Astro-Observing-Calendar

During what time of the year are objects are best suited to photograph

• observer location around 30 degrees south latitude (e.g. Sydney, Australia)
• evening imaging time starting from astronomical dark till 23:00
• objects between 2 and 0 hours east of meridian
• objects fainter than magnitude 12 are not included

January

Sunset: 20:07

Dark: 21:35

[nebulae]

 - NGC 1499 California nebula
 - NGC 2070 Tarantula nebula
 - M42 Orion nebula
 - IC434 Flame + Horse Head nebula
 - IC405 flaming star nebula
 - M1 (NGC 1952) Crab Nebula
 - NGC 1360 planetary nebula

[galaxies]

 - Large Magellanic Cloud
 - Fornax galaxies cluster (NGC 1316, NGC 1399, NGC 1365, etc)
 - PGC 15406
 - PGC 13505
 - PGC 13418 (NGC 1399)
 - PGC 16709 (NGC 1792)
 - PGC 14765 (NGC 1553)
 - PGC 15941 (NGC 1672)

[open star clusters]

 - M45 Pleiades

Examples:

• 

  M42 Orion Nebula (1,500 ly)

• 

  NGC 2070 Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud (160,000 ly)

• 

  NGC 1365 Galaxy (56 Mly)

• 

  Flame + HorseHead Nebula (1,400 - 1500 ly)

February

Sunset: 19:46

Dark: 21:05

[galaxies]

 - Large Magellanic Cloud
 - PGC 21373 (NGC 2442) Meathook (Cobra and Mouse)
 - PGC 16709 (NGC 1792)
 - PGC 16779 (NGC 1808)
 - PGC 17819 (NGC 2090)
 - PGC 16716 (NGC 1784)

[nebulae]

 - IC405 Flaming Star nebula 
 - NGC 2238 Rosette nebula
 - NGC 2070 Tarantula nebula
 - NGC 2265 Cone nebula + Christmas Tree cluster
 - NGC 2175

[globular cluster]

 - NGC 1851
 - NGC 2298
 - NGC 1904

[open cluster]

 - NGC 2243
 - M41 (NGC 2287)
 - NGC 2304
 - M35 (NGC 2168)

[supernova remnant]

 - M1 (NGC 1952) Crab nebula

Examples:

• 

  NGC 2070 Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud (160,000 ly)

• 

  Rosette nebula (5,200 ly)

• 

  NGC 2442 Meathook galaxy (50 Million ly)

March

Sunset: 19:13

Dark: 20:25

[galaxies]

 - PGC 28298 (NGC 3059)
 - PGC 29311 (NGC 3136)
 - PGC 26026 (NGC 2822)
 - PGC 24229 (NGC 2640)
 - PGC 27077 (NGC 2903)
 - PGC 24930 (NGC 2683)
 - PGC 27978 (NGC 2997)
 - PGC 29128 (NGC 3109)
 

[nebulae]

 - IC 2448 pn

[globular cluster]

 - NGC 2808

April

Sunset: 17:31

Dark: 18:45

[galaxies]

 - PGC 28298 (NGC 3059)
 - PGC 21373 (NGC 2442)
 - PGC 24959 (NGC 2714)
 - PGC 21375 (NGC 2427)
 - PGC 24590 (NGC 2663)
 - PGC 25950 (NGC 2784)
 - PGC 23222 (NGC 2559)
 - PGC 22721 (NGC 2525)
 - PGC 25861 (NGC 2775)
 - NGC 2903

[nebulae]

 - NGC 3195 pn
 - IC 2448 pn
 - NGC 2899

[globular clusters]

 - NGC 2808

[open clusters]

 - M44 (NGC 2632) Beehive cluster
 - M67 (NGC 2682)

May

Sunset: 16:15

Dark: 18:30

[galaxies]

 - PGC 33871
 - PGC 37061 (NGC 3923)
 - PGC 34554 (NGC 3621)
 - PGC 37967 (NGC 4038) Antennae 
 - PGC 34160 (NGC 3585)
 - PGC 29265 (NGC 3115) Spindle
 - PGC 37845 (NGC 4030)
 - PGC 36243 (NGC 3810)
 - PGC 34695 (NGC 3627) (3x)
 - PGC 33550 (NGC 3521)
 - M96 PGC 32192 (NGC 3368) (3x)
 - PGC 29814 (NGC 3166)
 - M66 PGC 34695 (NGC 3627) (3x)
 - PGC 36243 (NGC 3810)
 - PGC 31968 (NGC 3344)
 - PGC 33166 (NGC 3486)
 - PGC 32424 (NGC 3395)
 - PGC 32643 (NGC 3432)

