1332 Galaxy P82
NGC 1395 Galaxy P228
NGC 1400 Galaxy P367
NGC 1407 Galaxy Herschel 400 H107-1
NGC 1535 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H26-4 Cleopatra’s Eye Nebula
NGC 1600 Galaxy P299
NGC 1637 Galaxy P286
NGC 1700 Galaxy P305
Constellation: Fornax (FOR)
NGC 1097 Galaxy C67
NGC 1201 Galaxy P153
NGC 1255 Galaxy P178
NGC 1302 Galaxy P154
NGC 1360 Planetary Nebula P84 Robin’s Egg Nebula
NGC 1367 Galaxy P85
NGC 1385 Galaxy P300
NGC 1398 Galaxy P32
NGC 1425 Galaxy P86
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: Lacerta (LAC)
IC 1434 Open Cluster P159
IC 5217 Planetary Nebula P230 Little Saturn Nebula
NGC 7209 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H53-7
NGC 7243 Open Cluster C16, Herschel 400 H75-8
NGC 7245 Open Cluster P161
NGC 7296 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H41-7
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: Lepus (LEP)
IC 418 Planetary Nebula P90 Spirograph Nebula
NGC 1904 Globular Cluster M79
NGC 1964 Galaxy Herschel 400 H21-4
NGC 2196 Galaxy P327
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: Perseus (PER)
IC 348 Open Cluster P95
IC 351 Planetary Nebula P351
IC 2003 Planetary Nebula P237
IC 2067 Reflection Nebula P326
NGC 650/NGC 651 Planetary Nebula M76, Herschel 400 H193-1 Little Dumbell Nebula
NGC 744 Open Cluster P96
NGC 869 Open Cluster C14a, Herschel 400 H33-6 Double Cluster (West)
NGC 884 Open Cluster C14b, Herschel 400 H34-6 Double Cluster (East)
NGC 957 Open Cluster P97
NGC 1023 Galaxy Herschel 400 H156-1 Perseus Lenticular Galaxy
NGC 1039 Open Cluster M34 Spiral Cluster
NGC 1058 Galaxy P107
NGC 1161 Galaxy P261
NGC 1220 Open Cluster P238
NGC 1245 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H25-6
NGC 1275 Galaxy C24 Perseus A Seyfert Galaxy
NGC 1333 Reflection Nebula P330
NGC 1342 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H88-8 Stingray Cluster
NGC 1444 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H80-8
NGC 1491 HII Ionized Nebula P60 Fossil Footprint Nebula
NGC 1496 Open Cluster P174
NGC 1499 Emission Nebula P44 California Nebula
NGC 1513 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H60-7
NGC 1528 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H61-7
NGC 1545 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H85-8
NGC 1579 Emission/Reflect Neb P333 Northern Trifid Nebula
NGC 1582 Open Cluster P45
NGC 1605 Open Cluster P239, pair of Open Clusters (overlapping binary pair)
NGC 1624 Open Cluster P240
Constellation: Pisces (PSC)
NGC 315 Galaxy P366
NGC 488 Galaxy Herschel 400 H252-3
NGC 524 Galaxy Herschel 400 H151-1
NGC 628 Galaxy M74 Phantom Galaxy
NGC 660 Galaxy P318
NGC 741 Galaxy P260
Constellation: Puppis (PUP)
NGC 2396 Open Cluster P99
NGC 2409 Open Cluster P100
NGC 2414 Open Cluster P101
NGC 2421 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H67-7
NGC 2422 Open Cluster M47, Herschel 400 H38-8
NGC 2423 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H28-7
NGC 2432 Open Cluster P241
NGC 2437 Open Cluster M46
NGC 2438 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H39-4
NGC 2440 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H64-4 Bow Tie Nebula
NGC 2447 Open Cluster M93 Critter Cluster
NGC 2452 Planetary Nebula P47, appears close to NGC 2453 but is unrelated
NGC 2453 Open Cluster P176
NGC 2455 Open Cluster P242
NGC 2467 Emission Nebula P102 Skull and Crossbones Nebula
NGC 2479 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H58-7
NGC 2482 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H10-7
NGC 2483 Open Cluster P103
NGC 2489 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H23-7
NGC 2509 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H1-8
NGC 2527 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H30-8
NGC 2533 Open Cluster P104
NGC 2539 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H11-7
NGC 2566 Galaxy P48
NGC 2567 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H64-7
NGC 2571 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H39-6
NGC 2587 Open Cluster P179
Constellation: Taurus (TAU)
Messier 45 Open Cluster M45, Collinder 42, Pleiades, Seven Sisters, Subaru
Caldwell 41 Open Cluster C41, Collinder 50, Hyades
IC 349 Reflection Nebula P339 Barnard’s Merope Nebula
NGC 1514 Planetary Nebula P120 Crystal Ball Nebula
NGC 1554 Reflection Nebula P200 Von Struve’s Lost Nebula
NGC 1555 Reflection Nebula P201 Hind’s Variable Nebula
NGC 1647 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H8-8
NGC 1746 Asterism P55, includes NGC 1750 and NGC 1758
NGC 1750 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H43-8, overlaps NGC 1746
NGC 1807 Asterism P65
NGC 1817 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H4-7
NGC 1952 Supernova Remnant M1 Crab Nebula
Constellation: Triangulum (TRI)
NGC 598 Galaxy M33, Herschel 400 H17-5 Triangulum Galaxy
NGC 672 Galaxy P114
NGC 890 Galaxy P150
NGC 925 Galaxy P66
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
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://www.cfa.harvard.edu/skyreport
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/
https://cse.umn.edu/mifa/starwatch
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://www.adventuresci.org/starcharts
https://www.astromart.com/news/search?category_id=3&q=kiss+the+sky&from=&to
Equatorial Latitudes:
https://heavens-above.com/SkyChart2.aspx
https://in-the-sky.org/data/constellations_map.php
https://ytliu0.github.io/starCharts/chartGCRS.html
Southern Latitudes:
https://www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/
https://www.stardome.org.nz/star-charts--sky-spotter
This is my personal deep sky observing list. I use it to line up my DSO targets on any particular night:
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/
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
Do you enjoy reading these postings?
Then click here and buy the Astromart crew a cup of coffee (and maybe even some donuts):
https://www.astromart.com/support-options
