Best Deep-Sky Objects by Month: August 2025
August is the perfect time for deep-sky observation and astrophotography: this month offers lots of stunning nebulae, star clusters, and galaxies to see and capture. 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
- Best nebulae to see in August
- Best galaxies to see in August
- Best star clusters to see in August
- Deep-sky objects in August: frequently asked questions
- Deep-sky objects in August: Bottom line
Best nebulae to see in August
Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust where stars are born and die. They often have beautiful shapes and glowing colors, but don’t expect to see those colors with your eyes. Most nebulae appear as faint gray patches even through a telescope. That’s why they’re especially popular with astrophotographers, who can capture their full beauty in long-exposure images. Some brighter nebulae can still be spotted with binoculars or small telescopes under dark skies.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Many nebulae are named after the objects they resemble, though sometimes the resemblance is… up for debate. Are you up for a challenge? Take the Guess the Nebula quiz and put your pattern-spotting skills to the test!
Best galaxies to see in August
Galaxies are enormous systems of stars, gas, and dust, like our own Milky Way. They are far away but still shine bright enough to see through binoculars or a telescope. In fact, some of them, like the Andromeda Galaxy, can even be spotted with the naked eye under dark skies! Galaxies are excellent targets for long-exposure astrophotography, revealing graceful structures and glowing cores.
Fireworks Galaxy
- Alternative names: NGC 6946, Caldwell 12
- Apparent size: 16' × 11.2' (0.4 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 9.5
- Constellation: Cygnus/Cepheus
- Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: The Fireworks Galaxy has a low surface brightness, so you’ll need a very dark sky and a telescope to see it.
- Description: The Fireworks Galaxy is an intermediate spiral galaxy located 25.2 million light-years away from Earth. It has also been classified as a double-barred spiral galaxy.
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.
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.
Best star clusters to see in August
Star clusters are groups of stars that formed together and travel through space as a family. Globular clusters are tightly packed and look like glowing balls, while open clusters are more spread out. Many of them are easy to spot and perfect for beginners and experienced skywatchers alike. Clusters are also rewarding astrophotography targets: they don’t require long exposures, and even short captures can reveal stunning star patterns.
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.
Wild Duck Cluster
- Alternative names: M11, NGC 6705
- Apparent size: 22.8′ (0.8 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 6.3
- Constellation: Scutum
- Where to observe: Both hemispheres
- How to observe: Through binoculars, the Wild Duck Cluster will appear as a faint triangular patch of light. A telescope will reveal hundreds of stars tightly packed into a single field of view.
- Description: The Wild Duck Cluster is an open star cluster located about 6,120 light-years away from us. It gets its name from its V-shaped pattern, which looks like a duck – or a group of ducks – flying across the sky. With about 3,000 stars, it’s one of the most crowded and massive open clusters that we can see.
Hercules Globular Cluster
- Alternative names: M13, NGC 6205
- Apparent size: 20′ (0.7 × Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 5.8
- Constellation: Hercules
- Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: While M13 usually isn’t visible to the naked eye, it’s easy to spot with binoculars, where it appears as a soft, glowing ball. A small telescope will reveal its bright, compact core, and with a medium or large telescope, you’ll start to see its individual stars clearly.
- Description: Located about 23,000 light-years from Earth, M13 is one of the brightest and most well-known globular star clusters. In 1974, it was chosen as the destination for the Arecibo Message, a symbolic radio signal sent to potential alien civilizations. The message will take 25,000 years to reach the cluster, and just as long for any reply to return.
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.
Deep-sky objects in August: frequently asked questions
What is a deep-sky object?
A deep-sky object (DSO) is any astronomical object that isn’t a star or part of our Solar System. This includes galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. DSOs are typically dim, so observing them often requires binoculars or telescopes.
What are the brightest deep-sky objects in August?
Some of the brightest deep-sky objects in August are:
- Andromeda Galaxy (M31) – visible to the naked eye.
- Great Sagittarius Cluster (M22) – one of the brightest globular clusters.
- Lagoon Nebula (M8) – best seen in binoculars under dark skies.
Explore even more bright deep-sky targets with our naked-eye star clusters list or the map of the best beginner-level deep-sky objects.
How to easily find the best deep-sky objects for my location?
To quickly discover which deep-sky objects are visible in your sky tonight, follow these simple steps using the Sky Tonight app:
- Tap the telescope icon to open “Visible Tonight.”
- Scroll to the “Deep-sky objects” section, or tap the top filter bar and select the galaxy icon to narrow the list.
- Tap the blue target icon next to any object to see when and where it appears in the sky.
Want a visual walkthrough? Watch our video tutorial for step-by-step guidance.
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!
Best deep-sky targets by month: year-ahead calendar
Deep-sky wonders aren’t limited to August. Discover what the universe has to offer each month with our guides to deep-sky objects:
Milky Way: seize your chance to see
August is your final chance to catch the Milky Way galaxy at its best before it starts fading from view. Early in the month, you can still spot its bright core in the evening sky, especially under dark, rural skies.
- Get the most out of your viewing with our Milky Way visibility guide: it covers ideal times, directions, and tips for locating it.
- Think you know the Milky Way? Put your knowledge to the test with our Milky Way quiz!
