Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of August 2025

The East and West Veil Nebulae (C33, NGC6992 and C34, NGC6960) in Ha and OIII Filters. The Veil Nebula is the remnant of a star roughly 20 times as massive as the Sun that exploded about 10,000 years ago, The Veil Nebula is situated about 2400 light-years away in the constellation Cygnus. [Video and Content Credits: NASA, the Office of Public Outreach – Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) and JPL Caltech: Preston Dyches, Christopher Harris, and Lisa Poje, with subject matter guidance provided by JPL’s Bill Dunford and Lyle Tavernier, and the Night Sky Network’s Kat Troche] [Image Credit: Michael Mayda - Astromart Gallery Contributor – one hour exposure each of Hydrogen alpha (Ha) and Oxygen III (OIII). Image acquired in CCDSoft with a Takahashi Epsilon 180ED telescope and STL11000 camera with AstroDon filters. Processed in CCDStack – See some of his beautiful work at https://www.astromart.com/gallery/user/405 ]

 

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Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of August 2025

Welcome to the night sky report for August 2025 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. Mercury pops up above the horizon during the second half of August and appears very low, below 10 degrees altitude. Venus shines very brightly in the east each morning before sunrise, about 20 to 30 degrees above the horizon. Mars can be observed low in the west during the hour after sunset, appearing about as bright as the brightest stars in the Big Dipper. Jupiter appears in the east each morning, together with Venus, but much less bright. Finally, Saturn is observable late night to dawn and rises around 10:30 PM early in the month and around 8:30 PM by the end of the month. Find it high in the south as sunrise approaches. Also, in August, a number of star-studded figures soar overhead. Look for the constellation Lyra, shaped as a small parallelogram, which points to Epsilon Lyrae and the Ring Nebula (M57, NGC 6720). You can also spot three bright summer stars: Vega, Deneb, and Altair, which form the Summer Triangle. Keep observing around the group of stars commonly known as the Teapot and you’ll be looking toward the center of the Milky Way. In that direction, you can see the Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523). August is also a great month to learn an easy-to-spot constellation – Cygnus the swan. The night sky is truly a celestial showcase, so get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.

Mars is the lone planet in the early evening sky this month, visible low in the west for about an hour after the sky starts to darken. It’s now only about 60% as bright as it appeared back in May. 

Saturn is rising by about 10:00 PM, and you’ll see it showing up a bit earlier each evening as the month goes on. You’ll find it in the east after dark with the constellations Cassiopeia and Andromeda. The Ringed Planet makes its way over to the western part of the sky by dawn, where early risers will find it on August mornings.

The real highlight of August is the close approach of Jupiter and Venus. They shine brightly in the east before sunrise throughout the month. The pair begin the month farther apart, but quickly approach each other in the sky. They appear at their closest on the 11th and 12th — only about a degree apart. Their rendezvous happens against a backdrop of bright stars including Orion, Taurus, Gemini, and Sirius. A slim crescent Moon joins the pair of planets after they separate again on the mornings of the 19th and 20th.

One of the best annual meteor showers, the Perseids, peaks overnight on August 12th and into the 13th. Unfortunately, this year the Moon is nearly full on the peak night and its glare will wash out all but the brightest meteors. While that's not so great for Perseid watchers, the good news is that another favorite annual meteor shower, the Geminids, is poised for Moon-free viewing in December.

The warm August nights offer fine opportunities for stargazing, as a number of star-studded figures soar overhead. In the southeast lies Vega, one of the brightest stars in the sky. The Greeks made Vega the anchor of the small constellation Lyra, the lyre of Orpheus. Lyra’s main pattern is a small parallelogram that marks the strings of the instrument.

Alongside Lyra sits Epsilon Lyrae, also known as a Double Double, a point of light consisting of two orbiting pairs of white stars.

Between the bottom two stars of the parallelogram is the Ring Nebula (M57, NGC 6720). NASA’s Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes reveal stunning details of this planetary nebula, a glowing shell of gas expelled by a dying star. The remnant core of the star -- now a small, hot white dwarf -- sits in the center of the shell, providing radiant energy that makes the gas glow. Our own sun may end its life this way in about 6 billion years.

To the east of Lyra we find a second bright star: Deneb, a distant blue-white supergiant. Deneb marks the tail of Cygnus the swan. Cygnus is flying high in the eastern sky after dark in August. Cygnus has an overall shape like a T or cross, and contains a star pattern sometimes called "the Northern Cross." 

