Best June Astrophotography Targets: Deep-Sky Objects to Capture This Month
Looking for the best June astrophotography targets? This month offers bright star clusters, colorful nebulae, and spiral galaxies that look great in photos, through a telescope, or even to the naked eye under dark skies. Below, you’ll find the best deep-sky targets to capture in June, with tips on what each object is, how difficult it is to observe or photograph, and what equipment works best. To find these stunning targets in the night sky, download the Sky Tonight app. It’s your perfect stargazing companion, offering a real-time sky map, detailed object information, and easy-to-follow navigation to help you locate celestial wonders wherever you are.
Want to capture deep-sky objects without a complicated setup? The Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope automatically locates, tracks, and stacks images of nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters — perfect for beginner astrophotography. Get the Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope now, and enjoy astrophotography with ease: US users, global users.
Contents
- Best Galaxies to See & Capture in June
- Best Star Clusters to See & Capture in June
- How to See and Photograph June Deep-Sky Objects With a Smart Telescope?
- June Deep-Sky Objects: FAQ
- June Deep-Sky Objects: Conclusion
Best Nebulae to See & Capture in June
Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust in space. They can be regions where new stars are born or remnants of dead stars. Nebulae are often beautifully colored and can be seen as glowing patches of light in the sky.
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
The Ring Nebula is a planetary nebula that can be found south of the bright star Vega. Its distinctive round shape is reminiscent of a ring or a bagel, hence its name.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The Ring Nebula is too small to be seen with binoculars. It is best observed using a telescope with an aperture of at least 20 cm, but even a 7.5 cm telescope will reveal its ring shape.
For astrophotography, use a longer focal length or crop in after shooting, and try a UHC or OIII filter to improve contrast against the background sky and reveal more of the nebula’s red and green hues; just keep in mind that filters can affect sharpness, so some adjustment may be needed.
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
The Lagoon Nebula is a giant interstellar cloud classified as an emission nebula. It contains an open star cluster NGC 6530, many Bok globules (dark nebulae), and the Hourglass Nebula (not to be confused with the better-known Engraved Hourglass Nebula in the constellation Musca).
Tips for observing and astrophotography
Under dark, moonless skies, the Lagoon Nebula may be visible to the unaided eye, but binoculars show it much more clearly as a cloud-like patch of light.
The Lagoon Nebula is a wide-field astrophotography target because it is large, bright, and colorful. You can capture it with a small refractor and a DSLR or astronomy camera. Use multiple long exposures and stack them to bring out the red emission glow, dark dust lanes, and surrounding star field.
Trifid Nebula
- Alternative names: M20, NGC 6514
- Apparent size: 28′ (1 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 6.3
- Constellation: Sagittarius
- Where to observe: Both hemispheres
The Trifid Nebula is a very unusual object — a combination of an open star cluster, an emission nebula, a reflection nebula, and a dark nebula. It is also one of the brightest nebulae in the night sky.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The Trifid Nebula (M20) can be seen with binoculars from a dark-sky location, but a telescope reveals it as a brighter, more detailed target.
For astrophotography, a DSLR or an astronomy camera with a refractor works well. You don't need a large telescope; a wide-field setup can capture M20 alongside the nearby star cluster M21 and the Lagoon Nebula. Using a modified DSLR with a light pollution filter can help capture the nebula’s red hydrogen glow. Stacking and processing the images reveals the blue reflection nebula and dark dust lanes.
Capturing two nebulae in one image may sound like advanced astrophotography, but smart telescopes make it much more approachable. The photo below shows the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20), captured by Daniel Gardner with the Seestar S30 Pro from Bortle 4–5 skies.
The setup was simple: the Seestar S30 Pro was used in EQ mode with 60-second exposures, while stacking and processing helped bring out the red emission glow, blue reflection light, and dark dust lanes. For beginners, this is the main advantage of a smart telescope: you can start imaging deep-sky objects without building a bulky, complicated rig.
Daniel has loved astronomy since childhood but only recently began actively photographing the night sky — a reminder that deep-sky imaging is no longer just for experienced astrophotographers with complex equipment. Explore the Seestar S30 Pro (US Store | Global Store) and start capturing nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters with ease.
