Deep Sky Observations with Dwarf mini from January 2026

Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References

Since the beginning of January 2026, I own a DwarfLab Dwarf mini telescope for observing and taking photos of deep sky objects. On this page, I collect information about observations from the mid-January 2026. The photos that were taken during this phase are presented elsewhere (on the detail pages for the DSO).

Conditions

Sky Region and Objects

From January 2026 on, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are indicated):

Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)

Observation Time

The observations in this phase took place from January 2026 on. They typically took place shortly after dusk, when it was sufficiently dark for a successful initialization of the Vespera Pro. This was at about 6 p.m. at the beginning of January.

Observation Location

The observations took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):

Coordinates: 49° 15′ N , 8° 43′ E
Coordinates (dec.): 49,25° N, 8,72° E

Equipment Used

When observing with the Dwarf mini, I only needed the Dwarf mini and my iPhone or iPad. When needed (e.g. for EQ mode), I used the DarfLab Tripod. Filters are inbuilt (Astro, Dual Band, Dark); or delivered with the Dwarf mini (Solar Filter)

General Conditions

In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" (SQM 20.5) and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects. For astro photography, however, light pollution is not as disturbing as for visual observations.

Observation Overview

Observation Dates

Date 2026	Observed Objects	Observed Objects, Details	Remarks	Further Remarks
Jan 15 MH	G: M 33 GN: M 42/43, M 45	Order: M 33 (60 min), M 45 (5 min), M 42/43 (5/30 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	M 33 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter) started shortly before 7 p.m.; aborted after 180 stacked subs (45 min) at about 7:50 p.m. because of fog; SQM mot measured, because of fog, and I was too late... Re-start shortly before 9 p.m.with M 42/43 (15 s, G 60, DuoBand filter); stopped after 150 stacked subs (37.5 min) at 9:44 p.m.; fog, resulting photo rather washed out, but there were clouds in that area...
Jan 16 MH	G: M 31/32 DN: IC 1396	Order: IC 1396 (60 min), M 31 (51 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	IC 1396 (15 s, G 60, DuoBand filter) started at 6:28/19.45 p.m./SQM; stopped after 241 stacked subs (60 min) at 7:44 p.m.. M 31/32 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter) started at 7:55/19.86 p.m./SQM; aborted after 203 stacked subs (51 min) at 8:57 p.m. due to clouds; Battery went down to 18% , later even to 16%; connected a powerbank for testing purposes...
Jan 18 MH	GN: IC 5070, NGC 1499, NGC 7000	Order: NGC 7000/IC 5070 (60 min) NGC 1499 (32 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	NGC 7000/IC 5070 (15s, G 60, Astrof ilter) started at 18:07/18,45 (instead of NGC 7000 the star HD 199457 was lited - I had moved the section a little bit...; 6:45/19,7 p.m./SQM, foggy; the result was rather poor after 120 subs; stopped after 241 stacked subs (60 min) at 7:24/19.81 p.m./SQM; foggy... NGC 1499: First attempt failed at 7:33 p.m.; new attempt, observation started at 7:50/19.69 p.m./SQM; aborted at around 9 p.m., because nothing happened due to clouds (we had supper at that time...); 230 subs, but only 129 were stacked (32 min), stacking was done only until 8:28 p.m.; the battery went down to 17%.
Jan 19 MH	OC: M 45 GN: M 42/43, M 78	Order: M 45 (45 min), M 78 (45 min), M 42/43 (34.5 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	M 45 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): observed from 7:04 to 7:58 p.m.; observed from 181 subs (45 min) M 78 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): observed from 8:09 to 9:03 p.m. beobachtet; observed from 181 subs (45 min) M 42/43 (15 s, G60, DuoBand filter) : observed from 9:24 to 10:04 p.m.; observed from 138 subs (34.5 min); SQM not measured (forgot it...); everything in clouds at the end...
