Best Deep-Sky Objects by Month: September 2025

Aug 29, 2025

~10 min

Topics:Clusters, Nebulae, Galaxies Skywatching

The September night sky is full of spectacular deep-sky objects, from glittering star clusters to glowing nebulae and distant galaxies. To make it easier to explore, we’ve grouped these objects by type and ranked them within each list from brightest to faintest by apparent magnitude. This way, you can start with the easiest targets and work your way toward the more challenging ones. Grab your binoculars or telescope, use the Sky Tonight app to locate them, and enjoy the best deep-sky objects of September!

Best deep-sky objects in September: Star clusters

Star clusters are groups of stars that formed together and remain gravitationally bound. Open clusters, like the Wild Duck and Pyramid, are relatively young and often easy to see through binoculars or small telescopes. Globular clusters, like the Angelfish Cluster, are much older and appear as dense, glittering spheres that benefit from medium-sized telescopes. Clusters are some of the easiest deep-sky objects to observe, making them excellent beginner targets. And for astrophotographers, they’re especially rewarding — their stars pop out clearly without the need for filters or hours of exposure, allowing beautiful images even with modest equipment.

Pyramid Cluster

Alternative names: M39, NGC 7092
Apparent size: 29′ (0.9 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 4.6
Constellation: Cygnus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: You can use a small telescope to observe M39, but the cluster is best viewed with binoculars. Through 10x50 binoculars, you can see about seven stars in the cluster; 15x70 binoculars will reveal about a dozen stars. Under really good conditions, the Pyramid Cluster can even be seen with the naked eye!
Description: M39 is an open star cluster located approximately 1,000 light-years away from Earth. Overall, there are only about 15 bright stars in the cluster.

Angelfish Cluster

Alternative names: M71, NGC 6838
Apparent size: 7.2' (0.2 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 5.9
Constellation: Sagitta
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: On a dark moonless night, you can see M71 through 10x50 binoculars. Use a 100mm (4") telescope to get a closer look at the cluster.
Description: The Angelfish Cluster is a globular cluster located about 13,000 light-years away from Earth. Until the 1970s, it was considered an open cluster, but was then designated as a relatively sparse globular cluster.

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: The Wild Duck Cluster is visible through 10x50 binoculars — it appears as a bright wedge-shaped glow of light. With a 200mm (8") telescope, you'll be able to resolve hundreds of stars tightly packed into a single field of view.
Description: M11 is an open star cluster located at a distance of 6,120 light-years away from us. It was named for its distinctive V-shape, which resembles either a lone duck or a flock of ducks in flight. With around 3,000 stars, it's one of the most densely populated open clusters in the sky.

Best deep-sky objects in September: Galaxies

Galaxies are enormous collections of billions of stars, gas, and dark matter bound together by gravity. They lie far beyond our Milky Way, so they usually appear as faint smudges in the eyepiece. The Andromeda Galaxy is the easiest to see in September — even visible to the naked eye under dark skies — while others, like the Fireworks Galaxy, demand dark conditions and larger telescopes. Photographing galaxies requires patience and long exposures, but the results capture the grand spirals and structures of entire star systems.

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: Under dark, clear skies, the Andromeda Galaxy is visible to the naked eye as a soft, hazy glow. Binoculars (7x50 or 10x50) or a small telescope will bring out its stretched oval form and brighter core.
Description: The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and our closest neighbor, lying roughly 2.5 million light-years from Earth. It is the largest member of the Local Group of galaxies, which also contains our home galaxy, the Milky Way and over a hundred smaller galaxies.

It’s widely believed that in about 4.5 billion years, Andromeda and the Milky Way will collide and eventually merge into a single giant galaxy. However, recent studies suggest there's actually about a 50% chance the collision might not happen within the next 10 billion years. Want to learn more about our galaxy’s past, present, and future? Pass this quiz about the Milky Way!

Triangulum Galaxy

Alternative names: M33, NGC 598
Apparent size: 1° × 41′ (2 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 5.7
Constellation: Triangulum
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: The Triangulum Galaxy is large enough to be seen through binoculars as a faint, misty patch, while a telescope can bring out finer details.
Description: The Triangulum Galaxy is a face-on spiral lying about 2.73 million light-years away. It is the third-largest member of the Local Group, after Andromeda and the Milky Way.

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 300mm (12") telescope to see it.
Description: The Fireworks Galaxy is an intermediate spiral galaxy with a small bright nucleus. It has also been classified as a double-barred spiral galaxy. NGC 6946 is located 25.2 million light-years away from Earth — about the same distance as the brighter Pinwheel Galaxy.