Omega Nebula
- Alternative names: M17, NGC 6618, Swan Nebula, Checkmark Nebula, Lobster Nebula, Horseshoe Nebula
- Apparent size: 11' (0.3 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 6
- Constellation: Sagittarius
- Where to observe: Both hemispheres
The Omega Nebula is a so-called H II region, a large area of ionized hydrogen gas. It is one of the brightest and largest star-forming regions in the Milky Way galaxy.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The Omega Nebula is hard to spot with the naked eye, but can be easily seen with binoculars as an oval-shaped diffuse patch of light.
For capturing the Omega Nebula, both apochromatic (APO) refractors and fast astrographs work well. A longer focal length of around 1000 mm provides a closer view of the nebula, while a shorter focal length allows you to capture more of the surrounding Milky Way region, possibly including the Eagle Nebula. Using a modified DSLR or an astronomy camera reveals more of the red emission structure. Light pollution or narrowband filters improve contrast, especially from city skies.
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
The Eagle Nebula is part of a diffuse emission nebula called IC 4703. The nebula resembles an eagle with outstretched wings, hence its name. At the heart of the Eagle Nebula sit the famous Pillars of Creation — the towers of cosmic dust and gas that are several light-years tall.
Nebulae are often named quite weirdly. Take our fun quiz and try to guess nebulae names from their pictures!
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The Eagle Nebula can be spotted through a small telescope. To see the iconic Pillars of Creation within the nebula, you’ll need a large telescope and good viewing conditions.
The Eagle Nebula is a strong deep-sky astrophotography target: even a short 30-second exposure can begin to show the glow of its core, but a longer integration time is needed to reveal the faint outer regions. A small refractor, a DSLR or astronomy camera, and a tracking mount can capture the Eagle Nebula well; a star tracker or equatorial mount will let you take longer exposures and gather more light. From light-polluted skies, a dual-narrowband filter can greatly improve the nebula’s emission detail, though it may reduce natural star colors.
Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex
- Alternative names: Rho Ophiuchi Molecular Cloud, Ophiuchus Molecular Cloud
- Apparent size: 4.5° × 6.5° (11 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 4.6
- Constellation: Ophiuchus
- Where to observe: Both hemispheres
The Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex is a complex of interstellar clouds consisting primarily of dark nebulae. This object is one of the closest “stellar nurseries” to the Solar System.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex has a very low surface brightness to be detected visually, regardless of the optical equipment. It is also too large to fit within the field of view of a telescope. However, if you’re an astrophotographer with a wide-angle DSLR camera, you should definitely try to image this stunning-looking object. To get to see all the different kinds of colors of the cloud, you’ll need a dark sky, long total exposure time, careful tracking, and patient post-processing to bring out the faint reflection nebulae, dark dust lanes, and reddish emission regions without washing out the stars.
Blue Horsehead Nebula
- Alternative names: IC 4592
- Apparent size: 2.5° × 1° (5 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 4.0
- Constellation: Scorpius
- Where to observe: Both hemispheres
The Blue Horsehead Nebula is a reflection nebula that has a distinctive horsehead shape. Its blue color comes from fine dust reflecting the light of nearby stars. In the sky, the nebula is located close to the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
Like the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex, the Blue Horsehead Nebula is too large to be observed through a telescope and too faint to be spotted through binoculars. It is also very difficult to find visually, but quite easy with a DSLR camera. This makes it a rewarding wide-field astrophotography target, but a poor choice for visual observation.
Best Galaxies to See & Capture in June
Galaxies are massive systems of stars, gas, dust, and dark matter, all bound together by gravity. They come in various shapes, such as spiral, elliptical, and irregular, and contain billions to trillions of stars. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, is just one of the billions of galaxies in the Universe, and June is the best time to see its most prominent part – the Galactic Center – in the sky!
Draco Trio
- Alternative name: Draco Group, Draco Triplet
- Apparent size: 15′ × 2′ (0.5 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 12.4-14.4
- Constellation: Draco
- Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
The Draco Trio consists of three galaxies located roughly 100–140 million light-years away: the edge-on spiral galaxy NGC 5981, the elliptical galaxy NGC 5982, and the barred spiral galaxy NGC 5985.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The galaxies in the Draco Trio are very faint, so observing them requires a telescope and a dark sky away from light pollution.
For astrophotography, use a medium-to-long focal length to frame NGC 5981, NGC 5982, and NGC 5985 together, and take many sub-exposures to bring out the different galaxy shapes: edge-on, elliptical, and spiral. Don’t expect much detail in single frames — the trio reveals itself best after stacking, careful background extraction, and gentle sharpening.
