The Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264)

Start with tonight's shortlist.

A few targets worth your evening from your location. Dig into the full catalog when you're ready for more.

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Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264) · Photo: Arun Venkataswamy

Tonight's sky

What's up right now from your location, and when to catch it.

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This month

The best deep-sky targets right now, month by month.

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Planets

Where the planets and Moon are tonight, and when they're up.

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Sky events

Meteor showers, eclipses, and what's coming up.

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The catalog

Every object with observing notes and real photos.

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Plan by equipment

Filter 161 objects by your gear, sky, and skill.

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Calculators

Field of view, limiting magnitude, and visibility.

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Learn

How observing works, from the basics to fine detail.

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161 objects, curated for real observing

Not everything in the sky. Just the things actually worth your time.

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Andromeda Galaxy Pleiades M51 (Whirlpool Galaxy) Ring Nebula Lagoon Nebula Sombrero Galaxy Messier 13 Messier 27

New to observing? Start here.

Five short guides that build real skill, in order.

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1
Introduction
Why any of this is worth your time.
→ 2
The Language of the Sky
Measuring angles, magnitudes, and how the sky moves.
→ 3
The Observer’s Toolkit
Your eyes, binoculars, and telescopes, and what each shows.
→ 4
Essential Observing Skills
Finder scopes, star-hopping, and averted vision.
→ 5
Understanding Maps
Reading charts, coordinates, and finding your way.
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Finding it in the eyepiece

PushNav is a free, open-source plate-solving push-to system for manual scopes. Same catalog, same author.

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