Deep Sky Objects

Table of Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Suggestions by Marcus Shaw | References

The following table of easy to find and larger Deep Sky Objects (DSO) was put together by me from the books Deep Sky Reiseführer/Reiseatlas (Stoyan/Feiler & Noack) and Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter (Karkoschka) (see References). I added a few objects based on my own experiences. This list is intended to help me - and perhaps others - to select deep sky objects for observation in the course of the year. The Deep Sky Reiseführer/Reiseatlas rating/ranking might help here (the rankings are based on observations with telescopes of an aperture of up to 150 mm (6") and a dark countryside sky).

In addition, I share suggestions that a hobby astronomer made to a newcomer and that I find quite useful. Perhaps, this helps to spread these suggestions a little further. I edited the suggestions a bit, also the text (a German gave them to a Greek woman in English - the Internet is international ...).

Note: For objects that I observed myself, I am creating additional pages, which contain star maps (created with SkySafari) that help find the objects in the sky. These pages are accessible via links in the table below and open in a new window.

See also page My Deep Sky Observations - OverviewLists

 

Table of Deep Sky Objects

Column "Rec.": Objects labelled with "+" seem, in my opinion, particularly attractive and (mostly) easy to find. They correspond more or less to my former short list.

Catalogue
Name
Constellation
Ranking
Type
Size
Obs.
?
 Bino-
cular?
 Remarks Rec.
M
NGC
Other
English Latin English* S/F&N   S/F&N K

North (Circumpolar)

3031
Bode Galaxy Ursa Major Great Bear **** G 12' x 5' 18' yes   Together with M 82 +
3034
Cigar Galaxy Ursa Major Great Bear **** G 6' x 2' 10' yes   Together with M 81 +
7654
  Cassiopeia Queen *** OC 10' 12' yes      
Owl Nebula Cassiopeia Queen *** OC 15' x 10' 12' yes      
581
  Cassiopeia Queen *** OC 6' 6' yes     +
  Cassiopeia Queen ** OC 15' 15' yes     +
  Cassiopeia Queen * OC 5' x 3' 5' yes     +
Kemble's Cascade Camelopardis Giraffe *** SP 2.8°   yes   No number  

Spring

2548
  Hydra Water Snake *** OC 50' x 30' 40' yes      
68
4590
  Hydra Water Snake ** GC 5' 10'        
3242
  Hydra Water Snake ** PN 0.6' 0.6'        
83
5236
  Hydra Water Snake **** G 7' x 5' 8'        
4258
  Canes Venatici Hunting Dogs ** G 8' x 3.5' 12' yes      
5272
  Canes Venatici Hunting Dogs *** GC 7' 10' yes     +
5194
Whirlpool Galaxy Canes Venatici Hunting Dogs *** G 8' x 4' 8' yes     +
  Coma Berenices Berenice's Hair *** OC 3.5°   yes yes    
4565
  Coma Berenices Berenice's Hair *** G 13' x 1' 15' yes      
4826
  Coma Berenices Berenice's Hair *** G 4.5' x 2.5' 6' yes      
5024
  Coma Berenices Berenice's Hair ** GC 4' 7' yes      
4472
  Virgo Young Maiden (Virgin) ** G 5' 5' yes      
4594
Sombrero Galaxy Virgo Young Maiden (Virgin) *** G 7' x 2' 8' yes      
5904
  Serpens Caput Head of the Serpent **** GC 6' 12' yes     +

Summer

6205
Hercules Cluster Hercules Strong Man **** GC 8' 15' yes yes   +
6341
  Hercules Strong Man *** GC 7' 8' yes yes   +
6720
Ring Nebula Lyra Harp **** PN 1.2' 1.5' yes     +
6779
  Lyra Harp ** GC 3' 5' yes     +
6254
  Ophiuchus Serpent Bearer ** GC 8' 12' yes     +
6218
  Ophiuchus Serpent Bearer ** GC 5' 12' yes     +
  Ophiuchus Serpent Bearer *** OC 70'   yes      
  Ophiuchus Serpent Bearer *** OC 20' 20' yes      
6121
  Scorpius Scorpion *** GC 12' 18' yes      
6093
  Scorpius Scorpion ** GC 5' 5' yes      
6405
Butterfly Cluster Scorpius Scorpion **** OC 25' x 20' 20'        
6475
  Scorpius Scorpion **** OC 80' 50'        
6913
  Cygnus Swan ** OC 6' 6' yes      
Cirrus, Veil Nebula Cygnus Swan *** GNE 45' x 5' 60' yes     +
North America Nebula Cygnus Swan **** GNE 1.3° 120' yes      
  Vulpecula Little Fox *** SP 60'   yes yes    
6853
Dumbbell Nebula Vulpecula Little Fox ***** PN 8' x 4' 7' yes     +
6838
  Sagitta Arrow *** GC 6' 5' yes      
6705
Wild Ducks Cluster Scutum Shield **** OC 7' 12' yes     +
6611
  Serpens Cauda Tail of the Serpent *** OC 10' 25' yes   Within IC 4703 +
Eagle Nebula Serpens Cauda Tail of the Serpent * GN 45' x 20'   yes   Surrounds M 16  
6494
  Sagittarius Archer ** OC 25' 25' yes      
6514
Trifid Nebula Sagittarius Archer ** GNE 15' x 10' 20' yes     +
6523
Lagoon Nebula Sagittarius Archer **** GN+OC 20' x 10'/7' 60' yes     +
  Sagittarius Archer *** SP 1.5° x 0.5° 100' yes      
6618
Omega, Swan Nebula Sagittarius Archer **** GNE 20' x 15' 35' yes     +
IC4725
  Sagittarius Archer *** OC 30' 30' yes      
6626
  Sagittarius Archer ** GCS 5' 6' yes   Close to M 22  
6656
  Sagittarius Archer **** GC 9' 20' yes   Brightest GC in Middle Europe  
6809
  Sagittarius Archer ** GC 12' 15' yes      
7099
  Capricornus Sea Goat ** GC 5' 6'        

