| 150+ Best Sky Objects to Know
| | | Dist | | Cons | Name | Desc
|
|---|
| T
|
| Sb
| And
| g
Andromedae |
Attractive double star. Bright orange star with mag 5 blue companion, Sep=9.8"
|
| B
| 2.93M
| G
| And
| M31 |
The Andromeda Galaxy. Most distant object visible to naked eye.
|
| E
| 16.8
| S
| Aql
| Altair |
Brightest star in Aquila. "the flying eagle"
|
| B
| 1.2K
| Sv
| Aql
| h
Aquilae |
Bright Cepheid variable. Mag 3.5-4.5 over 7.166 days
|
| E
| 42
| S
| Aur
| Capella |
The 6th brightest star. Appears yellowish in color. Spectroscopic binary
|
| B
| 4.3K
| Co
| Aur
| M38 |
Stars appear arranged in "pi" or cross shape.
|
| B
| 4.1K
| Co
| Aur
| M36 |
About half size of M38. Located in rich Milky Way star field.
|
| B
| 4.4K
| Co
| Aur
| M37 |
Very fine star cluster. Discovered by Messier in 1754.
|
| T
|
| Np
| Aqr
| NGC 7009 |
Saturn Nebula. Requires 8-inch telescope to see Saturn-like appendages
|
| T
| 300
| Np
| Aqr
| NGC 7293 |
Helix Nebula. Spans nearly 1/4 deg. Requires dark sky.
|
| B
|
| Cg
| Aqr
| M02 |
Resembles a fuzzy star in binoculars
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Ari
| g
Arietis |
Impressive looking double blue-white star. Visible in small telescope, Sep=7.8"
|
| B
| 7k
| Cg
| Ara
| NGC 6397 |
Thought to be the nearest globular
|
| E
| 37
| S
| Boo
| Arcturus |
Orange giant K star. "bear watcher"
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Boo
| e
Bootis |
Red giant star (mag 2.5) with a blue-green mag 4.9 companion, Sep=2.8. Difficult to split.
|
| T
| 19
| Sb
| Cas
| h
Cassiopeiae |
Yellow star mag 3.4 & orange star mag 7.5, Orbit=480 years, Sep=12"
|
| E
| 8.6
| S
| CMa
| Sirius |
The brightest star in the sky. "Dog Star"
|
| B
| 2.3K
| Co
| CMa
| M41 |
First recorded observation by Aristotle in 325BC as "cloudy spot".
|
| E
| 11.4
| S
| CMi
| Procyon |
Greek "before the dog" - rises before Sirius (northern latitudes)
|
| E
|
| Sv
| Cep
| d
Cephei |
Cepheid prototype. Mag varies between 3.5 & 4.4 over 5.366 days. Mag 6 companion
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Cep
| m
Cephei |
Herschel's Garnet Star. One of the reddest stars. Mag 3.4-5.1 over 730 days
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Cet
| Mira |
Famous long period variable star. Mag 3.0-10.1 over 332 days
|
| B
| 577
| Co
| Cnc
| M44 |
Praesepe or Beehive Cluster. Visible to the naked eye.
|
| T
| 2.35K
| Co
| Cnc
| M67 |
Contains 500+ stars mag 10 & fainter. One of the oldest clusters.
|
| B
|
| Cg
| CVn
| M03 |
Easy to find in binoculars. Might be glimpsed with the naked eye.
|
| T
| 15M
| G
| CVn
| M94 |
Compact nearly face-on spiral galaxy.
|
| T
| 25M
| G
| CVn
| M51 |
Whirlpool Galaxy. First recognised to have spiral structure.
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Cyg
| Albireo |
Beautiful double star. Contrasting colours of orange and blue-green, Sep=34.4
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Cyg
| c
Cygni |
Long period pulsating red giant. Mag 3.3-14.2 over 407 days
|
| B
| 900
| Co
| Cyg
| M39 |
May be visible to the naked eye under good conditions.
|
| T
| 11.4
| Sb
| Cyg
| 61 Cygni |
Attractive double star. Mags 5.2 & 6.1 orange dwarfs, Sep=28.4
|
| E
| 3K
| S
| Cyg
| Deneb |
Brightest star in Cygnus. One of the greatest known supergiants.
|
| B
| 260
| Co
| Com
| Mel 111 |
Coma Berenices. 80 mag 5-6 stars in 5 deg. Age=400 million years.
|
| T
|
| G
| Com
| M64 |
Black-Eye Galaxy. Discovered by J.E.Bode in 1775. "a small nebulous star"
|
| E
| 4.4
| Sb
| Cen
| a
Centauri |
Nearest bright star to Sun. Brilliant double star in a telesccope. 80 year period.
