Hello, astrophotographers! I’m happy to share the best 15 objects in the night sky that you can photograph using a telescope this summer in the northern hemisphere. When it’s close to midnight, you can spot the Swan constellation (also known as Cygnus) high up in the sky, and the center of our Milky Way galaxy will be visible in the southern sky. I’ll provide you with the dates when some of the most beautiful deep-sky objects reach their highest point in the sky in July and August 2023. It’s best to capture these objects during this time because the atmospheric conditions are more stable, resulting in clearer and more amazing pictures. Additionally, I’ll be sharing incredible astro pictures taken by myself and NASA/ESA. Some targets are still on my to-do list! Let’s start this adventure on July 1st with the breathtaking Eagle Nebula!
July 1: Eagle Nebula (M 16 / NGC 6611 / IC 4703 / SH2-49)
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): 6
Size (deg): 7′
Altitude (+deg): 20°34
Constellation: Serpens (Ser)
Description: The Pillars of Creation is a famous formation within the Eagle Nebula (also known as Messier 16 or M16), a star-forming region located approximately 7,000 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Serpens. It gained widespread recognition due to the stunning image captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995. The Pillars of Creation are gigantic columns of interstellar gas and dust, measuring about 4 to 5 light-years in length. They serve as stellar nurseries, where new stars are born. Within these pillars, dense pockets of gas collapse under their own gravity, forming protostars that eventually evolve into fully-fledged stars.
First picture was taken with my Edge HD 8″ telescope at 1420mm focal length, ASI1600MM Pro Camera with H-alpha, Sii, and Oiii 7nm narrowband filters. The second picture was taken with my TS photoline 80/480mm F/6 APO refractor with H-alpha, Sii and Oiii narrowband filters (7nm)
July 7: Scary Face Nebula (SH2-54):
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): Not specified
Size (deg): 2°18′
Altitude (+deg): 22°41
Constellation: Serpens (Ser)
Description: The Scary Face Nebula is an emission nebula located in the Serpens constellation. Its name comes from its resemblance to a frightening face when observed in certain images.
July 27: Dumbbell Nebula (M 27 / NGC 6853 / PK 060-03.1)
Type: Planetary Nebula (PN)
Composition: Ionized gas and central white dwarf star
Magnitude (V): 7.4
Size (deg): 6.7′
Altitude (+deg): 57°07
Constellation: Vulpecula (Vul)
Description: The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary nebula formed from the outer layers of a dying star. It is located in the constellation Vulpecula and is one of the brightest and most famous planetary nebulae in the sky.
July 27: Tulip Nebula (SH2-101)
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): Not specified
Size (deg): 16′ x 9′
Altitude (+deg): 69°40
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The Tulip Nebula is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. Its name comes from its resemblance to a tulip flower when observed in certain images.
July 28: Little Ghost Nebula (incl. IC 4954 + IC 4955)
Type: Reflection Nebula (RN)
Composition: Scattered starlight
Magnitude (V): Not specified
Size (deg): 10′ x 3′
Altitude (+deg): 63°39
Constellation: Vulpecula (Vul)
Description: The Little Ghost Nebula is a reflection nebula located in the constellation Vulpecula. It includes the nebulae IC 4954 and IC 4955, which are illuminated by nearby stars.
July 30: Crescent Nebula (C 27 / NGC 6888 / SH2-105)
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): 10
Size (deg): 20′ x 10′
Altitude (+deg): 72°45
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The Crescent Nebula is an emission nebula in the constellation Cygnus. It is formed by the fast stellar wind from a central Wolf-Rayet star colliding with and energizing the surrounding interstellar gas.
Edge HD 8″ Telescope, ZWO ASI1600MM Pro camera, H-alpha and Oiii narrowband filters
August 1: Sadr Region (SH2-108):
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): Not specified
Size (deg): 3°
Altitude (+deg): 74°02
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The Sadr Region is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It is associated with the central star Sadr, which is one of the brightest stars in the constellation.
August 7: West Veil Nebula (C 34 / NGC 6960)
Type: Supernova Remnant (SR)
Composition: Ionized gas and remnants of a supernova explosion
Magnitude (V): 7
Size (deg): 3°30′ x 2°42′
Altitude (+deg): 65°07
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The West Veil Nebula is a supernova remnant located in the constellation Cygnus. It is part of a larger complex of nebulae known as the Veil Nebula, which is the remnants of a massive star that exploded in a supernova thousands of years ago.
TS80/48mm0 F/6 photoline refractor, ASI1600MM Pro Camera; H-alpha and Oiii 7nm narrowband filters
August 9: Pelican Nebula (IC 5070)
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): 8
Size (deg): 1° x 50′
Altitude (+deg): 78°47
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The Pelican Nebula is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. Its name comes from its resemblance to a pelican bird when observed in certain images.
August 10: North America Nebula (C 20 / NGC 7000 / SH2-117)
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): 4
Size (deg): 2° x 30′
Altitude (+deg): 78°45
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The North America Nebula is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. It is named for its resemblance to the continent of North America when observed in certain images.
TS 80/480mm F/6 photoline APO refractor telescope; ASI2600MM Pro camera; ZWO H-alpha, Sii, Oiii narrowband filters (7nm)
August 11: East Veil Nebula (C 33 / NGC 6992)
Type: Supernova Remnant (SR)
Composition: Ionized gas and remnants of a supernova explosion
Magnitude (V): 7
Size (deg): 1° x 8′
Altitude (+deg): 66°10
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The East Veil Nebula is a supernova remnant located in the constellation Cygnus. It is part of the larger Veil Nebula complex and represents the remnants of a supernova explosion that occurred thousands of years ago.
TS photoline 80/480mm APO refractor telescope, ASI1600MM Pro Camera, H-alpha and Oiii narrowband filters (7nm)
August 14: Squid Nebula / Flying Bat Nebula (SH2-129):
Type: Emission Nebula (EN) + Reflection Nebula (RN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust (EN), scattered starlight (RN)
Magnitude (V): 10
Size (deg): 2°18′
Altitude (+deg): 85°37
Constellation: Cepheus (Cep)
Description: The Squid Nebula, also known as the Flying Bat Nebula, is a combination of an emission nebula and a reflection nebula. It is located in the constellation Cepheus and exhibits a unique shape resembling a squid or a flying bat.
August 16: Clamshell Nebula (SH2-119)
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): Not specified
Size (deg): 2°42
Altitude (+deg): 78°21
Constellation: Cygnus (Cyg)
Description: The Clamshell Nebula is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cygnus. Its name comes from its shape, which resembles the shell of a clam when observed in certain images.
August 21: Elephant’s Trunk Nebula (IC 1396 / SH2-131)
Type: Emission Nebula (EN)
Composition: Primarily hydrogen gas and dust
Magnitude (V): 3.5
Size (deg): 1°3′
Altitude (+deg): 88°04
Constellation: Cepheus (Cep)
Description: The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula is an emission nebula located in the constellation Cepheus. It is known for its elongated shape, which resembles the trunk of an elephant when observed in certain images.
TS photoline 80/480mm APO refractor telescope, ASI1600MM Pro Camera, H-alpha, Sii and Oiii narrowband filters (7nm)
BONUS August 27 2023: Saturn in opposition
Lastly, you mentioned that Saturn will be in opposition on August 27th. Opposition occurs when a planet is directly opposite the Sun in the sky as seen from Earth. During opposition, the planet is typically at its closest approach to Earth and appears brighter and larger than usual. Saturn is a gas giant planet known for its distinctive ring system, and it will be an excellent opportunity to observe it in the night sky.