[nebulae]

 - NGC 3372 Eta Carina nebula
 - Coal Sack nebula
 - NGC 3247

Examples:

• 

  Eta Carina nebula (9,000 ly)

June

Sunset: 16:58

Dark: 18:35

[galaxies]

 - PGC 45279 (NGC 4945)
 - PGC 46957 (NGC 5128) Centaurus A
 - PGC 51969 (NCG 5643)
 - PGC 43296 (NGC 4696)
 - PGC 46674 (NGC 5102)
 - PGC 40498 (NGC 4373)
 - M83 PGC 48082 (NGC 5236) Southern Pinwheel
 - PGC 48334 (NGC 5253)
 - PGC 46661 (NGC 5101)
 - PGC 46330 (NGC 5061)
 - PGC 45174 (NGC 4936)
 - PGC 46525 (NGC 5084)
 - PGC 46400 (NGC 5068)
 - PGC 48171 (NGC 5247)
 - PGC 45908 (NGC 5018)
 - PGC 44261 (NGC 4825)
 - PGC 43902 (NGC 4781)
 - M104 PGC 42407 (NGC 4594) Sombrero
 - PGC 44582 (NGC 4856)
 - PGC 43276 (NGC 4697)
 - PGC 43238 (NGC 4691)
 - PGC 43671 (NGC 4753)
 - PGC 41823 (NGC 4536)
 - M61 PGC 40001 (NGC 4303)
 - Virgo Galaxy cluster M87 PGC 40653 (NGC 4406), M90, etc..
 - M64 PGC 44182 (NGC 4826) Black Eye galaxy
 - PGC 41441 (NGC 4494)
 - PGC 42002 (NGC 4559)
 - PGC 42637 (NGC 4631) Whale galaxy
 - PGC 40596 (NGC 4395)
 - PGC 45948 (NGC 5033)
 - PGC 45314 (NGC 4182)
 - M94 PGC 43495 (NGC 4736)

[nebulae]

 - M20 Trifid
 - M8 Lagoon

[globular clusters]

 - IC 4499
 - NGC 5139 Omega Centauri
 - M68 (NGC 4590)
 - M53 (NGC 5024)
 - M3 (NGC 5272)

Examples:

• 

  M83 Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (15 Million ly)

• 

  M20 Trifid Nebula (4,000 ly)

• 

  M8 Lagoon Nebula (4,100 ly)

• 

  NGC 5128 Centaurus-A (12 Million ly)

• 

  M104 Sombrero Galaxy (31 Million ly)

• 

  NGC 4945 (12 Million ly)

July

Sunset: 16:59

Dark: 18:25

[galaxies]

 - NGC 6744 peacock galaxy
 - PGC 55582 (NGC 5938)
 - PGC 51969 (NGC 5643)
 - PGC 50100 (NGC 5419)
 - PGC 48040 (IC 4296)
 - PGC 54429 (NGC 5885)
 - PGC 48171 (NGC 5247)
 - PGC 53499 (NGC 5792)
 - PGC 53979 (NGC 5850)
 - PGC 51233 (NGC 5566)
 - PGC 48130 (NGC 5248)

[nebulae]

 - M16 Eagle nebula

[globular clusters]

 - IC 4499
 - NGC 5694
 - M5 (NGC 5904)

[open clusters]

 - NGC 5316
 - NGC 5281
 - NGC 5662
 - NGC 5822

Examples:

• 

  M16 Eagle Nebula (5,700 ly)

• 

  Peacock Galaxy (NGC 6744) (23 Mly)

August

Sunset: 17:31

Dark: 18:50

[galaxies]

 - NGC 6744 peacock galaxy ?
 - NGC 6822 Bernard's Galaxy (1.6Mly) ?