Jan 21 MH	GN: NGC 1499, NGC 2024 DN: B 33	Order: NGC 1499 (25 min), NGC 2024/B 33 (25 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	Start at about 8:00 p.m., everthing rather chaotic... SQM was 19.78 at aroung 9 p.m., the sky was fairly clare this night I trained the EQ and mosaic modes on NGC 1499 and NGC 2024/B 33; the EQ did not succeed, but the observations were OK, why ever... NGC 1499 (30 s, G60, DuoBand filter): Mosaic with 2 panels, observed from 8:29 to 21:37 p.m.; 50+50=100 subs (50 min) NGC 2024/B 33 (30 s, G60, DuoBand filter): Mosaic with 2 panels, observed from 10:00 to 11:07 p.m.; 50+50=100 subs (50 min); SQM was 19.89 at 22:24 p.m.
Jan 22 MH	Moon	Moon	Dwarf mini; iPad	Photographed the crescent moon at about 5 p.m.. Took photos with 20, 38 and 50 subs, which were stacked. Post-processed some stacks in Stellar Studio.
Jan 23 MH	Moon	Moon	Dwarf mini; iPad	Photographed the crescent moon at about 8 p.m.. Took photos with 2x20, 1x50 subs, which were stacked. All stacks were post-processed in Stellar Studio.
Jan 24 MH	OC: M 34, NGC 752 G: NGC 891 Moon	Order: Moon, M 15 (27 min), M 34 (35 min), NGC 752 (22.5 min), NGC 891 (45.5 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	Photographed the crescent moon at about 6:15 p.m.. Took photos with 1x20, 1x50 subs, which were stacked. All stacks were post-processed in Stellar Studio. M 15 (15 s, G 60, Astrofilter), attempted from 6:33 p.m., low on the horizon (19°, nearly in a tree), sky rather bright; (6:45/18.6); aborted at 7:07 p.m., M 15 was in a tree for a long time... 109 stacked subs (27 min) NGC 1555 attempted at 7:16:p.m., but was still behind a house... M 34 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): 7:33/19.16 p.m./SQM, moon alread quite bright; aborted after 140 subs (35 min) at 8:07 p.m.; turned Dwarf mini off, because the battery was low... NGC 752 (C 28) (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): Start at 8:17/19.07 p.m./SQM; aborted after nach 90 subs (22.5 min) at 8:43 p.m. 9:15 p.m.: Powerbank connected NGC 891 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): Start at 9:19/19.22 p.m./SQM; galaxy (small) hard to recognize in the beginning; stopped after 182 subs (45.5 min) at 10:15 p.m.
Feb 5 MH	OS: M 45 G: M 31/32/110	Order: Sun, M 31 (50 min), M 45 (50 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	Photographed the sun in the afternoon (at about 3 p.m.). Took 4x photos with 20 subs each. Started observations with M 31 in EQ mode as a 1:1.8 mosaic at about 7:50/19.6 p.m./SQM (15/60/Astro; 50 subs per panel); stopped at about 8:35 p.m. New attempt at M 31 in EQ mode at 8:42/19.7 p.m./SQM with 30s (30?/60/Astro; 50 subs per panel) as a 1:1,8 mosaic; aborted, because 30s did not work (15 s because of automatic parameters) At about 9 p.m. attempt at M 45 in EQ mode as a 1:1.8 mosaic; this time, 30s worked (30/60/Astro; autom. param. off; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 10:15 p.m.
Feb 7 MH	GN: M 42/43, NGC 2237, NGC 2261, NGC 2264 DN: 1977 OC: NGC 1980, NGC 1981, NGC 2244	Order: M 42/43 (50 min ), NGC 2237/2244 (50 min), NGC 2261/2264 (50 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for M 42/43 at about 7:30 p.m. (Coal Car Cluster down to Jewels) (30/120/Astro; 50 subs per panel); SQM 19.8; stopped at 8:41 p.m. Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC NGC 2237/2244 at about 8:50 p.m.(30/120/Astro; 50 subs per panel); 9:06/19.99 p.m./SQM; stopped at 10:02/19.99 p.m./SQM. Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC 2264 at 10:10/19.99 p.m./SQM (30/120/Astro; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 11:19 p.m.
Feb 9 MH	GN: IC 405, IC 410, NGC 2237, NGC 2264 OC: NGC 2244	Order: IC 405/410 (50 min, 50 min), NGC 2237/2244 (50 min), NGC 2264 (50 min)	Dwarf mini; iPad	Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for IC 410 at 7:18/19.65 p.m./SQM (30/60/Duo; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 8:28 p.m. Ditto with gain 120 at 8:35/19.67 p.m./SQM; stopped at about 9:44 p.m. Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC 2237/2244 at about 9:57/19.86 p.m./SQM (30/120/Duo; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 11:06 p.m. - ran until 11:25 p.m.??? Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC 2264 at about 11:30 p.m. (30/120/Duo; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 0:38 p.m.

Bold: First observation during this observation period; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, SP = star pattern, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, SN = supernova, SR = supernova remnant; IT = integration time (net observation time)

List of Observed Sky Objects

Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.

