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

Widefield Image of Lagoon Nebula (M8, NGC 6523 - on left) and Trifid Nebula (M20, NGC 6514 - on right). The Lagoon Nebula was discovered in 1654 by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Battista Hodierna, who, like Charles Messier, sought to catalog nebulous objects in the night sky so they would not be mistaken for comets. This star-forming cloud of interstellar gas is located 5200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. Its apparent magnitude of 6 makes it faintly visible to the naked eye in dark skies, easily seen with binoculars and even small telescopes. The massive stars embedded within the nebula give off enormous amounts of ultraviolet radiation, ionizing the gas and causing it to shine. The Trifid Nebula, discovered by Charles Messier in 1764, is a star-forming nebula located 9000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Sagittarius. The Trifid Nebula has an apparent magnitude of 6.3 and is best observed with a small telescope. [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: Steve Banbury - Astromart Gallery Contributor – One hour exposure on gas hypered RG200 using TV101 and Hutech IDAS filter. MI-250 Mount guided with an SBIG STV and 135 mm f2.8 lens – See some of his beautiful work at https://www.astromart.com/gallery/user/244 ]

 

---

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

Welcome to the night sky report for July 2025 -- Your guide to the constellations, deep sky objects, planets, and celestial events that are observable during the month. Venus shines brightly in the east each morning a couple of hours before sunrise, with the Pleiades and the bright stars Aldebaran and Capella. Mars sits in the west, about 20 degrees above the horizon as twilight fades and sets a couple of hours after dark. Jupiter starts to become visible low in the east in the hour before sunrise after mid-month. You'll notice it rises a bit higher each day through August, quickly approaching closer to Venus each morning. Mercury is visible very, very low in the west the first week or so in July, but sets quickly after sunset. Saturn rises around midnight and climbs to a point high in the south as dawn approaches. July is also a prime time to view the Milky Way in all its glory. Find the constellation Scorpius to identify the reddish supergiant star Antares, which will lead you to the globular star cluster M4 (NGC 6121). M22 (NGC 6656) in the constellation Sagitarius is one of the brightest globular clusters in the sky and is visible to the naked eye. 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), the Omega Nebula (M17, NGC 6618), and the Trifid Nebula (M20, NGC 6514). Two open star clusters, the Butterfly Cluster (M6, NGC 6405) and the Ptolemy Cluster (M7, NGC 6475), can be found on the end of the constellation Scorpius, just above the stinger. The night sky is truly a celestial showcase. Get outside and explore its wonders from your own backyard.

Mercury is visible for a brief time following sunset for the first week of July. Look for it very low in the west 30 to 45 minutes after sundown. It sets within the hour after that, so be on the ball if you want to catch it.

Mars is visible for the first hour or two after it gets dark. You'll find it sinking lower in the sky each day and looking a bit dimmer over the course of the month, as our two planets' orbits carry them farther apart. The crescent Moon appears right next to Mars on July 28th.

This July is the 60th anniversary of the first successful flyby of Mars by NASA’s Mariner 4 spacecraft in 1965. Mariner 4 sent back the first photos of another planet from deep space, along with the discovery that the Red Planet has only a very thin, cold atmosphere.

Saturn rises late in the evening, and by dawn, it's high overhead to the south.

Looking to the morning sky, Venus shines brightly all month. You'll find it in the east during the couple of hours before sunrise, with the Pleiades and the bright stars Aldebaran and Capella.

As the month goes on, Jupiter makes its morning sky debut, rising in the hour before sunrise and appearing a little higher each day. By the end of the month, early risers will have the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, greeting them each morning. They're headed for a super-close meetup in mid-August and the pair will be a fixture of the morning sky through late this year. Look for them together with the crescent moon on July 21st and 22nd.

July is a time for sweltering hot weather in the Northern Hemisphere. You may have heard this time of year referred to as the "dog days of summer." Well that phrase actually dates back to ancient times and has to do with the brightest star in the sky, Sirius.

