The following list of observing targets is broken down by Month and
Constellation. This list was kindly provided by Joe Donahue.
Joe Donahue is an amateur astronomer who lives and observes just outside of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. He uses a combination of three scopes, a TV85,
a 10" LX200, and an Astro-Physics 155EDF. He has compiled this list of astronomical
objects over the last few years. While he has observed 95% of these objects, some remain
as challenges due to increasing light pollution.
Joe’s list is organized by the
progression of the constellations transiting his site each month. Each constellation is
divided into object type. Joe hopes you will enjoy his list and urges other observers to
use it to organize their observing runs. He welcomes your comments. .
| Month | Constellation |
| January | Aries Triangulum Perseus Camelopardalis Cetus |
| February | Eridanus Taurus Auriga |
| March | Orion Lepus Gemini Canis Major |
| April | Cancer Lynx Hydra |
| May | Leo Sextans |
| June | Canes Venatici Coma Berenices Ursa Major |
| July | Libra Virgo Bootes Corona Borealis Hydra Serpins Caput |
| August | Draco Hercules Ophiuchus Scorpius |
| September | Lyra Vulpecula Sagitta Serpens Cauda Scutum Sagittarius |
| October | Cygnus Aquila Cephus Delphinius Equileus Capricornus Aquarius |
| November | |
| December |
You can contact Joe Donahue here.
What Others have been looking at
The targets described on this page do not include the planets or Moon.
Here's a list of Messier objects that are broken down by season. This is the best time to view the listed object even though the object may be seen at other times of year. I've annotated the list to try and give an idea of how easy or difficult it is to see the various objects using binoculars or my 150mm reflector. There are observing reports for those objects shown in green.
| Winter Objects | ||||
| Catalogue Id | Constellation | Object type | Magnitude | Description |
| M 1 | TAU | Nebula | 8.4 | Crab Nebula. This can be tough in a small scope. |
| M 35 | GEM | Open cluster | 5.1 | Open cluster. Easy in a telescope. |
| M 36 | AUR | Open cluster | 6.0 | Open cluster. Easy in a telescope. |
| M 37 | AUR | Open cluster | 5.6 | Open cluster. Easy in a telescope. |
| M 38 | AUR | Open cluster | 6.4 | Open cluster. Easy in a telescope. |
| M 41 | CMA | Open cluster | 4.5 | 150 members to mag 13 |
| M 42 | ORI | Nebula | 4.0 | Orion nebula and trapezium - binocular object |
| M 43 | ORI | Nebula | 9.0 | Detached part of Orion Nebula |
| M 45 | TAU | Cluster | 1.2 | Pleiades open cluster - binocular object |
| M 46 | PUP | Open cluster | 6.1 | 150 stars mag 10-13 |
| M 47 | PUP | Open cluster | 4.4 | H VIII 38;Messier gave poor postion |
| M 50 | MON | Open cluster | 5.9 | About 100 stars mags 9 - 14 |
| M 56 | LYR | Globular cluster | 8.3 | Stars 11... |
| M 57 | LYR | Planetary nebula | 9.4 | Ring Nebula. Very small but bright |
| M 78 | ORI | Nebula | 8.0 | "Comet shaped;2 10 mag |
| M 79 | LEP | Globular cluster | 8.4 | Stars vF |
| M 93 | PUP | Open cluster | 6.2 | 63 members to mag 13 wedge shaped center |
Here's a summary of objects viewed during the winter months described in observing reports submitted to this site that aren't in the Messier catalogue.
| Catalogue Id | Constellation | Object Type | Magnitude | Comments |
| CR 89 | GEM | Open cluster | 5.7 | |
| IC 434 | ORI | Nebula | 11.0 | Contains Horsehead nebula |
| Mel 25 | TAU | Open cluster | Hyades open cluster - binocular object | |
| NGC 40 | CEP | Planetary Neb | 10.7 | Large nebula |
| NGC 185 | CAS | Galaxy | 9.2 | A challenge. Need dark skies |
| NGC 1545 | PER | Open cluster | 6.2 | Stars easily resolved |
| NGC 2169 | ORI | Open cluster | 5.9 | Asterism shaped like the number "37" |
| NGC 7662 | AND | Planetary Neb | 9.2 | Diffuse gray disk half size of NGC 40 |
| NGC 7789 | CAS | Open cluster | 6.7 | Very dense cluster |
This is by no means an exhaustive list of those objects described in the observing reports submitted to this site. I have tried to show those objects that are more commonly observed and those objects that are not so well known to the novice astronomer but may be easy to find with a small telescope.