|
| E
| 525
| S
| Cen
| b
Centauri |
With alpha Centauri, forms the so-called "Pointers-to-the-Cross"
|
| B
| 17K
| Cg
| Cen
| w
Centauri |
Largest and brightest globular star cluster in sky. 1 million stars
|
| T
| 14M
| G
| Cen
| NGC 5128 |
Bisected by a wide obscuring lane. Strong radio source
|
| T
|
| Np
| Cen
| NGC 3918 |
The Blue Planetary. Visible in a small telescope as a round blue disk
|
| E
| 310
| S
| Car
| Canopus |
Second brightest star in the sky. 14,000 times more luminous than our Sun
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Car
| R.Carinae |
Long period variable. Mag 3.9-10.5 over 309 days
|
| B
| 500
| Co
| Car
| IC 2602 |
The Southern Pleiades. Bright cluster twice diameter of full Moon
|
| B
| 1.2K
| Co
| Car
| NGC 2516 |
Spectacular open star cluster of 100 stars spaning 1/2 deg
|
| B
|
| Cg
| Car
| NGC 2808 |
Located 4 deg W of Nu Carinae. Visible to the naked eye on clear nights
|
| B
| 2.9K
| Co
| Car
| NGC 3114 |
Stunning open cluster. 30+ stars visible through 7x binoculars
|
| B
| 8.5K
| Co
| Car
| NGC 3293 |
Rich, tightly packed. Surrounded by large, faint nebulosity
|
| B
| 8.0K
| Nd
| Car
| NGC 3372 |
Eta Carinae Nebula. Enormous glowing cloud in rich star field
|
| B
| 1.3K
| Co
| Car
| NGC 3532 |
Herschel - "most brilliant cluster" 60+ stars in 7x binoculars
|
| E
| 600
| Nd
| Cru
| CoalSack |
Most famous naked-eye dark nebula. Requires dark sky
|
| B
| 7.6K
| Co
| Cru
| NGC 4755 |
Jewel Box. Outstanding star cluster. Many contrasting colours
|
| T
| 100
| Sb
| Del
| g
Delphini |
Appear yellow & white. Mags 4.3 & 5.2 Struve 2725 double in same field
|
| T
|
| Nd
| Dor
| NGC 2070 |
Tarantula Nebula. A bright nebula located in LMC. A star-forming region
|
| B
| 180K
| G
| Dor
| LMC |
Large Magellanic Cloud. A neighbouring galaxy of the Milky Way
|
| B
| 100
| Sd
| Dra
| n
Draconis |
Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs in the sky.
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Eri
| t
Eridani |
Striking blue-white double star. Mags 3.2 & 4.3 Visible in small telescope, Sep=8.2"
|
| E
| 144
| S
| Eri
| Achernar |
Brightest star in Eridanus, The River. Arabic "end of river"
|
| E
| 52
| Sd
| Gem
| Castor |
Multiple star system with 6 components. 3 stars visible in telescope
|
| E
| 34
| S
| Gem
| Pollux |
With Castor, the twin sons of Leda in classical mythology
|
| B
| 2.8K
| Co
| Gem
| M35 |
Fine open cluster located near foot of the twin Castor.
|
| E
|
| Sv
| Her
| a
Herculis |
Semi-regular variable. Mag 3.1-3.9 over 90 days, Mag 5.4 companion
|
| B
| 23K
| Cg
| Her
| M13 |
Best globular in northern skies. Discovered by Halley in 1714
|
| B
|
| Cg
| Her
| M92 |
Fainter and smaller than M13. Use a telescope to resolve its stars
|
| B
| 2K
| Co
| Hya
| M48 |
12+ stars in 7x binoculars. Triangular asterism near centre.
|
| T
|
| G
| Hya
| M83 |
Classic face-on spiral. Discovered in 1752 by Lacaille. In attractive star field
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Hya
| R.Hydrae |
Long period variable. Mag 3.0-11.0 over 390 days. Brilliant Red.
|
| T
| 2.6K
| Np
| Hya
| NGC 3242 |
Ghost of Jupiter. Bright blue disk. Mag 11 central star.
|
| E
| 77
| S
| Leo
| Regulus |
Brightest star in Leo. A blue-white star with at least 1 companion
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Leo
| g
Leonis |
Superb pair of golden-yellow giant stars. Mags 2.2 & 3.5 Orbit=600 years Sep=4.4"
|
| B
| 30
| Sb
| Lep
| g
Leporis |
Visible with binoculars. Gold & white stars. Mags 3.6 & 6.2 Sep=96.3"
|
| T
| 1.8K
| Co
| Lup
| NGC 4822 |
Large attractive cluster. Open cluster NGC 5823 to the south
|
| E
| 25.3
| S
| Lyr
| Vega |
The 5th brightest star in the sky. A blue-white star.