Cygnus is anchored by its brightest star, Deneb, which represents the swan's tail. Deneb is the northernmost of the three stars in the Summer Triangle, and it's visible even in bright city skies. On the other end of Cygnus from Deneb is double star Albireo, which is a stargazing favorite, as it shows beautiful blue and gold colors through even the most modest telescope.

Cygnus lies right along the plane of the Milky Way, so it's dense with glittering stars and dark dust clouds, with lots of interest for telescope observers and astrophotographers to enjoy, including the North America Nebula (C20, NGC7000), the East and West Veil Nebulae (C33, NGC6992 and C34, NGC6960), and the Blinking Planetary Nebula (C15, NGC6826). It also includes the Cooling Tower Cluster (M29, NGC6913) and the open cluster M39 (NGC7092), which are visible with binoculars.

However you're observing the sky where you live, August is a great time to discover the constellation Cygnus, the graceful swan soaring across the dusty lanes of the Milky Way.

Just south of the head of Cygnus lies a small pattern called Vulpecula, the fox. Vulpecula hosts the Dumbbell Nebula (M27, NGC6853), another planetary nebula. The Spitzer Space Telescope’s infrared view shows the expanding cloud of gas heated by the central remnant star—now a white dwarf. Astronomers think that the dumbbell shape of this nebula could be caused by the presence of a second star at the center. Eventually the expelled gas of the nebula will dissipate into surrounding space, leaving only the white dwarf and its possible companion behind.

A nebula is a giant cloud of gas and dust in space, and planetary nebulae are produced by stars like our Sun when they become old and nuclear fusion ceases inside them. They blow off their outer layers, leaving behind a small, hot remnant called a white dwarf. The white dwarf produces lots of bright ultraviolet light that illuminates the nebula from the inside, as the expanding shell of gas absorbs the UV light and re-radiates it as visible light. 

The Dumbbell Nebula is nicknamed for its dumbbell-like shape, and appears as a small, faint patch of light about a quarter of the width of the full moon in binoculars or a small telescope. It lies within the Summer Triangle, a pattern of stars that's easy to find overhead in the August sky. You’ll find the nebula about a third of the way between its bright stars Altair and Deneb.

To the south of Lyra and Cygnus lies another bright star of summer: Altair. Altair marks the neck of Aquila the eagle. Just off the end of Aquila’s outstretched tail lies an open star cluster. Known as the Wild Duck Cluster (M11, NGC6705), early observers thought it resembled a flock of ducks flying in a roughly V-shaped formation.

Taken together, the three bright summer stars Vega, Deneb, and Altair form the Summer Triangle. Use the Summer Triangle as a guide to the stars and nebulae that glide through the late summer night.

All the stars in the sky share a common origin in giant clouds of gas and dust called nebulae. And one such stellar nursery, the Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523), is well placed to observe in the August sky.

The Lagoon Nebula will feel familiar to you if you've ever observed the Orion Nebula (M42, NGC 1976) – with the latter being just a bit brighter. Being about three times wider than the full moon, it's still relatively easy to find, even under suburban skies, with binoculars or a small telescope.

The Lagoon Nebula is located in the constellation Sagittarius, which regular skywatchers will know is synonymous with the faintly glowing band of the Milky Way core. You'll find it here, just above the top of the star pattern known as the Teapot.

The nebula is located about 4000 light years away. Its oblong structure is about 100 light years long by about 50 light years wide. It's a cauldron of intense star forming activity, with many young stars blazing brightly, causing the surrounding gas to glow. That glow is faint and colorless when peering at the Lagoon Nebula through binoculars, but long-exposure photos reveal its colorful nature. The bright stars are also sculpting the nebula, creating voids and turbulent knots and streamers of gas. The nebula gets its name from one of these dense, dark clouds that stretches across its middle, looking something like a watery lagoon.

The Lagoon Nebula appears high overhead in August for those in the Southern Hemisphere, and quite low for those at higher northern latitudes, but it's visible throughout the lower 49 United States. If you can locate the stars in the Teapot, you should be able to observe the nebula too. To find it, follow a line toward the west, twice the distance from the top of the Teapot's handle to the top of its lid.

Nebulae can be challenging to observe, even with a telescope. But with its large size and relative brightness, the Lagoon Nebula offers a great opportunity to see one of these star forges for yourself in August.

