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

The Cat’s Eye Nebula (NGC 6543, Caldwell 6) is a planetary nebula, formed by clouds of expanding gas given off by an aging star during its slow death. When a star gets old and its hydrogen fuel runs out, its core collapses and its outer layers puff up. As the collapsing core gets hotter and denser, helium fusion ignites and produces an outward rush of energy that pushes the outer layers of gas into space, forming a nebula. This cycle can repeat, creating a series of gaseous rings around the central star, as revealed in this image of the Cat’s Eye Nebula. Planetary nebulae are so named because their rounded shapes looked like planets to the first astronomers who viewed them through telescopes. Caldwell 6 was discovered in February of 1786 by Sir William Herschel (who also discovered the planet Uranus and was knighted in 1816). English amateur astronomer William Huggins is credited with investigating the spectrum of Caldwell 6 for the first time. His studies demonstrated that planetary nebulae are gaseous in nature, rather than stellar, as previously thought. [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: Tony Hallas - Astromart Gallery Contributor – See some of his beautiful work at https://www.astromart.com/gallery/user/7 ]

 

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

Welcome to the night sky report for February 2026 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. Special note: The Moon could have human visitors for the first time since 1972 this month. NASA's Artemis II manned mission has its first opportunity to launch to the moon on February 8th. Four astronauts will travel beyond Earth’s orbit and fly around the Moon on Artemis II, a mission that will test NASA’s systems and hardware for human exploration of deep space. The approximately 10-day mission will test the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, named Integrity. For this month’s observing, the Winter Triangle is your guide to the night sky. The northern hemisphere is treated to views of the stars Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse, as well as awe-inspiring views of the Great Orion Nebula (M42, NGC 1976), sculpted by the stellar winds of its central bright stars. The night sky is truly a celestial showcase. Get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.

The Moon could have human visitors for the first time since 1972 this month. Four astronauts will travel beyond Earth’s orbit and fly around the Moon on Artemis II, a mission that will test NASA’s systems and hardware for human exploration of deep space. The approximately 10-day mission will test the SLS (Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft, named Integrity. The astronauts set to fly around the Moon went into quarantine on January 23, 2026. NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, along with CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, will ensure that they don’t pick up any illness that could delay their mission by limiting their exposure to others in the days before they lift off. At this time, NASA still has not set an official launch date as testing continues for the rocket and spacecraft. This mission will pave the way for Artemis III, which will be the first time we’ve sent humans to the lunar surface since the final Apollo mission, Apollo 17, in 1972.

A planetary parade will march across the sky this month. The planets will be visible soon after sunset throughout the month of February, but they’ll be lined up best toward the end of the month.

In mid-February, Saturn will drop down toward the horizon as Venus and Mercury climb upward in the sky, meeting together in the west to southwestern sky. Jupiter will find itself high in the sky. And even Uranus, found in the southern sky, and Neptune, found near Saturn, will join the parade—though you'll need a telescope to spot these two far-off planets.

The brightly starred winter sky beckons on the clear, cold nights of February. Orion, the hunter of Greek mythology, dominates the heavens with a bright belt of three stars. The hunter’s shoulder is marked by the red supergiant Betelgeuse, a massive star nearing the end of its life.

Betelgeuse is roughly 1000 times the size of our sun. An image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope shows its huge atmosphere with an enormous, mysterious spot, glowing brightly in ultraviolet light. Hubble’s sharp vision allows astronomers to monitor features of the star’s atmosphere and better understand how it changes over time.

Marking Orion’s foot is another bright, hot supergiant: blue-white Rigel. Massive stars like Rigel lead short, brilliant lives. Below Orion’s shining belt lies the Orion Nebula, a hazy spot to the naked eye. A small telescope reveals it to be a diffuse, glowing cloud in space, illuminated by the energy of bright, hot stars in its center.

February is also a perfect time to enjoy the Great Nebula in Orion. The Great Orion Nebula is an enormous cloud of gas and dust where thousands of stars are being born. In fact, it's the nearest large star-forming region to our Solar System, at around 1500 light-years away. The bright, central region of the Orion Nebula is a giant cavity in the cloud being carved out by the intense ultraviolet light from a handful of extremely massive young stars. 