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Lyr
| b
Lyrae |
Eclipsing binary. Mag 3.3-4.3 over 12.94 days. Fainter mag 7.2 blue star
|
| B
|
| Sd
| Lyr
| e
Lyrae |
Famous Double Double. Binoculars show a double star. High power reveals each a double.
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Lyr
| R.Lyrae |
Semi-regular variable. Mag 3.9-5.0 over 46.0 days
|
| T
| 4.1K
| Np
| Lyr
| M57 |
Ring Nebula. Magnificent object. Smoke-ring shape
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Mon
| b
Monocerotis |
Triple star. Mags 4.6, 5.0 & 5.4 Requires telescope to view arc-shape, Sep=7.3"
|
| B
| 3K
| Co
| Mon
| M50 |
Visible with binoculars. Telescope reveals individual stars.
|
| B
| 1.3K
| Co
| Mon
| NGC 2232 |
A large scattered star cluster of 20 stars.
|
| B
| 5.54K
| Co
| Mon
| NGC 2244 |
Surrounded by the rather faint Rosette Nebula
|
| T
| 2.45K
| Co
| Mon
| NGC 2264 |
Christmas Tree Cluster. Associated with the Cone Nebula.
|
| E
| 770
| S
| Ori
| Rigel |
The brightest star in Orion. Blue supergiant star with mag 7 companion
|
| E
| 430
| S
| Ori
| Betelgeuse |
One of the largest red supergiant stars known. Diameter=300 times that of Sun
|
| T
|
| Sd
| Ori
| s
Orionis |
Superb multiple star. 2 mag 7 stars one side, mag 9 star on other. Struve 761 triple in field.
|
| B
| 1.63K
| Co
| Ori
| Cr 69 |
Lambda Orionis Cluster.
|
| B
| 1.5K
| Nd
| Ori
| M42 |
The Great Orion Nebula. Spectacular bright nebula. Best with telescope.
|
| B
| 18K
| Cg
| Oph
| M12 |
Close to the brighter M10
|
| B
| 14K
| Cg
| Oph
| M10 |
3 degrees from the fainter M12. Both may be glimpsed in binoculars
|
| B
|
| Co
| Oph
| IC 4665 |
Large, scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars
|
| B
|
| Co
| Oph
| NGC 6633 |
Scattered open cluster. Visible with binoculars
|
| B
| 3K
| Cg
| Peg
| M15 |
Only globular known to contain a planetary nebula (Mag 15, d=1")
|
| E
|
| Sv
| Per
| Algol |
Famous eclipsing binary star. Magnitude varies between 2.1 & 3.4 over 2.867 days.
|
| B
| 7.3K
| Co
| Per
| Dbl Clust |
Double Cluster in Perseus. NGC869 & 884. Excellent in binoculars.
|
| E
| 25
| S
| PsA
| Fomalhaut |
Brightest star in Piscis Austrinus. Arabic "fish's mouth"
|
| B
| 1.5K
| Co
| Pup
| M47 |
Bright star cluster. 15+ stars in 7x binoculars.
|
| B
| 5.4K
| Co
| Pup
| M46 |
Contains planetary NGC 2438 (Mag 11, d=65"). not associated.
|
| B
| 850
| Co
| Pup
| NGC 2451 |
30+ stars in binoculars. The brightest star, c Puppis, is red
|
| B
| 4.2K
| Co
| Pup
| NGC 2477 |
Very rich but distant star cluster. Resembles globular through binoculars
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Pup
| k
Puppis |
Telescope easily shows two blue-white stars of almost equal brightness, Sep=9.9"
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Pup
| L-two |
Semi-regular variable. Mag 2.5-6.2 over 140.42 days
|
| B
|
| Sv
| Pav
| k
Pavonis |
Cepheid-type Mag 3.9-4.8 over 9.088 days
|
| B
| 14K
| Cg
| Pav
| NGC 6752 |
One of the better globular star clusters in the sky
|
| B
| 5.2K
| Nd
| Sgr
| M08 |
Lagoon Nebula. Bright nebula bisected by a dark lane
|
| T
| 4.9K
| Nd
| Sgr
| M17 |
Omega Nebula. Contains the star cluster NGC6618
|
| T
| 5.2K
| Nd
| Sgr
| M20 |
Trifid Nebula. A telescope shows 3 dust lanes trisecting nebula
|
| T
| 4.2K
| Co
| Sgr
| M21 |
A fine and impressive cluster.