Autumn

7078
  Pegasus Pegasus **** GC 6' 10' yes     +
6981
  Aquarius Water Bearer ** GC 3' 3'        
Saturn Nebula Aquarius Water Bearer ** PN 0.4' 0.6'        
7089
  Aquarius Water Bearer *** GC 6' 10' yes      
Helix Nebula Aquarius Water Bearer *** PN 12' 15'        
  Andromeda Chained Maiden ** PN 0.5' 0.5'        
224
Andromeda Galaxy Andromeda Chained Maiden ***** G 3° x 1° 150' yes yes   +
598
Triangulum Galaxy Triangulum Triangle *** G 30' x 20' 50' yes yes    
650
  Perseus Greek Hero ** PN 1' 2.5' yes      
  Perseus Greek Hero ***** OC 20' 25' yes yes Double open star cluster +
  Perseus Greek Hero ***** OC 25' 25' yes yes
1039
  Perseus Greek Hero *** OC 35' 30' yes yes    
1528
  Perseus Greek Hero *** OC 18' 25'        
    Mel20 Mirphak Cluster Perseus Greek Hero         yes yes added by me +
1068
  Cetus Whale *** G 2' 3'        
253
Sculptor Galaxy Sculptor Sculptor *** G 20' x 4' 25'        

Winter

1912
  Auriga Charioteer *** OC 25' 20' yes yes   +
1960
  Auriga Charioteer *** OC 12' 15' yes yes   +
2099
  Auriga Charioteer *** OC 16' 25' yes yes   +
2281
  Auriga Charioteer ** OC 25' x 18' 20'        
Pleiades, Seven Sisters Taurus Bull ***** OC 1.8° x 1.2° 100' yes yes   +
Hyades Taurus Bull *** OC 5° x 4° 300' yes yes   +
1952
Crab Nebula Taurus Bull *** GNE 5' x 4' 6' yes     +
1647
  Taurus Bull ** OC 35' 40'        
1976
Orion Nebula Orion Hunter ***** GNE 25' x 30' 40' yes yes   +
1982
  Orion Hunter ** GNE 6' x 3' 12' yes yes Part of M 42 +
2068
  Orion Hunter * GNR 5' x 4' 7' yes      
1904
  Lepus Hare ** GC 5' 6'        
2168
  Gemini Twins **** OC 28' 30' yes yes   +
  Monoceros Unicorn *** OC 23' 25' yes   Together with NGC 2237  
Rosette Nebula Monoceros Unicorn * GNE 80' x 60' 80' yes   Together with NGC 2244  
Christmas Tree Monoceros Unicorn *** OC 20' 15' yes      
2323
  Monoceros Unicorn *** OC 20' 15' yes      
2287
  Canis Major Big Dog *** OC 40' 30' yes yes    
  Canis Major Big Dog *** OC 8' 6' yes      
2422
  Puppis Stern of the Argo navis *** OC 30' x 20' 25' yes      
2437
  Puppis Stern of the Argo navis *** OC 20' x 15' 25' yes   Together with NGC 2438  
2438
  Puppis Stern of the Argo navis * PN 1.1' 1.0'     Together with M 46  
2632
Praesepe, Beehive Cancer Crab **** OC 70' 80' yes yes   +
2682
  Cancer Crab *** OC 15' 20' yes yes    

Legend

*) The English constellation names were taken from Constellation Guide - Constellation Names and are often more "meanings" than "approved names"; there you can read more about the names and their background.

Type: G = galaxy, GC = globular star cluster, OC = open star cluster, PN = planetary nebula, GN = galactic nebula (GNE = emission, GNR = reflection), SP = star pattern

 

Deep Sky Suggestions by Marcus Shaw

The following suggestions for the observation of deep sky objects were made by Marcus Shaw (Schorhr) 2014 to a Greek woman (Trillian!) in the Stargazers Lounge forum (see also link below). After consulting the forum, she had bought a Skywatcher Heritage P130 Dobsonian telescope (5"), and the suggestions naturally take the performance of the telescope into account. I find these suggestions very useful for myself and for other beginners. I therefore publish them here in an adapted form. The contributions range from the end of May 2014 to the beginning of July 2014, so that the suggestions mainly relate to objects which can be observed at that time (that is, in summer).