At the peak of summer, the Sun lies in the same part of the sky as Sirius, which the ancient Greeks and Romans associated with the dog-shaped constellation Canis Major, just as we do today. Sirius is its most prominent star, and it's sometimes called "the dog star." 

In Ancient Greek, Sirius means "the scorcher," and both the Greeks and Romans believed the blazing bright star's proximity in the sky added to the Sun's heat during that time of the year making it even more oppressive. And so they called this hot time of year the "dog days."

Of course, today we know the only star close enough to affect our temperatures on Earth is the Sun. And the heat we experience in July is the result of the Northern Hemisphere being tilted toward the Sun. This yields longer days and more direct sunlight, and thus warmer weather. The situation is reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, where July is right in the middle of winter.

Facing southward on July nights after sunset, you'll find a sky teeming with bright stars. Looking in that direction this time of year, you're facing the center of our Milky Way galaxy all night, and there are quite a number of bright stars in that part of the sky – particularly in the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius.

If you find yourself under dark skies you'll be able to fully enjoy the Milky Way core – densely packed with stars and dark clouds of dust and gas. It's dazzling this time of year, and it's visible toward the south as soon as it gets fully dark out. But even if you're under urban skies too bright to observe the Milky Way core, the group of stars in Sagittarius known as the Teapot will help you pinpoint its location on the sky. 

Just above the southern horizon is Scorpius, the scorpion who in Greek mythology stung Orion to death before being crushed. Scorpius is a striking constellation -- one of the few that distinctly resembles the object after which it was named. The prominent fishhook star pattern of Scorpius is easy to trace in the sky. Its head, curved tail, and venomous stinger are prominent.

At the Scorpion’s heart lies a reddish star. Its color closely resembles that of Mars. The planet was known to the Greeks as Ares. Ancient Greek stargazers, contemplating these two crimson objects, named the star Antares, which means “rival of Ares.” Antares ia a reddish supergiant star nearing the end of its life. Antares is one of the largest known stars. If placed at the center of our solar system, its bloated bulk would extend past the orbit of Mars.

Next to Antares lies the globular star cluster M4 (NGC 6121). A prominent and lovely globular cluster in small telescopes, M4 lies just to the right of Antares in Scorpius. Globular clusters are collections of hundreds of thousands of closely packed and gravitationally bound stars. NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has resolved the center of this cluster, filled with thousands of ancient stars, all of which formed around the same time.

East of Scorpius is Sagittarius, the archer. The center of our galaxy lies in the direction of the Sagittarius. This area of the sky overflows with stars, globular star clusters, and bright and dark nebulae. Look for Sagittarius by finding the group of stars commonly known as the Teapot. The handle, top, and spout are easy to find. Under dark skies, the Milky Way seems to rise out of the Teapot’s spout. Many deep-sky targets reside in this area of the summer night sky.

A quick glance with binoculars reveals some spectacular objects. The Lagoon Nebula’s (M8, NGC 6523) gas and dust is brilliantly illuminated by the energy of the hot, young stars inside it. In the three-lobed Trifid Nebula (M20, NGC 6514), dark dust lanes appear etched against the radiance of glowing gas. The Omega Nebula (M17, NGC 6618) shines with glowing clouds of gas and dust where new stars are forming. Although it glows brightly, we cannot see its hottest stars embedded deep inside. Infrared telescopes, peering through the gas and dust, can detect them.

M22 (NGC 6656), one of the brightest globular clusters in the sky, is visible to the naked eye. It is a relatively nearby globular cluster, only about 10,000 light-years distant. NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope has collected infrared light images from this region, revealing cool and warm gas that is otherwise invisible to human eyes. Over millions of years, the gas and dust in stellar nurseries like these will eventually come together to form new stars, adding to the constellations in the sky.

Two other star clusters, the Butterfly Cluster and the Ptolemy Cluster, can be found on the other end of Scorpius, just above the stinger. These are known as open clusters because they are much less compact than globular clusters. Each of these contains only about a hundred stars, most of which are hot, blue, and much younger than those in globular clusters.

