Best Deep-Sky Objects by Month: July 2025

Jun 30, 2025

~10 min

July offers a perfect opportunity for stargazers to explore a wide range of deep-sky objects, from glowing nebulae and faraway galaxies to dazzling star clusters. As the summer skies darken and the Milky Way stretches high overhead, countless celestial treasures become visible to the naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes. We've grouped the objects into three categories: nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters. While they're ordered by visual magnitude, keep in mind that brightness doesn't always equal visibility. To know exactly where to look for a particular target, use the astronomy app Sky Tonight.

Best nebulae to see in July

Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust where stars are born and die. Some glow brightly from ionized gases (emission nebulae), others reflect nearby starlight (reflection nebulae), or block it entirely (dark nebulae).

Nebulae vary widely in visibility. While some are visible in binoculars under dark skies, others require large telescopes and special filters. Nebulae are among the most rewarding and colorful astrophotography targets, though long exposures and narrowband filters are often needed to bring out fine details.

Ring Nebula

Alternative names: M57, NGC 6720
Apparent size: 3′47″ × 2′23″ (0.1 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 8.7
Constellation: Lyra
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: The Ring Nebula is best observed through a telescope with an aperture of at least 200mm. However, even a smaller telescope (for instance, with a 75 mm aperture) might allow you to see the nebula’s characteristic ring shape.
Description: The Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula located about 2,500 light-years away from Earth. It is a popular target for amateur astronomers because of its unique shape and relatively high brightness.

Cat's Eye Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 6543, Caldwell 6
Apparent size: 20″ (0.01 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 7.9
Constellation: Draco
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: The Cat's Eye Nebula has a high surface brightness but is extremely small. Although some observers claim to have seen the Cat's Eye Nebula through 10x50 binoculars, we still recommend using a small telescope for its observation.
Description: Located 3,262 light-years away, the Cat's Eye Nebula is one of the most stunning examples of a planetary nebula. It has been the subject of truly remarkable images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Crescent Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 6888, Caldwell 27
Apparent size: 18′ × 12′ (0.5 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 7.4
Constellation: Cygnus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: Like several other nebulae in our list, the Crescent Nebula is bright in theory but is quite faint in practice. To see it in the sky, you’ll require a telescope with at least a 200mm aperture and an OIII filter (a filter specifically designed for nebula observation). Averted vision might also help.
Description: The Crescent Nebula is an emission nebula located about 5,000 light-years away from us. It was formed by the fast stellar wind from the Wolf-Rayet star WR 136.

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: If the sky is dark enough, you can quite easily see the Dumbbell Nebula with 10x50 or 15x70 binoculars. A small telescope will help you take a closer look at the nebula.
Description: The Dumbbell Nebula is a planetary nebula located approximately 1,360 light-years from Earth. It is one of the brightest planetary nebulae in the sky, distinguished by its unique shape that resembles a dumbbell or a half-eaten apple.

Veil Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 6960, Caldwell 34
Apparent size: 3° (6 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 7.0
Constellation: Cygnus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: You can try to see the Veil Nebula (especially its eastern side) with 10x50 or 15x60 binoculars, but it will look very faint. You’ll get much better results with an 80mm telescope.
Description: The Veil Nebula is the result of a supernova explosion that occurred about 100,000 years ago. This object is so large that several NGC designations were assigned to its various parts (6960, 6992, 6995, 6974, and 6979). The Veil Nebula has three main visual components: the Western Veil, the Eastern Veil, and Pickering's Triangle.

Iris Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 7023, LBN487, Caldwell 4
Apparent size: 18′ x 18′ (0.6 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 6.8
Constellation: Cepheus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: Don’t let the relatively low apparent magnitude fool you — the Iris Nebula is a very challenging object for beginners. It has a low surface brightness and, being a reflection nebula, doesn’t emit its own light. The nebula is not visible to the naked eye and is almost impossible to view with binoculars (you’ll only be able to see its bright central star). So, use at least a small telescope for its observation.
Description: The Iris Nebula is a reflection nebula located 1,300 light-years away, relatively close to us. Its beautiful blue color comes from the light reflected off the dust behind the bright star in its center.

Trifid Nebula

Alternative names: M20, NGC 6514
Apparent size: 28′ (1 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 6.3
Constellation: Sagittarius
Where to observe: Both hemispheres
How to observe: In a clear, dark sky, you can see the Trifid Nebula with 7x50 or 10x50 binoculars. A small telescope will help you see its intricate structure.
Description: The Trifid Nebula is a fascinating astronomical object located approximately 5,200 light-years away. It is a combination of three types of nebulae: emission, reflection, and dark nebulae. The dark nebulae are composed of dense, light-blocking dust that creates a unique appearance, giving the Trifid Nebula its name.