Object Name Constellation Type Marcus' Comment
M 57 Ring Nebula Lyra PN Ring nebula - between the two stars at the outside/bottom of Lyra. Looks like a blurry star in low magnification. At around 100 x you should see that it's a ring, if the sky is truly dark it should be very obvious.

M 44

Praesepe, Beehive Cancer/Crab OC Nice open star cluster for low magnification. The darker the sky, the more beautiful it gets. In the center of Cancer.
M 27 (NGC 6853) Dumbbell Nebula Vulpecula/Little Fox PN If you draw a line from M57 to Albireo, and extend it further, you will find another nebula. A dark sky helps, but it is definitely one of the easier one's.
M 81/82 Bode Galaxies Big Bear/Dipper G Imagine a diagonal through the Big Dipper (actually Ursa Major!) and extend it outside of the Big Dipper once, then the two galaxies should be visible in the low magnification eyepiece - those two will show under mediocre conditions at the edge of a city. Even if you cannot make out much detail, one should be round, one long-ish. Under very good conditions you may be able to see the irregular center of the cigar galaxy.
M 101 Pinwheel Galaxy Big Bear/Dipper G Spiral galaxy, preeetttyyy... If the sky is dark. But in 5" near civilization, you can usually not expect this kind of detail. Under city sky it may not be visible at all. If you have decent city limit conditions, it may look like ... If light pollution is strong, it may just be a faint glow, or not visible.
M 51 Whirlpool Galaxy Canes Venatici G One of my favorites. Under the handle of the Big Dipper (part of Ursa Major). Under good "city limit conditions" the two cores should easily be visible. If you observe it for long, if the sky is very clear, you might see some details even in 5". I once saw a faint band between the cores. It will never look like ... but it still is amazing to see a galaxy almost 3.0000.000 light years away that shows what will happen with our galaxy and Andromeda in "a couple of years"...
M 13 Hercules Cluster Hercules GC The cluster in Hercules. Aim for under his armpit, it's easy to find. My first observation was a bit of a disappointment. A faint glow, not more...
Important: Observe when it's dark, no moon. Use indirect vision!
The center of our eye's retina is the sharpest but not as light sensitive as the outer regions. So if you try NOT to look at M13, you may see more stars in the corner of your eye.

M 3

  Canes Venatici GC Also check out M3 (stated after covering M13).
NGC 6826 Blinking Nebula Cygnus/Swan PN The Blinking Nebula. Same game: If you look at it directly, you will see the small star. If you look away, you will see the larger, dim nebula. If you quickly look at it again, it vanishes. Thus the Blinking Nebula...
NGC 884/869 h & chi Persei Double Cluster Perseus OC Beautiful, look like diamond fireworks. This is the sort of object the low magnification, wide field heritage shows well...
M 31 Andromeda Galaxy Andromeda G Under dark skies visible with the naked eye, larger than the moon... Under mediocre night sky it will just be a oval smudge.
NGC 7000 North America Nebula Cygnus/Swan GNE Big nebula, while the orion nebula is not visible in the summer, the North America Nebula is.
Cr 399 Coat Hanger Vulpecula/Little Fox SP The Coat Hanger. The sky is full of commodities :-)
--- Albireo Cygnus/Swan Double star Close to M57, one of the stars of Cygnus/Swan, is Albireo. While stars always appear as small dots, this one reveals something beautiful: If you magnify it, you will see that there are actually TWO stars. One is red, one is blue. Pretty double star.

Legend

Type: G = galaxy, GC = globular star cluster, OC = open star cluster, PN = planetary nebula, GN = galactic nebula (GNE = emission, GNR = reflection), SP = star pattern

Remarks as to Albireo and the Ring Nebula

Albireo (double star) should split at as low as 8 x. ... It's much more pretty with your own eyes, the colors are much more noticeable than with a deep sky camera.

The ring nebula (M 57) or M 13 (as another example...) are a faint smudge in low magnification, larger than a star. When increasing magnification under light pollution, they may not show more details. That gets kind of frustrating.

I have observed the ring nebula under a full moon before. It works, but yesterday the moon was so close it did not work well. Under dark skies it is really obvious, if you find it. So save yourself frustration and wait for darker conditions when attempting DSO. It will still be a faint smoke ring, not the colorful explosion you see on images from the Hubble telescope.

For some it looks like a faint smudge. But it's kind of fascinating to see the remains of a super nova with your own eyes, far, far away. With larger telescope you could even see the small center star remain.

My "first ring nebula" took me 30 minutes as I just did not know what I had to look for, much like you now. We all have been there. After one or two successful observation of objects you kind of get a sense for scale, what to look for and frustration is blown away. And always have a "plan b": If you can't find something, observe something you already know for practice and to avoid wanting to throw the telescope down the balcony.

In the 25 mm eyepiece, it almost looks like when a star is just slightly off focus, but no matter how carefully you try to focus, all the stars next to it are sharp, small dots, the ring nebula looks like a faint blurry star. With 8-12 mm it already looks like a tiny ring. If light pollution is an issue, the darker center might be less obvious.

 

References

 

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17.11.2023