March Astrophotography Targets: Start Galaxy Season 2026 With Stunning Photos!
March is when the sky begins to feel like an art gallery. It marks the start of galaxy season: from March to May, many of the night sky’s most photogenic galaxies become well-positioned for observation. While the galaxies take center stage, a few dramatic nebulae and stunning star clusters are also worth hunting down. In this guide, you’ll find the best March 2026 astrophotography targets. No heavy theory — just what’s worth shooting, why it looks great, and a couple of simple tips to help you capture it. Want the fastest way to find each object? Open Sky Tonight and follow the on-screen directions to aim your camera (or telescope) at the right spot.
Contents
- Beautiful Galaxies to Photograph in March
- Colorful Nebulae for Stunning Photos in March
- Sparkling Star Clusters for Pretty Shots
- Best March Astrophotography Targets: Conclusion
Beautiful Galaxies to Photograph in March
Galaxies are immense collections of stars, gas, and dust bound by gravity. A few are visible as faint smudges to the naked eye, then turn into real masterpieces once you start stacking photos. In binoculars or a small telescope, galaxies often appear as a gentle oval glow with a brighter center. With a star tracker and longer exposures, they become the kind of images you want as your wallpaper: bright cores, subtle halos, and hints of their structure. Darker skies help significantly, but you can still take stunning galaxy portraits from your own backyard.
Here are some of the prettiest galaxies to chase as March kicks off galaxy season. We’ve listed them in the order we enjoy most – but your favorites might be completely different, so try them all and make your own “top galaxies” list!
Bode’s Galaxy
- Alternative names: M81, NGC 3031
- Apparent size: 26.9′ × 14.1′
- Apparent magnitude: 6.9
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: M81 is bright enough to be seen with a pair of binoculars. A minimum of an 8-inch telescope is required to see the galaxy’s structure.
- Description: M81 is a spiral galaxy discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1774. Because of its large size and relatively high brightness, Bode’s Galaxy became a popular target among amateur astronomers.
Cigar Galaxy
- Alternative names: M82, NGC 3034
- Apparent size: 11.2′ × 4.3′
- Apparent magnitude: 8.41
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: M82 might be challenging to spot with binoculars, but it’s still possible. It will look like a tiny smudge of light (with a brighter smudge, the M81 galaxy, nearby). It’s better to use an 8-inch telescope to observe the Cigar Galaxy.
- Description: M82 is a starburst galaxy discovered by Johann Elert Bode in 1774. A starburst galaxy is a type of galaxy that produces stars at a rate that is tens or even hundreds of times faster than what is typically observed in other galaxies.
Pinwheel Galaxy
- Alternative names: M101, NGC 5457
- Apparent size: 28.8′ × 26.9′
- Apparent magnitude: 7.9
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: Under dark skies, you can observe the Pinwheel Galaxy with large binoculars or a small telescope. But don’t be surprised if it feels tricky: M101 is one of the harder Messier objects to spot because it has a very low surface brightness thanks to its face-on orientation and big apparent size.
- Description: M101 is a spiral galaxy discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. It is quite a large galaxy (almost two times larger than our Milky Way), which contains around a trillion stars.
NGC 2403
- Alternative names: Caldwell 7
- Apparent size: 21.9′ × 12.3′
- Apparent magnitude: 8.9
- Constellation: Camelopardalis
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: NGC 2403 is bright enough to be seen with large binoculars. A small telescope can help you see the galaxy’s spiral structure.
- Description: NGC 2403 is an intermediate spiral galaxy discovered by William Herschel in 1788. Visually, it bears a similarity to the Triangulum Galaxy (M33).
NGC 2903
- Alternative names: PGC 27077, UGC 5079
- Apparent size: 11.48′ × 5.25′
- Apparent magnitude: 9.0
- Constellation: Leo
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: In 10x50 binoculars, NGC 2903 will appear as a tiny smudge. A four- to six-inch telescope can help you see more details.
- Description: NGC 2903 is an isolated barred spiral galaxy discovered by William Herschel in 1784. Some astronomers consider it “the best galaxy that’s not in Messier’s list”.
Colorful Nebulae for Stunning Photos in March
Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust – usually made from the leftovers of dying stars and often acting as “stellar nurseries” where new stars form. They are hidden treasures of the sky. Visually, most of them appear as faint, grayish patches through a telescope, but they absolutely explode with color in long-exposure photographs. Even a modest setup can help you capture these March nebulae, and filters can make the colors stand out more even under light-polluted skies.
Jellyfish Nebula
- Alternative names: IC 443, Sh2-248, Ced 73
- Apparent size: 49′ × 40′
- Apparent magnitude: 12.0
- Constellation: Gemini
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: With binoculars, only the brightest portions of the nebula might be detectable from an exceptionally dark location, but even then, it is barely visible. A high-quality telescope with a nebula filter is necessary to make out its structure.
- Description: The Jellyfish Nebula is a galactic supernova remnant (SNR) first captured by German astronomer Max Wolf in 1892 and then independently discovered by American astronomer Edvard Barnard. It may be the remains of a supernova that occurred around 30,000 years ago.
Statue of Liberty Nebula
- Alternative names: NGC 3576, RCW 57, Ced 113a
- Apparent size: 16′ × 27′
- Apparent magnitude: 9.1
- Constellation: Carina
- Best observed from: Southern Hemisphere
- How to observe: The nebula is too faint for handheld optics. A telescope (at least 6–8 inches in aperture) will reveal the nebula’s structure.