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 barely visible to the unaided eye but becomes easily distinguishable with binoculars. Use a small telescope for a more detailed view of the nebula.
Description: The Lagoon Nebula is a vast emission nebula located about 4,000 light-years away from us. This magnificent nebula is a stellar nursery where new stars are born from the dense clouds of gas and dust.

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: You'll need at least a small telescope to see the Eagle Nebula. The famous Pillars of Creation require more advanced equipment.
Description: The Eagle Nebula is part of a diffuse emission nebula located about 5,700 light-years away from Earth. Its shape is reminiscent of an eagle with its wings outstretched. At the center of the nebula lie the renowned Pillars of Creation. These towering columns of interstellar gas and dust have been immortalized in stunning images taken by Hubble.

North America Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 7000, Caldwell 20
Apparent size: 120′ × 100′ (3.7 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 4.0
Constellation: Cygnus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: Although its apparent magnitude suggests a visually bright object, the North America Nebula is not easy to observe because of its low surface brightness. However, some observers still claim to have seen it with the naked eye in a perfectly dark sky! We recommend using binoculars with a high magnification and a wide field of view.
Description: The North America Nebula is an emission nebula located 2,590 light-years away from us. In the sky, it can be found close to Deneb (the “tail” of the constellation Cygnus and its brightest star). Its shape resembles the North American continent, hence its name.

Best galaxies to see in July

Galaxies are enormous collections of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter. They appear as faint smudges of light from Earth, due to their immense distance.

Most galaxies are visually faint and require dark skies and telescopes. Bright ones can be spotted with the naked eye under ideal conditions and are good targets for wide-field astrophotography. However, capturing structure and details in galaxies generally requires longer focal lengths and longer exposures.

NGC 6207

Alternative names: PGC 58827, UGC 10521
Apparent size: 2′30″ × 1′00″ (0.08 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 11.6
Constellation: Hercules
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: Under dark skies, observers with 4-6 inch (100-150mm) telescopes can catch this dim smudge as a small, oval haze. In a larger telescope, you may begin to tease out its core and elongated structure.
Description: Located roughly 46 million light-years from Earth, NGC 6207 is a spiral galaxy viewed at a slight angle. Its proximity to the bright star cluster M13 often causes it to be overlooked. NGC 6207 is a favorite among seasoned observers and astrophotographers who enjoy capturing both it and M13 in the same wide-field frame.

Spindle Galaxy

Alternative names: M102, NGC 5866
Apparent size: 4.7′ x 1.9′ (0.1 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 9.9
Constellation: Draco
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: Due to its small size and nearly edge-on presentation, the Spindle Galaxy can be quite difficult to spot in small telescopes. A large-aperture telescope under dark skies is recommended to reveal its thin, needle-like profile.
Description: The Spindle Galaxy is a lenticular galaxy located about 44 million light-years from Earth. It's best known for its thin, edge-on silhouette and unusually prominent dust disk – a rare trait for its galaxy type. This dark dust lane running across its center gives it the appearance of a spindle, hence its name. Some astronomers speculate that it may actually be a spiral galaxy seen edge-on, rather than a true lenticular, which remains a point of debate.

Fireworks Galaxy

Alternative names: NGC 6946, C 12, Apr 29
Apparent size: 9.5
Apparent magnitude: 11′29″ × 9′47″ (0.4 x Moon)
Constellation: Cepheus/Cygnus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: The Fireworks Galaxy is a faint object best viewed under very dark skies with a medium to large telescope. Due to its low surface brightness, it’s a challenging visual target, especially in light-polluted areas, but it becomes more rewarding through long-exposure astrophotography, where its spiral structure can be revealed.
Description: The Fireworks Galaxy is a spiral galaxy located 25 million light-years away from Earth. It earned its nickname thanks to its high rate of supernovae – more than ten have been observed in the past century, making it one of the most active galaxies in that regard.

Best star clusters to see in July

Star clusters are groups of stars that formed together and remain gravitationally bound. They come in two types: open clusters, which are loose and young, and globular clusters, which are dense, ancient stellar spheres.

