Top 10 Nebulae to See and Photograph in July 2024

July offers a perfect opportunity for stargazers to witness some of the most stunning nebulae in the night sky. As the summer skies darken and the Milky Way arches high overhead, a plethora of celestial wonders come into view. From the iconic Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula to the intricate Trifid Nebula, these 10 deep-sky objects provide breathtaking sights and exciting astrophotography challenges. The nebulae in our list are ranked based on their visual magnitude; however, as you will notice, low magnitude does not always correspond with good visibility. To know exactly where to look for a particular nebula, use the astronomy app Sky Tonight.

Contents

• 10. Ring Nebula
• 9. Cat's Eye Nebula
• 8. Crescent Nebula
• 7. Dumbbell Nebula
• 6. Veil Nebula
• 5. Iris Nebula
• 4. Trifid Nebula
• 3. Lagoon Nebula
• 2. Eagle Nebula
• 1. North America Nebula
• Deep-sky objects tonight: Best targets for your location
• Nebulae in July: Bottom line

10. 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.

9. 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 boast of having seen the Cat's Eye Nebula through 10x50 binoculars, we still advise using at least 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.

8. 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.

7. 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.

6. 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.

5. 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.

4. 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.

3. 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.

2. 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 outstretched wings. 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.

1. 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 advise using binoculars with good magnification and a large field of view.
• Description: 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.

Deep-sky objects tonight: Best targets for your location

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

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

2. 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.

3. 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.

Nebulae in July: Bottom line

As July unfolds, the night sky becomes a canvas painted with the beauty of numerous nebulae. Enhance your summer stargazing experience by observing the prominent Lagoon Nebula, the elusive North America Nebula, or any other object from our list. To easily find any of the nebulae in the sky, use the Sky Tonight app. We wish you clear skies and happy observations!