Mirror Galaxy
- Alternative name: M100, NGC 4321
- Apparent size: 7.4′ × 6.3′ (0.2 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 9.3
- Constellation: Coma Berenices
- Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
The Mirror Galaxy is a bright barred spiral galaxy in the Virgo Cluster, about 55 million light-years away. It has well-defined spiral arms and a bright core.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
You can spot the Mirror Galaxy with 20x80 binoculars or small telescopes — it will appear as a faint, hazy patch of light. Medium-sized telescopes will show you the galaxy’s bright core.
Although the Mirror Galaxy can be detected with simple telescopes, revealing its spiral structure in astrophotography requires a larger aperture, accurate tracking, and long total exposure time. Use a medium-to-long focal length to frame the galaxy well, and stack many exposures to bring out its delicate arms, core detail, and nearby companion galaxies.
Milky Way
When we look at the Milky Way in the night sky, we’re looking from inside our galaxy. So, we can’t see its full spiral structure the way we see distant galaxies. Instead, we see it as a glowing band across the sky, with the bright central region of the Galactic Center.
- Alternative name: Galactic Center
- Apparent size: n/a
- Apparent magnitude: n/a
- Constellation: Sagittarius
- Where to observe: Both hemispheres, best from the Southern Hemisphere
The Milky Way is our home galaxy. Its central part, known as the Galactic Center, is home to a supermassive black hole, named Sagittarius A*, surrounded by dense clouds of gas, dust, and a vast number of stars. The Galactic Center is a rich and fascinating target for both visual observers and astrophotographers.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The Galactic Center is best seen in June and July. On a clear, dark night, it can be seen with the naked eye as a faint, hazy band of light. A pair of binoculars or a wide-field telescope can offer stunning views of the dense star clusters and nebulae in this region.
Long-exposure astrophotography also provides an opportunity to capture the intricate structures of the Galactic Center. Use a wide-angle lens, a sturdy tripod, manual focus on a bright star, and start with settings around f/2.8 or wider, ISO 1600–6400, and a 10–25 second exposure, adjusting the shutter speed to avoid star trails.
Learn more: The Milky Way Galaxy.
Best Star Clusters to See & Capture in June
Star clusters are groups of stars that are physically close to each other, bound by gravity. There are two main types: open clusters, which contain younger, less dense groups of stars, and globular clusters, which are older and more tightly packed.
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
The Wild Duck Cluster is an open star cluster. Its name comes from the cluster’s V-shape that somewhat resembles a single duck or a flock of ducks in flight. Containing about 3,000 stars, it is one of the most massive and densely populated open clusters known.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
You can observe the Wild Duck Cluster through binoculars — it will appear as a triangular patch of light. Through a telescope, you will see hundreds of stars packed into a single field of view.
The Wild Duck Cluster is a great astrophotography target for beginners because it is bright, compact, and rich in stars. Use a telescope or a medium-to-long-focal-length lens to frame the cluster tightly, and take multiple short-to-moderate exposures to keep the stars sharp without overexposing the dense core. Since the Wild Duck Cluster lies in a crowded Milky Way field, careful focusing, good tracking, and gentle processing will help separate the cluster from the surrounding star background.
Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
- Alternative names: M13, NGC 6205
- Apparent size: 20′ (0.7 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 5.8
- Constellation: Hercules
- Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
The Great Globular Cluster in Hercules is one of the brightest and best-known star clusters in the Northern Hemisphere. It contains several hundred thousand stars that are so close together that they sometimes collide and form new stars.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
The Great Globular Cluster can’t be seen with the naked eye, but you’ll get a great view of this globular cluster through a pair of binoculars or a small telescope.
The Great Globular Cluster can be captured with a small refractor, but it appears too small at wide focal lengths. A longer focal length or larger telescope will reveal more individual stars in the dense core. From light-polluted skies, use many short exposures rather than a few long ones – a stack of 30-second exposures at ISO 800 can be enough from the city, while longer tracked exposures can also reveal the nearby galaxy NGC 6207.
Small Sagittarius Star Cloud
- Alternative names: M24, IC 4715
- Apparent size: 2° × 1° (3 x Moon)
- Apparent magnitude: 2.5
- Constellation: Sagittarius
- Where to observe: Both hemispheres
The Small Sagittarius Star Cloud is a star cloud located near the Omega Nebula in the sky. Unlike a star cluster, a star cloud is not an actual deep-sky object but rather an area less littered with cosmic dust than nearby areas — a kind of “window” into the inner depths of the Milky Way.