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: Aquarius (AQR)

NGC 6981 Globular Cluster M72

NGC 6994 Asterism M73

NGC 7009 Planetary Nebula C55, Herschel 400 H1-4 Saturn Nebula

NGC 7089 Globular Cluster M2

NGC 7184 Galaxy P206

NGC 7293 Planetary Nebula C63 Helix Nebula

NGC 7377 Galaxy P229

NGC 7492 Globular Cluster P208

NGC 7606 Galaxy Herschel 400 H104-1

NGC 7723 Galaxy Herschel 400 H110-1

NGC 7727 Galaxy Herschel 400 H111-1

 

Constellation: Aquila (AQL)

IC 4846 Planetary Nebula P258

NGC 6709 Open Cluster P1 Levy’s Cluster

NGC 6738 Asterism P18

NGC 6741 Planetary Nebula P207 Phantom Streak Nebula

NGC 6751 Planetary Nebula P348 Glowing Eye Nebula

NGC 6755 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H19-7

NGC 6756 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H62-7

NGC 6760 Globular Cluster P19

NGC 6778 Planetary Nebula P354

NGC 6781 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H743-3 Snowglobe Nebula

NGC 6790 Planetary Nebula P51 Mustang Nebula

NGC 6803 Planetary Nebula P209

NGC 6804 Planetary Nebula P350

NGC 6807 Planetary Nebula P353

 

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: 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: 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: 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: Delphinus (DEL)

NGC 6891 Planetary Nebula P152

NGC 6905 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H16-4 Blue Flash Nebula

NGC 6934 Globular Cluster C47, Herschel 400 H103-1

NGC 7006 Globular Cluster C42, Herschel 400 H52-1

 

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: 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: 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: Lyra (LYR)

NGC 6720 Planetary Nebula M57 Ring Nebula

NGC 6743 Open Cluster P312

NGC 6779 Globular Cluster M56

NGC 6791 Open Cluster P162

 

Constellation: Ophiuchus (OPH)

IC 4603 Reflection Nebula P325, part of Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex

IC 4604 Reflection Nebula P313 Rho Ophiuchi Nebula

IC 4634 Planetary Nebula P168

IC 4665 Open Cluster P36

NGC 6171 Globular Cluster M107, Herschel 400 H40-6 Crucifix Cluster

NGC 6218 Globular Cluster M12 Gumball Globular Cluster

NGC 6235 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H584-2

NGC 6254 Globular Cluster M10

NGC 6266 Globular Cluster M62 Flickering Globular Cluster

NGC 6273 Globular Cluster M19

NGC 6284 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H11-6

NGC 6287 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H195-2

NGC 6293 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H12-6

NGC 6304 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H147-1

NGC 6309 Planetary Nebula P236 Box Nebula

NGC 6316 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H45-1

NGC 6325 Globular Cluster P169

NGC 6333 Globular Cluster M9

NGC 6342 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H149-1

NGC 6355 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H46-1

NGC 6356 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H48-1

NGC 6366 Globular Cluster P37

NGC 6369 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H11-4 Little Ghost Nebula

NGC 6384 Galaxy P320

NGC 6401 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H44-1

NGC 6402 Globular Cluster M14

NGC 6426 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H587-2

NGC 6517 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H199-2

NGC 6572 Planetary Nebula P38 Emerald Nebula

NGC 6633 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H72-8

 

Constellation: Pegasus (PEG)

NGC 7078 Globular Cluster M15 Great Pegasus Globular Cluster

NGC 7177 Galaxy P370

NGC 7217 Galaxy Herschel 400 H207-2

NGC 7331 Galaxy C30, Herschel 400 H53-1

NGC 7332 Galaxy P288 Paired with NGC 7339

NGC 7448 Galaxy Herschel 400 H251-2

NGC 7457 Galaxy P173

NGC 7479 Galaxy C44, Herschel 400 H55-1 Superman Galaxy

NGC 7619 Galaxy P346

NGC 7626 Galaxy P108

NGC 7814 Galaxy C43 Little Sombrero Galaxy

 

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: Sagitta (SGE)

IC 4997 Planetary Nebula P246

NGC 6838 Globular Cluster M71 Angelfish Globular Cluster

NGC 6879 Planetary Nebula P355

NGC 6886 Planetary Nebula P247

 

Constellation: Sagittarius (SGR)

IC 1274 HII Ionized Nebula P323

IC 1284 HII Ionized Nebula P281

IC 4678 Emission Nebula P295, at edge of M8 (NGC 6523) Lagoon Nebula

IC 4684 Reflection Nebula P363

IC 4685 Emission/Reflect Neb P364

IC 4701 Emission Nebula P365

IC 4706 Emission Nebula P274

IC 4715 Bright Star Field M24 Small Sagittarius Star Cloud

IC 4725 Open Cluster M25

IC 4732 Planetary Nebula P182

IC 4776 Planetary Nebula P183

NGC 6440 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H150-1

NGC 6445 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H586-2

NGC 6469 Open Cluster P184

NGC 6494 Open Cluster M23

NGC 6507 Open Cluster P185

NGC 6514 HII Ionized Nebula M20, Herschel 400 H41-1 Trifid Nebula

NGC 6520 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H7-7, in Large Sagittarius Star Cloud

NGC 6522 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H49-1

NGC 6523 HII Ionized Nebula M8 Lagoon Nebula

NGC 6528 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H200-2

NGC 6530 Open Cluster P49, overlaps M8 (NGC 6523) Lagoon Nebula

NGC 6531 Open Cluster M21 Webb’s Cross Cluster

NGC 6537 Planetary Nebula P316 Red Spider Nebula

NGC 6540 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H198-2

NGC 6544 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H197-2

NGC 6546 Open Cluster P106

NGC 6553 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H12-4

NGC 6558 Globular Cluster P210

NGC 6559 Emission/Reflect Neb P328

NGC 6565 Planetary Nebula P248

NGC 6567 Planetary Nebula P188

NGC 6568 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H30-7

NGC 6569 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H201-2

NGC 6583 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H31-7

NGC 6589 Reflection Nebula P302

NGC 6590 Reflection Nebula P50

NGC 6603 Open Cluster P340, embedded in M24 Small Sagittarius Star Cloud

NGC 6613 Open Cluster M18 Black Swan Cluster

NGC 6618 HII Ionized Nebula M17 Omega Nebula

NGC 6624 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H50-1

NGC 6626 Globular Cluster M28

NGC 6629 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H204-2

NGC 6637 Globular Cluster M69

NGC 6638 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H51-1

NGC 6642 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H205-2

NGC 6644 Planetary Nebula P309

NGC 6645 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H23-6

NGC 6652 Globular Cluster P31

NGC 6656 Globular Cluster M22 Great Sagitarius Globular Cluster

NGC 6681 Globular Cluster M70

NGC 6715 Globular Cluster M54

NGC 6716 Open Cluster P109

NGC 6717 Globular Cluster P110, Palomar 9, nearly obscured by Star SAO 187445

NGC 6809 Globular Cluster M55 Specter Globular Cluster

NGC 6818 Planetary Nebula Herschel 400 H51-4 Little Gem Nebula

NGC 6822 Galaxy C57 Barnard’s Galaxy

NGC 6864 Globular Cluster M75

 

Constellation: Scutum (SCT)

IC 1287 Reflection Nebula P334

IC 1295 Planetary Nebula P352

NGC 6625 Open Cluster P191

NGC 6631 Open Cluster P196

NGC 6649 Open Cluster P197

NGC 6664 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H12-8

NGC 6683 Open Cluster P335

NGC 6694 Open Cluster M26

NGC 6704 Open Cluster P198

NGC 6705 Open Cluster M11 Wild Duck Cluster

 

Constellation: Serpens Cauda (SER - Tail)

IC 1276 Globular Cluster P118, Palomar 7 Globular Cluster

IC 4703 HII Ionized Nebula P337, includes M16 (NGC 6611) Eagle Nebula

IC 4756 Open Cluster P62 Graff’s Cluster

NGC 6535 Globular Cluster P199

NGC 6539 Globular Cluster P119

NGC 6604 Open Cluster P63

NGC 6611 HII Ionized Nebula M16 Eagle Nebula and Cluster, included in IC 4703

 

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

 

Constellation: Vulpecula (VUL)

NGC 6802 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H14-6

NGC 6823 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H18-7

NGC 6830 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H9-7

NGC 6853 Planetary Nebula M27 Dumbell Nebula

NGC 6882 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H22-8

NGC 6885 Open Cluster C37, Herschel 400 H20-8

NGC 6940 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H8-7

 

 

For more information:

Northern Latitudes:

https://hubblesite.org/resource-gallery/tonights-sky

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://stardate.org/nightsky

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:

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/

 

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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