[nebulae]

 - NGC 6250
 - NGC 6165 pn
 - IC 4605
 - IC 4604 Rho Opiuchi nebula
 - IC 4592 Blue Horse Head nebula

[globular clusters]

 - NGC 6362
 - NGC 6121
 - M9 (NGC 6333)
 - M19 (NGC 6273)
 - M62 (NGC 6266)
 - M4 (NGC 6121)
 - M107 (NGC 6171)
 - M12 (NGC 6218)
 - M10 (NGC 6254)
 - M14 (NGC 6402)
 - M13 (NGC 6205)

[open clusters]

 - NGC 6025
 - NGC 6250
 - M7 (NGC 6475) Ptolemy's cluster
 - IC 4665

September

Sunset: 18:14

Dark: 20:45

[galaxies]

 - PGC 67045 (NGC 7090)
 - PGC 66549 (NGC 7049)
 - PGC 64192 (NGC 6868)

[nebulae]

 - NGC 7009 saturn pn
 - M27 (NGC 6853) Dumbbell nebula
 - NGC 6960 Veil nebula (sn remnant)
 - NGC 6888 Crescent nebula

[globular clusters]

 - M30 (NGC 7099)
 - M75 (NGC 6864)
 - M72 (NGC 6981)
 - M2 (NGC 7089)
 - M15 (NGC 7078)

[open clusters]

 - NGC 6819 Fox head cluster

October

sunset: 19:05

dark: 20:25

[galaxies]

 - PGC 67045 (NGC 7090)
 - PGC 66003 (NGC 7013)

[nebulae]

 - NGC 7009 Saturn nebula pn
 - NGC 6960 Veil nebula
 - NGC 7293 Helix nebula

[globular clusters]

 - M30 (NGC 7099)
 - M2 (NGC 7089)
 - M72 (NGC 6981)
 - M15 (NGC 7078)

[supernova remnant]

 - NGC 6995

Examples:

• 

  NGC 7293 Helix Nebula (650 ly)

November

Sunset: 19:40

Dark: 21:10

[nebulae]

 - NGC 246 pn Skull Nebula

[galaxies]

 - Small Magellanic Cloud
 - NGC 1313 Topsy Turvy galaxy
 - PGC 1014 (NGC 55) String of Pearls galaxy
 - PGC 2789 (NGC 253) Sculptor galaxy
 - PGC 3238 (NGC 300)
 - PGC 71001 (NGC 7582)
 - PGC 70800 (NGC 7531)
 - PGC 71866 (NGC 7713)
 - PGC 71775 (IC 5332)
 - PGC 2789 (NGC 253) sculptor, silver coin
 - PGC 2758 (NGC 247)
 - PGC 930 (NGC 45)
 - M74 (NGC 628)
 - PGC 3844 (IC 1613)
 - M31 Andromeda
 - M33 Triangulum 

[globular clusters]

 - 47 Tucanae (NGC 104)
 - NGC 288

Examples:

• 

  NGC 253 Sculptor Galaxy (11 Million ly)

• 

  NGC 1313 Topsy Turvy Galaxy (10 Million ly)

December

Sunset: 20:10

Dark: 21:45

[galaxies]

 - Fornax galaxies NGC 1365
 - PGC 9031 (NGC 891) Silver Sliver
 - NGC 1313 Topsy Turvy
 - PGC 12286 (NGC 1313)
 - PGC 13586 (NGC 1433)
 - PGC 13727 (NGC 1448)
 - PGC 12209 (NGC 1269)
 - PGC 13418 (NGC 1399)
 - PGC 13059 (NGC 1350)
 - PGC 13434 (NGC 1398)
 - PGC 13419 (NGC 1395)
 - PGC 13505 (NGC 1407)
 - PGC 10488 (NGC 1097)
 - PGC 12412 (NGC 1300)
 - PGC 11819 (NGC 1232)
 - PGC 9057 (NGC 908)
 - M77 PGC 10266 (NGC 1068) Squid
 - PGC 9359 (NGC 936)
 - PGC 9332 (NGC 925)
 - PGC 1014 (NGC 55)

[nebulae]

 - LMC, tarantula nebula
 - NGC 1333 Embryo nebula

[open star clusters]

 - M45 pleiades
 - NGC 752

[globular clusters]

 - NGC 362

Examples:

• 

  NGC 362 Globular Cluster (29,000 ly)

• 

  NGC 1365 (56 Million ly)

• 

  NGC 2070 Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud (160,000 ly)

• 

  NGC 1313 Topsy Turvy Galaxy (10 Million ly)

• 

  M45 Pleiades open star cluster (444 ly)