Tips for observing and astrophotography
To the naked eye, the Small Sagittarius Star Cloud will only appear as a bright patch of the Milky Way. Through binoculars, you’ll be able to see countless stars concentrated in this region.
The Small Sagittarius Star Cloud is a beginner-friendly astrophotography target because it is huge and bright, and it can be captured with either a DSLR/mirrorless camera and lens or a wide-field telescope. Since M24 spans a very large area of sky and lies in the dense Milky Way band, use a wide-field telescope (around 400 mm focal length) rather than high magnification. The biggest challenge is processing: thousands of stars can hide the faint background nebulosity, so stack plenty of exposure time, carefully reduce star dominance, and enhance the dark clouds, red hydrogen-alpha regions, and subtle, colorful gas behind the star field.
How to See and Photograph June Deep-Sky Objects With a Smart Telescope?
Want beautiful photos of nebulae, galaxies, and star clusters without building a complicated astrophotography setup? A smart telescope like the Seestar S30 Pro makes deep-sky imaging much easier: choose a target in the app, let the telescope find and track it, and watch the image improve as it stacks more light.
For bright June targets like the Lagoon, Trifid, Eagle, and Omega Nebulae, the best trick is simple: give the telescope more time. The longer it collects light, the more glowing gas clouds, dark dust lanes, and faint details appear. Star clusters like M13 or the Wild Duck Cluster are even easier to capture, while very large views — such as the Milky Way Center or Rho Ophiuchi — are better suited for a wide-angle camera.
The photo above shows what’s possible with a compact smart telescope: Eddie Pang captured the Eagle Nebula (M16) and Swan Nebula (M17) together with the Seestar S30 Pro from the dark skies of Outback South Australia. No heavy rig, no mosaic — just two spectacular nebulae in one frame.
For the best results, pick a dark, moonless night, choose targets high above the horizon, and let the telescope do the hard work. Want to try it yourself? Get the Seestar S30 Pro Smart Telescope (US Store | Global Store) and start capturing deep-sky objects the easy way.
June Deep-Sky Objects: FAQ
What is a deep-sky object?
The term “deep-sky object (DSO)” refers to astronomical objects located outside our Solar System. These include galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and other objects. Unlike stars, which appear as points of light, deep-sky objects have more complex structures and can range in size and brightness. Some of them are only visible through optical devices, while others can be seen with the naked eye.
What is the easiest deep-sky object to photograph in June?
The Small Sagittarius Star Cloud and M13 are among the easiest June astrophotography targets because they are bright and do not require advanced narrowband imaging. For colorful nebulae, the Lagoon Nebula is one of the most beginner-friendly summer targets.
Explore even more bright deep-sky targets here:
What is the easiest way to photograph June deep-sky objects?
One of the easiest ways to get started in astrophotography is with a smart telescope that combines the key tools into a single device. For example, the Seestar S30 Pro includes a telescope, camera, mount, wide-angle camera, control system, and post-processing tools, so you can aim at celestial targets, track them, view real-time images, and learn more about what you’re observing through the mobile app.
Are deep-sky objects always visible?
The visibility of deep-sky objects depends on the time of year. For example, the Milky Way’s center is most visible in June and July, while the Andromeda Galaxy is better to observe in September, when it rises higher in the night sky. Weather conditions and the level of light pollution can also impact visibility.
June Deep-Sky Objects: Conclusion
June offers plenty of stunning deep-sky objects to see and capture, from bright star clusters to colorful nebulae and wide-field Milky Way targets. To enhance your stargazing experience, try the Sky Tonight app — it’s your ultimate guide to the night sky. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced astronomer, the app will help you quickly find and identify deep-sky objects, so you can make the most of every clear night this June.
If you want to do more than simply observe the night sky, a smart telescope like the Seestar S30 Pro can help you turn June targets into real astrophotos — without the hassle of a traditional setup. Choose a target or frame a wide patch of sky, let the telescope track it, and watch faint nebulae, star clouds, and hidden deep-sky objects appear as the image builds up.
Want to try it yourself? Get the Seestar S30 Pro from the US store, or use the global store if you’re outside the United States.
Best Astrophotography Targets by Month: Year-Ahead Calendar
Deep-sky wonders aren’t limited to June. Discover what the universe has to offer each month with our guides to deep-sky objects:
