Top 10 Deep-Sky Objects of August 2024

The last summer month in the Northern Hemisphere is the perfect time for deep-sky observation and astrophotography. August nights are warm and generally clear, and there are lots of stunning galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters to see and photograph. We listed a few of such objects below and arranged them from faintest to brightest according to their apparent magnitude. Grab your optics, download the Sky Tonight app to easily locate celestial objects, get outside, and let’s explore the August skies together!

Contents

• 10. Helix Nebula
• 9. Dumbbell Nebula
• 8. Wizard Nebula
• 7. Barnard's Galaxy
• 6. Cocoon Nebula
• 5. Great Pegasus Cluster
• 4. Lagoon Nebula
• 3. Eagle Nebula
• 2. Great Sagittarius Cluster
• 1. Andromeda Galaxy
• Deep-Sky Objects in August: Bottom line

10. Helix Nebula

• Alternative names: NGC 7293, Eye of God, Eye of Sauron
• Apparent size: 25′ (0.8 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 7.6
• Constellation: Aquarius
• Where to observe: Both hemispheres
• How to observe: Despite its “good” apparent magnitude, the Helix Nebula has low surface brightness, so it’s not easy to observe. You can try to see it using 20x100 binoculars and an O-III or UHC filter. It’s still better to observe this object through a telescope.
• Description: The Helix Nebula is a planetary nebula located only about 655 light-years away from us. It is similar in appearance to the Cat's Eye Nebula and the Ring Nebula.

9. Dumbbell Nebula

• Alternative names: M27, NGC 6853, Apple Core Nebula
• Apparent size: 8' × 5.6' (0.2 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 7.4
• Constellation: Vulpecula
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: The Dumbbell Nebula is brighter than most of the other nebulae in the night sky and can be spotted with 10x50 or 15x70 binoculars. A small telescope will provide a more detailed view of the nebula.
• Description: The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary nebula located around 1,360 light-years away from us. Observed by Charles Messier in 1764, it became the first planetary nebula to be discovered. Its distinctive shape, resembling a dumbbell or a half-eaten apple, makes it easily recognizable and popular among astronomy enthusiasts.

8. Wizard Nebula

• Alternative names: NGC 7380, Sh2-142
• Apparent size: 25′ (0.8 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 7.2
• Constellation: Cepheus
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: The Wizard Nebula is very difficult to observe visually; you’ll need perfectly dark skies, a telescope, and an O-III filter (and even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll see it). However, it is a wonderful object for astrophotographers.
• Description: The Wizard Nebula is an emission nebula surrounding the open star cluster NGC 7380, located about 7,000 light-years away from Earth. It got its nickname because, from some angles, it looks like a magician in a pointed hat.

7. Barnard's Galaxy

• Alternative names: NGC 6822, IC 4895, Caldwell 57
• Apparent size: 15.5′ × 13.5′ (0.5 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 7.2
• Constellation: Sagittarius
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: Barnard's Galaxy is not easy to observe due to its low surface brightness, but under good conditions, you can see it in 15x50 binoculars. To have a better view of the galaxy, use a 60-mm telescope.
• Description: Barnard's Galaxy is a barred irregular galaxy that lies approximately 1.6 million light-years away. It is similar in structure and composition to the Small Magellanic Cloud (another irregular galaxy). Barnard's Galaxy was the first galaxy besides the Magellanic Clouds to have its distance determined — it was done by Edwin Hubble in 1925.

6. Cocoon Nebula

• Alternative names: IC 5146, Caldwell 19, Sh 2-125
• Apparent size: 12′ (0.4 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 7.1
• Constellation: Cygnus
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: You can see the Cocoon Nebula’s “tail” (Barnard 168) even with small binoculars, but it will be difficult to observe the nebula itself even in mid-sized telescopes. That being said, the Cocoon Nebula is a great astrophotography target.
• Description: The Cocoon Nebula is a reflection/emission nebula located about 4,000 light-years away. A peculiar feature of this nebula is a long dark “tail” that extends westward from it. This “tail” is Barnard 168 — a dark nebula composed of cold interstellar dust.

5. Great Pegasus Cluster

• Alternative names: M15, NGC 7078
• Apparent size: 18′ (0.6 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 6.6
• Constellation: Pegasus
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: You can observe the Great Pegasus Cluster through binoculars as a fuzzy white “star”. From a perfectly dark location, you can even see it with the naked eye. To distinguish individual stars in the cluster, a large telescope is required.
• Description: The Great Pegasus Cluster is a globular star cluster located approximately 35,000 light-years away from Earth. It is about 13 billion years old and is one of the most densely packed globular clusters in the Milky Way.

4. Lagoon Nebula

• Alternative names: M8, NGC 6523
• Apparent size: 90′ x 40′ (3 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 6.0
• Constellation: Sagittarius
• Where to observe: Both hemispheres
• How to observe: The Lagoon Nebula is difficult to see with the naked eye but can be easily spotted with 10x50 binoculars as a glowing smudge. Through a small telescope, it will appear as an oval patch with a defined core.
• Description: The Lagoon Nebula is an emission nebula located approximately 4,000 light-years from us. It is a gigantic interstellar cloud of gas and dust where new stars are being born.

3. Eagle Nebula

• Alternative names: M16, NGC 6611, Star Queen Nebula
• Apparent size: 70′ x 50′ (2 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 5.9
• Constellation: Serpens
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: It’s best to use a small telescope to observe the Eagle Nebula. As for the Pillars of Creations within the nebula, they can only be seen through telescopes with an aperture of at least 300 mm.
• Description: The Eagle Nebula is part of a diffuse emission nebula located about 5,700 light-years away from Earth. Its appearance resembles an eagle with spread wings. At the heart of the nebula are the iconic Pillars of Creation — columns of interstellar gas and dust, captured in breathtaking images by the Hubble Space Telescope.

2. Great Sagittarius Cluster

• Alternative names: M22, NGC 6656
• Apparent size: 32′ (1 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 4.9
• Constellation: Sagittarius
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: Under ideal conditions, the Great Sagittarius Cluster can be seen even with the naked eye. However, we advise to use 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars for its observation.
• Description: The Great Sagittarius Cluster is a globular star cluster located near the so-called bulge — a tightly packed spheroidal group of stars in the center of our galaxy. The cluster is about 10,600 light-years away from us. It was discovered in 1665 by German amateur astronomer Abraham Ihle.

1. Andromeda Galaxy

• Alternative names: M31, NGC 224
• Apparent size: 3° × 1° (6 x Moon)
• Apparent magnitude: 3.4
• Constellation: Andromeda
• Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
• How to observe: The Andromeda Galaxy can be seen with the naked eye under dark, clear skies as a faint patch of light. For a better view, use 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars or a small telescope, which will reveal the galaxy’s elongated shape and brighter core.
• Description: The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and the nearest spiral galaxy to our Milky Way (it is located about 2.5 million light-years away). It is the largest galaxy in the Local Group, which includes the Milky Way and more than 100 other galaxies. The Andromeda Galaxy is on a collision course with the Milky Way and is predicted to merge with it in about 4.5 billion years.

Deep-Sky Objects in August: Bottom line

The August sky offers opportunities for everyone. If you’re a beginner observer, definitely try to see the Andromeda Galaxy and the Great Sagittarius Cluster. If you’re an experienced astrophotographer, try to capture the Wizard Nebula or Cocoon Nebula. Make sure to take the Sky Tonight app with you, as it will help you navigate the night sky. We wish you clear skies and successful observations!