Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of January 2026
Messier 44, also famously known as the Beehive Cluster or Praesepe, swarms with activity as its name would suggest. This open cluster of around 1000 stars, loosely connected by gravity, is one of the closest to Earth at approximately 600 light-years away. The stars of open clusters form from the same cloud of collapsing gas and the Beehive Cluster is thought to be quite young, around 600 to 700 million years old. In contrast, its Milky Way home is known to be about 4.6 billion years old. M44 was first characterized as more than a cloudy nebula by Galileo, who resolved around 40 of the stars within it. M44 covers the space of about three full moons (or 1.5 degrees) in the sky in the constellation Cancer. To the unaided eye, it looks like a blur of light. A pair of binoculars can resolve around 20 stars, but a modest telescope will reveal scores to hundreds more of the cluster’s collection of mostly blue-white stars. [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: Taylor Chonis - Astromart Gallery Contributor – Taken with a Takahashi FSQ106N, CGE, ST-2kXM, LRGB, 1.2 hour exposure https://www.astromart.com/gallery/photo/35486 ]
Excuse Me While I Kiss the Sky -- Month of January 2026
Happy New Year and welcome to the night sky report for January 2026 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. This month, Jupiter is at its biggest and brightest all year and the Moon and Saturn pair up in a conjunction. The January sky is also filled with bright stars in the constellations Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Canis Major, and Canis Minor. Find these cosmic gems by looking toward the southeast in the first few hours after it gets dark. The northern hemisphere also features beautiful views of Capella - a pair of giant yellow stars, Aldebaran - a red giant star, and three star clusters [the Hyades (Caldwell 41), the Pleiades (M45), and the Praesepe (M44, NGC 2632, also known as the Beehive Cluster)]. The night sky is truly a celestial showcase. Get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.
This month, Jupiter will be in "opposition," meaning that Earth will be directly between Jupiter and the Sun. To see Jupiter at its best, look to the east and all evening long you'll be able to see the planet in the constellation Gemini. It will be one of the brightest objects in the night sky. Only the Moon and Venus will be brighter.
Saturn and the Moon will share the sky on January 23rd as part of a “conjunction.” A conjunction is when objects in the sky look close together even though they're actually far apart. To spot the pair, look to the west and you'll see Saturn just below the Moon, sparkling in the night sky.
One of the things that makes skywatching so interesting is the way in which the sky is always changing. The stars rise in the east and set in the west each night. The Moon gradually waxes and wanes as it goes through its monthly cycle. And likely you've also noticed that the stars you can see on a given night changes slowly over the course of the year. The bright stars and constellations we see on warm summer nights are not the ones that fill the chilly sky in winter.
This is because the stars rise 4 minutes earlier each day and it adds up over time. In just one week, a given star will rise 28 minutes earlier than it does tonight. And in 1 month, the same star will be rising about 2 hours earlier. So at 4 minutes per day, or 2 hours per month, after 6 months, the stars of summer are rising a full 12 hours earlier than they did back in June, placing them high in the daytime sky. In their place, the evening sky belongs to the stars of winter.
This slow-motion cycle in the sky plays out annually as Earth moves in its orbit around the Sun. Our view outward into space during the night depends on where Earth is in its orbit. At one part of the year, our view of space from Earth's night side looks in one direction, and six months later the view is in the opposite direction. And so our nighttime view of the cosmos changes over the course of the year, because the stars aren't moving -- We are. And that change happens at a pace of only 4 minutes per day.
January nights are filled with bright stars. Looking toward the south or southeast in the first few hours after dark, you'll spy the bright constellations of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Of course there's Orion the hunter; the big dog constellation Canis Major; and the lesser known little dog, Canis Minor with its bright star Procyon. Y-shaped Taurus, the bull, includes the bright Hyades and Pleiades star clusters. And just east of Orion, you'll find the bright stars Castor and Pollux, which form the heads of the twins in Gemini. Make sure you take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the January sky, which more than meets the definition of "star studded," with so much to marvel at.
Orion the hunter is the centerpiece constellation in January, striding into the night sky with a belt of three stars. Above Orion lies a five-sided figure that forms Auriga, the charioteer, who was associated with goats. Its brightest star is Capella, which is actually a pair of giant yellow stars.
Auriga balances on a horn of Taurus the bull. In Greek mythology, Taurus was seen as the god Zeus in disguise. His eye is orange Aldebaran, a red giant star nearing the end of its life. A number of the stars that form the bull’s V-shaped head are part of a star cluster called the Hyades.
The bull’s shoulder is marked by the distinctive Pleiades star cluster, also called the Seven Sisters or Subaru. The cluster contains more than 250 stars, but only six or seven are visible to the naked eye. The view of the Pleiades from the Palomar Observatory shows the brightest stars surrounded by a dusty cloud. The dust reflects the blue light of these hot stars.
At the tip of Taurus’s horn lies the Crab Nebula. The Crab is the remains of a star that exploded as a supernova, observed by Chinese, Japanese, and Arab astronomers in 1054. Telescopes on the ground and in space have observed different forms of light given off by the Crab Nebula. Different wavelengths of visible and invisible light reveal details of the supernova remnant. Combining information from different wavelengths helps us to better understand the expanding cloud of glowing gas and the spinning neutron star that remains at its core.
Antares is a red giant star located in the constellation Scorpius which has a distinctly reddish color. Since it's the brightest star in Scorpius, it's also known as Alpha Scorpii. Located about 500 light years away, Antares is enormous. It's much bigger than the orbit of Mars and it's about 10,000 times brighter than our Sun.
Antares is also a well-studied star, and thus its well-known brightness is sometimes used by researchers in studying other phenomena in space, such as the rings of Saturn. NASA's Cassini spacecraft watched Antares flicker behind Saturn's rings on multiple occasions, which helped researchers understand the structure of the icy rings.
The name Antares translates as "rival to Mars" in ancient Greek, as the star rivals the Red Planet's appearance to the unaided eye, both in color and brightness. During January, you can view Antares low in the southeast, about an hour before sunrise each morning.
The Praesepe, also known as the Beehive Cluster (M44, NGC 2632) will be visible in the night sky throughout January. The Beehive Cluster is an open star cluster -- a loosely-bound group of about 1000 stars. There are thousands of open star clusters like the Beehive in the Milky Way Galaxy.
To see the Beehive Cluster, look to the eastern night sky after sunset and before midnight throughout the month. The best nights to spot the cluster are around the middle of January when the cluster isn't too low in the sky. With dark skies you might be able to spot the Beehive with just your eyes, but binoculars or a small telescope will help.
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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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://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:
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
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
Funding Member