Finding the Orion Nebula is easy on February nights, as the constellation Orion will be high in the south around 8:00 or 9:00 PM. Look for the three stars of the hunter's belt and then find the stars that hang below it forming Orion's sword. In the center of this line of stars is one that looks kind of fuzzy. That's the nebula. It's visible to the unaided eye under relatively dark skies and is easily seen with binoculars as a faint haze. But through a telescope, it's a sight you'll never forget.

NASA’s Hubble and Spitzer space telescopes reveal the nebula in festoons of glowing gas and dust, sculpted by the stellar winds of central bright stars. The Orion Nebula is an immense stellar nursery, filled with hot young stars that glow brightly in X-ray light detected by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Follow the belt of Orion down and left to find blue-white Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky. Sirius lies in the constellation Canis Major, the Great Dog and companion to Orion. Sirius is also one of the nearest stars, just 8.6 light-years away, and has a faint white dwarf companion star.

Just below Sirius lies an open cluster called M41 (the Little Beehive Cluster, NGC 2287). It is easily seen with a pair of binoculars as a scattered twinkling. M41 consists of about 100 stars that formed together from a giant cloud of gas and dust.

Above and to the left of Sirius is another bright star, a yellowish giant named Procyon. Procyon is part of the constellation Canis Minor, the smaller dog and Orion’s second companion. Procyon, Sirius, and Betelgeuse form a geometrical pattern called the Winter Triangle.

February is also a good time to view one of the famed Messier objects known as M81 (NGC 3031). This is a spiral galaxy similar to our own Milky Way, but just a bit smaller, and it's one of the brightest galaxies in the night sky. It's located about 11.8 million light years away.

It was discovered by astronomer Johann Bode in 1774, which is where it gets its common name, "Bode's Galaxy." At the time, it was simply cataloged as a nebula or faint, fuzzy patch. It wouldn't be until the work of Edwin Hubble in the 1920s that many such faint, fuzzy objects were understood to be self-contained galaxies of stars outside the Milky Way and incredibly distant from us.

M81 is too dim to see with the unaided eye, but it's visible with binoculars or a small telescope, where it appears as a dim patch of light. With a 6-inch telescope you can resolve the galaxy's bright core, and with an 8-inch telescope, you can begin to make out the spiral arms.

Locating M81 is not too difficult with the Big Dipper to guide you. Starting with the star on the end corner, called Dubhe, imagine a line twice the distance from the star on the opposite corner of the Dipper, Phecda. Pointing your telescope or binoculars in that area ought to put you pretty close to M81. You might also notice its faint, fuzzy companion nearby, which is M82 (NGC 3034). This is another galaxy, but seen edge-on, and it gets its common name, the "Cigar Galaxy," from this appearance.

This pair of galaxies is "circumpolar" in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning that they rotate around the north celestial pole and never set. (Unfortunately, this means they're not visible from the Southern Hemisphere.) Although it's visible all year in the Northern Hemisphere from about February through May, you'll find M81 high in the northern sky in the first half of the night, making it easier to observe.

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: 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: 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: Canis Major (CMA)

IC 2163 Galaxy P133, colliding with NGC 2207

IC 2165 Planetary Nebula P216

NGC 2204 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H13-7

NGC 2207 Galaxy P134, colliding with IC 2163

NGC 2217 Galaxy P72 Snake Eye Galaxy

NGC 2243 Open Cluster P132

NGC 2280 Galaxy P371

NGC 2287 Open Cluster M41 Little Beehive Cluster

NGC 2293 Galaxy P23, paired with NGC 2292

NGC 2325 Galaxy P155

NGC 2345 Open Cluster P73

NGC 2354 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H16-7

NGC 2359 HII Ionized Nebula P20 Thor’s Helmet Nebula

NGC 2360 Open Cluster C58, Herschel 400 H12-7 Caroline’s Cluster

NGC 2362 Open Cluster C64, Herschel 400 H17-7 Tau Canis Majoris Cluster

NGC 2367 Open Cluster P74

NGC 2374 Open Cluster P75

NGC 2380 Galaxy P131

NGC 2383 Open Cluster P135

NGC 2384 Open Cluster P76

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Pyxis (PYX)

NGC 2613 Galaxy P298

NGC 2627 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H63-7

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: 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: 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