Star clusters are among the easiest deep-sky objects to observe, with many visible through binoculars or even to the naked eye. They're great for beginners. Clusters are also forgiving astrophotography targets – they don't require long exposures or special filters, and they reveal beautiful fields of pinpoint stars.

Gumball Cluster

Gumball Cluster (M12) – a globular cluster in the constellation Ophiuchus.
©Vito Technology, Inc.

Alternative names: M12, NGC 6218, Mel 151
Apparent size: 16′ (0.5 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 7.6
Constellation: Ophiuchus
Where to observe: Both hemispheres
How to observe: M12 makes a nice astrophotography target: thanks to its density, it appears bright in photos. Unfortunately, that’s not the case with the visual observations: with binoculars, you may only spot it as a faint patch under dark skies. M12 is best observed with a small to medium-sized telescope.
Description: The Gumball Cluster is a globular cluster located about 16,000 light-years from us. It was discovered by Charles Messier in 1764; back then, he believed that the object was a nebula without any stars.

M13

Great Globular Cluster in Hercules — Hercules Globular Cluster (M13) — one of the brightest clusters in the Northern Hemisphere.
©Sid Leach/Adam Block/Mount Lemmon SkyCenter

Alternative names: Hercules Cluster, NGC 6205
Apparent size: 20′ (0.7 × Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 5.8
Constellation: Hercules
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: M13 is not visible to the naked eye under most conditions, but it stands out beautifully in binoculars as a fuzzy ball of light. A small telescope reveals a densely packed core, while medium to large telescopes begin to resolve its individual stars.
Description: M13 is one of the most iconic and brightest globular star clusters located about 23,000 light-years away. M13 has long been a favorite target for stargazers, and even became a target for 1974’s Arecibo Message – a symbolic transmission from Earth to potential extraterrestrial civilizations.

Butterfly Cluster

Alternative names: M6, NGC 6405, Cr 341, Mel 178
Apparent size: 24′59″ (0.8 × Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 4.2
Constellation: Scorpius
Where to observe: Southern Hemisphere
How to observe: The Butterfly Cluster is visible to the naked eye under dark skies and is an excellent binocular target. Through binoculars, it appears as a delicate spray of stars shaped like butterfly wings. A small telescope reveals dozens of bright, loosely packed stars, several with a golden or orange hue.
Description: The Butterfly Cluster is a bright open star cluster located approximately 1,600 light-years from Earth. Its stars are relatively young – around 100 million years old – and loosely bound. The cluster earned its name from the wing-like arrangement of its brightest stars.

Frequently asked questions about the deep-sky objects

What is a deep-sky object?

A deep-sky object (DSO) is any astronomical object beyond our Solar System that isn't a star or planet. This includes nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters – the main focus of this guide. These objects are often vast and incredibly distant, visible from Earth only under dark skies and with the aid of binoculars or telescopes.

What are the brightest deep-sky objects to see in July?

Some of the most prominent and visually rewarding DSOs this month include:

Lagoon Nebula (M8): Bright, large, and easy to spot in binoculars;
Dumbbell Nebula (M27): One of the brightest nebulae;
Hercules Cluster (M13): Stunning through binoculars and small telescopes;
Butterfly Cluster (M6): A bright open cluster visible to the naked eye.

Explore even more bright deep-sky targets here:

How to easily find the best deep-sky objects for my location?

To learn what deep-sky objects you can observe, do the following:

Launch Sky Tonight and tap the telescope icon at the bottom to access the “Visible Tonight” window.
Choose either:

2.1. Scroll the list to the “Deep-sky objects” section OR 2.2. Tap the top panel of the window and deselect all icons except the galaxy icon to filter the list. Then you can sort the visible DSOs by magnitude, for example.
Tap the blue target on any object to see where it will become observable in the sky.

For a comprehensive guide on “Visible Tonight”, refer to our video tutorial.

July deep-sky objects: Bottom line

As July unfolds, the night sky becomes a treasure trove of deep-sky wonders: from the colorful nebulae and distant galaxies to the sparkling star clusters. Whether you’re a casual stargazer or a seasoned astrophotographer, this month offers unforgettable views and rewarding targets. To easily find any of these celestial objects, use the Sky Tonight app. We wish you clear skies and happy observations!

Best deep-sky targets by month: year-ahead calendar

Deep-sky wonders aren’t limited to July. Discover what the universe has to offer each month with our guides to deep-sky objects:

Text Credit:Vito Technology, Inc.

Topics:Clusters, Nebulae, Galaxies