DSO Details	Name	Constellation	Type	Remarks
B 33	Horse Head Nebula	Orion	GN/DN	Together with NGC 2024; plus NGC 2023 close to B 33
IC 405	Flaming Star Nebula	Auriga	GN	Reddish nebula; with DB filter; together with IC 410
IC 410	Tadpole Nebula	Auriga	GN	Reddish nebula; with DB filter; together with IC 405
IC 435		Orion	GR	To the left of NGC 2023 and below NGC 2024
IC 1396	Elephant Trunk	Cepheus	GE	Dark nebula; poor section
IC 5070	Pelican Nebula	Cygnus	GNE	Large reddish nebula; together with NGC 7000 (partly)
M 15		Pegasus	GC	Supposedly, it is the best globular cluster in autumn, bright core; small with the Dwarf mini
M 31	Andromeda Galaxy	Andromeda	G	Together with M 32 and M 110; too large for the FOV of the Dwarf mini (in this orientation); fits as a mosaic
M 32	Together with M 31 and M 110	Andromeda	G	Together with M 31 and M 110
M 33	Triangulum Galaxy	Triangulum	G	Quite impressive
M 34		Perseus	OC	Large and nice open star cluster, reminds me of M 41
M 42	Orion Nebula	Orion	GN	Nebula partly captured with clouds and also as a mosaic with more DSO (NGC 1977, 1980, and 1981)
M 43	De Mairan's Nebula	Orion	GN
M 45	Pleiades, Seven Sisters	Taurus	OC	Somewhat large; hints of the nebulae in M 45 recognizable (NGC 1432, NGC 1435, and more); fits as a mosaic
M 78	with NGC 2071	Orion	GE	Nice to see, together with NGC 2071
M 110		Andromeda	G	Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy M 31, together with M 31 and M 32
NGC 752		Andromeda	OC	Large, loose open star cluster
NGC 891		Andromeda	G	Seen from the edge, small
NGC 1499	California Nebula	Perseus	GN	Large red nebula, requires a mosaic with the Dwarf mini
NGC 1977	Running Man Nebula	Orion	GN	Called Running Man Nebula because of the form of a dark nebula inside of it; together with M 42/43, NGC 1981 (top), amnd NGC 1980 (bottom)
NGC 1980	Lost Jewel of Orion	Orion	OC+GN	Diffuse nebula and open star cluster below the Orion Nebula; together with M 42/43, NGC 1977 (above M 42/43), and NGC 1980 (top)
NGC 1981	Coal Car Cluster	Orion	OC	Open star cluster above the Running Man Nebula; together with M 42/43, NGC 1977, and NGC 1980 (bottom).
NGC 2023		Orion	GN	Close to the Horsehead Nebula B 33
NGC 2024	Flame Nebula	Orion	GN	Together with B 33 in a mosaic; plus NGC 2023 close to B 33
NGC 2071	with M 78	Orion	GR	North of M 78 in Orion
NGC 2237-39/46	Rosette Nebula	Capricornus	GN	Observed as a mosaic with and without DB filter
NGC 2244	Star cluster in Rosette Nebula	Monoceros	OC+GN	Cluster at the center of the Rosette Nebula; observed as a mosaic with and without DB filter
NGC 2261	Hubble's Variable Nebula; together with NGC 2264	Monoceros	GN	Looks like a comet; partly together with NGC 2264 in the FOV
NGC 2264	Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula; together with NGC 2261	Monoceros	OC+DN	Partly together with NGC 2261; observed as a mosaic with and without DB filter
NGC 7000	North America Nebula	Cygnus	GN	Only partly visible; together with IC 5070 (partly)
Moon			M	Observed as a crescent
Sun			S	Observed with one large sun spot and a lot of smaller ones

G = galaxy, GaC = galaxy cluster, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GE = galactic emission nebula, GR = galactic reflection nebula, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, PN = planetary nebula, SP = star pattern, A = Asterism, SR = Supernova remnant, HII = HII region (emission nebula in other galaxies)

References

Books

Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2023). Deep Sky Reiseatlas (5th edition), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-949370-04-5)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=608
Ronald Stoyan (2021). Deep Sky Reiseführer (6th edition), Oculum Verlag (ISBN: 978-3-938649-72-9)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=603
Erich Karkoschka (2022). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag (EAN: 9783440173602)
www.kosmos.de/de/atlas-fur-himmelsbeobachter_1074889_9783440173602