|
| B
| 10K
| Cg
| Sgr
| M22 |
A spectacular globular star cluster. Telescope will show stars
|
| T
| 2.1K
| Co
| Sgr
| M23 |
Elongated star cluster. Telescope required to show stars
|
| B
| 1.9K
| Co
| Sgr
| M25 |
Bright cluster located about 6 deg N of "teapot's lid"
|
| E
| 135.9
| S
| Sco
| Antares |
Red supergiant star. "rival of Mars"
|
| B
| 7K
| Cg
| Sco
| M04 |
A close globular. May just be visible without optical aid
|
| B
| 1.96K
| Co
| Sco
| M06 |
Butterfly Cluster. 30+ stars in 7x binoculars
|
| B
| 780
| Co
| Sco
| M07 |
Superb open cluster. Visible to the naked eye. Age=260 Million years
|
| T
| 1.6K
| Co
| Sco
| NGC 6124 |
Contains 5 bright tightly packed stars near centre. 7 star chain.
|
| B
| 5.9K
| Co
| Sco
| NGC 6231 |
Easy to see in binoculars
|
| B
| 25K
| Cg
| Spu
| M05 |
Fine globular star cluster. Telescope will reveal individual stars
|
| T
| 5.6K
| Co
| Sca
| M16 |
Eagle Nebula. Requires a telescope of large aperture
|
| B
|
| G
| Scl
| NGC 253 |
Fine, large, cigar-shaped galaxy. Requires dark sky. Member of Sculptor Group
|
| T
| 5.6K
| Co
| Sct
| M11 |
Wild Duck Cluster. Resembles a globular through binoculars. V-shaped
|
| T
| 2.3M
| G
| Tri
| M33 |
Fine face-on spiral galaxy. Requires a large aperture telescope.
|
| B
| 2.7K
| Co
| TrA
| NGC 6025 |
A small open star cluster in Milky Way
|
| E
| 380
| Co
| Tau
| Pleiades |
The Seven Sisters. Spectacular cluster. Many more stars visible in binoculars.
|
| E
| 151
| Co
| Tau
| Hyades |
Large V-shaped star cluster. Binoculars reveal many more stars
|
| E
| 65
| S
| Tau
| Aldebaran |
Brightest star in Taurus. It is not associated with the Hyades star cluster.
|
| T
| 6.5K
| Np
| Tau
| M01 |
Crab Nebula. Remnant from supernova which was visible in 1054.
|
| B
| 15K
| Cg
| Tuc
| 37 Tucanae |
Spectacular object. Telescope will reveal stars. Near edge of SMC
|
| B
| 210K
| G
| Tuc
| SMC |
Small Magellanic Cloud. Companion galaxy to Milky Way. Requires dark skies
|
| E
|
| Sd
| UMi
| Polaris |
The North Pole Star. A telescope reveals an unrelated mag 8 companion star.
|
| T
|
| G
| UMa
| M81 |
Beautiful spiral galaxy visible with binoculars. Easy to see in a telescope.
|
| T
|
| G
| UMa
| M82 |
Close to M81 but much fainter and smaller.
|
| B
|
| Sd
| UMa
| Mizar&Alcor |
Good eyesight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Mizar has mag 4 companion.
|
| B
| 450
| Co
| Vel
| IC 2391 |
Omicron Velorum Cluster. Superb object for binoculars
|
| B
| 1.3K
| Co
| Vel
| NGC 2547 |
Fine open cluster visible through binoculars
|
| T
| 2.6K
| Np
| Vel
| NGC 3132 |
One of the brightest planetaries. Mag 10 central star
|
| E
| 260
| S
| Vir
| Spica |
Latin "ear of wheat" and shown held in Virgo's left hand.
|
| T
|
| G
| Vir
| M104 |
Sombrero Galaxy. Almost edge-on spiral galaxy. Protruding central core
|
| T
|
| Sb
| Vir
| g
Virginis |
Superb pair of mag 3.5 yellow-white stars. Orbit=169 years. Closest in 2005.
|
| B
|
| Co
| Vul
| Cr 399 |
Coathanger asterism or "Brocchi's Cluster". Not a true star cluster. Dist=218-1.14K
|
| T
| 975
| Np
| Vul
| M27 |
Dumbell Nebula. Large, twin-lobed shape. Most spectacular planetary
|