- Description: The Statue of Liberty Nebula is an emission nebula discovered in 1834 by English astronomer John Herschel. It is part of the larger Carina Nebula complex, one of the most active star-forming regions in the Milky Way.
Rosette Nebula
- Alternative names: NGC 2237, Caldwell 49, Skull Nebula
- Apparent size: 1.3°
- Apparent magnitude: 9.0
- Constellation: Monoceros
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: With binoculars, you can easily spot the star cluster within the nebula. A small telescope under dark skies will reveal a faint, hazy cloud of gas.
- Description: The Rosette Nebula is a large emission nebula discovered by English astronomer John Flamsteed. Interestingly, he first observed the open star cluster at its center, NGC 2244, while the surrounding nebula itself was not identified until much later.
Running Chicken Nebula
- Alternative names: IC 2944, Lambda Centauri Nebula, C 100, RCW 62, Ced 118
- Apparent size: 40′ × 20′
- Apparent magnitude: 4.5
- Constellation: Centaurus
- Best observed from: Southern Hemisphere
- How to observe: With binoculars, you may spot the bright open star cluster IC 2948 embedded within the nebula, though the nebula itself remains elusive. A wide-field telescope and nebula filters can enhance contrast, making the glowing gas more visible. Larger telescopes will also reveal Bok globules – small dark patches of dense dust scattered throughout the nebula.
- Description: The Running Chicken Nebula is an emission nebula discovered by the American astronomer Royal Harwood Frost on May 5, 1904.
Owl Nebula
- Alternative names: M97, NGC 3587
- Apparent size: 3.4′ × 3.3′
- Apparent magnitude: 9.9
- Constellation: Ursa Major
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: Because of its small size and faint magnitude, the Owl Nebula is extremely difficult to spot with binoculars. You should use at least a three- or four-inch telescope to observe it.
- Description: M97 is a planetary nebula discovered by Pierre Méchain in 1781. It is known as the Owl Nebula because of its most famous feature — a pair of dark “eyes” that seem to be peering at the observer.
Sparkling Star Clusters for Pretty Shots
Star clusters are groups of stars that share a common origin. Open clusters are bright and easily visible to the naked eye, while globular clusters appear as hazy balls in small telescopes. They’re also a great “easy win,” even for beginners in astrophotography. You don't need ultra-long exposures to capture them, and they still turn out beautifully, even if your sky isn't perfectly dark. Want the simplest ones you can spot without any equipment? Check out our guide to the March star clusters for beginners.
King Cobra Cluster
- Alternative names: M67, NGC 2682, Golden Eye Cluster
- Apparent size: 30′
- Apparent magnitude: 6.1
- Constellation: Cancer
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: You can spot M67 with 10x50 binoculars — it will look like an elongated patch of light. Small telescopes will help you see the cluster's brightest stars.
- Description: M67 is an open star cluster discovered by Johann Gottfried Koehler in 1779. It contains over 500 stars and is estimated to be between 3.2 and 5 billion years old. Only a few Milky Way star clusters are older than M67.
M46
- Alternative names: NGC 2437
- Apparent size: 22.8′
- Apparent magnitude: 6.0
- Constellation: Puppis
- Best observed from: Southern Hemisphere
- How to observe: The Messier 46 cluster is easy to see with binoculars. Near M46, you can also spot another open cluster, M47 (mag 4.4); the two clusters fit well in a binocular field of view. Also, if you have a telescope, you can try to see the planetary nebula NGC 2438 (mag 10.8) within M46!
- Description: M46 is an open star cluster discovered by Charles Messier in 1771. The cluster contains about 500 stars and is thought to be 251 million years old.
M48
- Alternative names: NGC 2548
- Apparent size: 30′
- Apparent magnitude: 5.8
- Constellation: Hydra
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: Under good atmospheric conditions, the M48 cluster is visible to the naked eye. Almost any binoculars will show you several dozen of its stars.
- Description: M48 is an open star cluster discovered by Charles Messier in 1771. The cluster contains about 100 stars and is estimated to be around 500 million years old.
The Beehive Cluster
- Alternative names: M44, NGC 2632
- Apparent size: 95′
- Apparent magnitude: 3.7
- Constellation: Cancer
- Best observed from: Northern Hemisphere
- How to observe: Under dark skies, the Beehive Cluster is luminous enough to be observed with the unaided eye, appearing as a fuzzy patch of light. However, we recommend using 10x50 binoculars or a small telescope to see the cluster more clearly.
- Description: M44 is an open star cluster first observed through a telescope by Galileo Galilei in 1609. The cluster is about 600 million years old and contains around 1,000 stars.
Best March Astrophotography Targets: Conclusion
March is the perfect month for capturing stunning space images. It's the beginning of galaxy season, so photogenic galaxies take center stage. However, you'll also find striking nebulae and easy, sparkling star clusters to complement your shots.
Many of the targets in this list work great with binoculars or beginner-friendly gear, and a few are even visible to the naked eye, so you can pick what matches your setup and still come home with gorgeous frames. To make your astrophotography session effortless, open any object in the Sky Tonight app to locate it in your sky in seconds. And if you want an extra challenge, take our fun quiz, where you'll need to guess a nebula's name by its photo!
Best Astrophotography Targets by Month: Year-Ahead Calendar
Deep-sky wonders aren’t limited to March. Discover what the universe has to offer each month with our guides to deep-sky objects:
Messier marathon: the challenge for deep-sky enthusiasts
March marks the start of the famous Messier Marathon, an exciting challenge where observers around the world attempt to spot all 110 objects in the Messier catalog in a single night. Read our article about this event to learn more about how to participate and maximize your chances of success.
We wish you clear skies and happy observations!