The winding form of the constellation Scorpius, adorned with the bright red star Antares, is a feature of the night sky around the world this time of year. At the tip of the scorpion's tail are two well-known star clusters that are well placed for viewing.

M7 (Ptolemy's Cluster) and M6 (the Butterfly Cluster) are both located about 5 degrees east of the bright stars that mark the "stinger" end of the scorpion's tail. They reach their highest point in the sky around 10 or 11 PM during July.

To find M7, imagine a line toward the east through the "stinger stars," Lesath and Shaula, and it will lead you straight to the star cluster. M6 is just a couple of degrees above M7. Both are "open star clusters," meaning they are loose groupings of stars that formed together in the same region of space and they're only loosely bound together by gravity, so they'll eventually go their separate ways.

M7 is just visible to the unaided eye under dark skies as a hazy patch just left of the tip of the scorpion's tail. But it is best seen with binoculars or a telescope with a wide field of view. Its stars are located at a distance of about 1000 light years from us, and they formed about 200 million years ago. The cluster was discovered by Greek-Roman astronomer Ptolemy in the year 130, hence its other name.

M6 is about half the apparent size of M7, and contains fewer stars. It's also a bit farther away from us, at around 1600 light years. It's estimated to be about half as old as M7, at an age of around 100 million years. It was discovered by Italian astronomer and contemporary of Galileo, Giovanni Battista Hodierna, in 1654.

These two clusters are easy to observe in July, and their location in Scorpius makes them pretty straightforward to locate on a clear night.

July is a great time to observe the constellation Aquila, the eagle. This time of year, it soars high into the sky in the first half of the night. Aquila represents the mythical eagle that was a powerful servant and messenger of the Greek god Zeus. The eagle carried his lightning bolts and was a symbol of his power as king of the gods.

To find Aquila in the sky, start by locating its brightest star, Altair. It’s one the three bright stars in the Summer Triangle, which is easy to pick out during summer months in the Northern Hemisphere. Altair is the second brightest of the three, and sits at the southernmost corner of the triangle.

The other stars in Aquila aren’t as bright, which can make observing the constellation challenging if you live in an area with a lot of light pollution. It’s easier, though, if you know how the eagle is oriented on the sky. Imagine it’s flying toward the north with its wings spread wide, its right wing pointed toward Vega. If you can find Altair, and Aquila's next brightest star, you can usually trace out the rest of the spread-eagle shape from there. ​​

Finally, July is prime time for viewing the bright core of our Milky Way galaxy. The Milky Way core is visible looking toward the south as a faint, diagonal band of light, as soon as it's fully dark. Packed with enormous numbers of stars, along with dark clouds of dust, you can view its faint glow with your own eyes from locations away from bright urban centers.

So if you have the opportunity to go camping or skywatching away from the city, this is truly one of the most awe inspiring sights of the night sky, and not to be missed.

The night sky is always a celestial showcase. Get outside and 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: 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: 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: 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: Libra (LIB)

NGC 5812 Galaxy P46

NGC 5897 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H19-6

 

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: 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: Scorpius (SCO)

IC 4591 HII Ionized Nebula P360, part of Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex

IC 4592 Reflection Nebula P29 Blue Horsehead Nebula

IC 4601 Reflection Nebula P331, part of Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex

IC 4605 Reflection Nebula P189, part of Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex

NGC 6093 Globular Cluster M80

NGC 6121 Globular Cluster M4 Spider Globular Cluster

NGC 6144 Globular Cluster Herschel 400 H10-6

NGC 6405 Open Cluster M6 Butterfly Cluster

NGC 6451 Open Cluster Herschel 400 H13-6

NGC 6475 Open Cluster M7 Ptolemy’s Cluster

 

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 Caput (SER - Head)

NGC 5904 Globular Cluster M5 Rose Globular Cluster

NGC 5921 Galaxy P336

NGC 6118 Galaxy Herschel 400 H402-2

 

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: 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

 

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