Stephan’s Quintet

Alternative names: HCG 92, Arp 319, VV 288, SQ
Apparent size: 4.4′ × 4.4′ (0.1 × Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 13.9-16.7
Constellation: Pegasus
Where to observe: Both hemispheres
How to observe: Stephan’s Quintet is faint and challenging – you’ll need a large telescope with a high aperture under dark skies to glimpse it. Long-exposure astrophotography is the best way to reveal all five galaxies clearly.
Description: Stephan’s Quintet is a group of five galaxies. One member, NGC 7320, is much closer to us at about 40 million light-years away, while the other four (NGC 7317, NGC 7318A, NGC 7318B, and NGC 7319) lie about 290 million light-years away and are physically interacting. The group is the most studied of all the compact galaxy groups.

Best deep-sky objects in September: Nebulae

Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust where stars are born and where dying stars shed their outer layers. They often appear faint and diffuse, making them some of the trickiest objects to spot visually. While large, bright nebulae like the Pelican Nebula can sometimes be glimpsed with binoculars under dark skies, most require telescopes and often filters (UHC or OIII) to bring out their delicate details. For astrophotographers, nebulae are among the most rewarding targets — long exposures reveal stunning shapes and colors invisible to the eye.

North America Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 7000, Caldwell 20
Apparent size: 2° × 1.7° (3.7 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 4.0
Constellation: Cygnus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: The North America Nebula has a relatively low surface brightness and is very large, so it requires a clear, dark sky and an optical instrument with a large field of view. Use 10x50 or 20x60 binoculars or an 80mm (3") telescope for its observation. Applying a UHC or an OIII filter is also a good idea.
Description: The North America Nebula is an emission nebula located 2,590 light-years away from Earth. Its name derives from its shape, which resembles the outline of the North American continent, with the Gulf of Mexico represented by a dark dust region within the nebula.

Pelican Nebula

Alternative names: IC 5070
Apparent size: 1° × 0.8° (1.8 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 5.9
Constellation: Cygnus
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: Some observers claim to have seen the Pelican Nebula through small 7x42 binoculars without any filters. You can try to do it this way, too, or use a 76mm (3") telescope with a UHC or an OIII filter for a better result.
Description: The Pelican Nebula is an emission nebula located approximately 1,800 light-years from Earth. It is named for its resemblance to a pelican and is part of the same interstellar cloud as the nearby North America Nebula (NGC 7000).

Iris Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 7023, LBN 487, 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: The Iris Nebula has a low surface brightness, so you probably won’t be able to spot it through binoculars. It may be seen in a 100mm (4") telescope but is best observed in 250mm (10") and larger telescopes.
Description: The Iris Nebula is a reflection nebula located 1,300 light-years away from Earth. It is illuminated by a hot, massive star, which scatters blue light off the surrounding interstellar dust, giving the nebula its characteristic blue hue.

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: Even at a dark sky site, the Veil Nebula is too faint for binocular observation. It’s better to use an 80mm (3") telescope paired with a UHC filter.
Description: The Veil Nebula is a large supernova remnant located about 2,100 light-years away from us. It is composed of several distinct parts that have been cataloged separately: the Western Veil (NGC 6960), the Eastern Veil (NGC 6992/6995), and Pickering's Triangle.

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: Under dark skies, with at least a 200mm (8") telescope, you will be able to see the Cocoon Nebula as a glowing, diffuse circular object. Larger telescopes will provide a clearer and more detailed view of the nebula.
Description: The Cocoon Nebula is a reflection/emission nebula located about 4,000 light-years away. One of its unique characteristics is a dark nebula, Barnard 168, which forms a long dark "tail" stretching westward.

Pacman Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 281, Sh2-184
Apparent size: 35' (1.2 x Moon)
Apparent magnitude: 7.3
Constellation: Cassiopeia
Where to observe: Northern Hemisphere
How to observe: From dark sky locations, you can see the Pacman Nebula with a 200mm (8") telescope. Use an OIII filter to get a better view of the nebula.
Description: NGC 281 is a bright emission nebula and part of the Perseus Spiral Arm in the Milky Way. The nebula is located at a distance of about 9,500 light-years from us and resembles the famous video game character.

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: You'll need a telescope with a 200mm (8") aperture and a UHC or OIII filter to see the Crescent Nebula. Use averted vision to discern the fainter sections of the nebula.
Description: The Crescent Nebula is an emission nebula located about 5,000 light-years away from Earth. At the heart of the nebula, there’s an extremely hot star, WR 136, that belongs to the rare type of Wolf-Rayet stars.

Saturn Nebula

Alternative names: NGC 7009, Caldwell 55
Apparent size: 41" × 35" (0.02 x Moon)
Constellation: Aquarius
Apparent magnitude: 8.0
Where to observe: Both hemispheres
How to observe: We recommend using a 200mm (8") or larger telescope to observe the Saturn nebula. Through a small telescope, it will look like a greenish patch of light; larger instruments will show you the two “handles” on either side of the nebula.
Description: The Saturn Nebula is a planetary nebula located about 2,000 light-years away from Earth. It gets its name because it has extended lobes that resemble Saturn’s rings. The nebula’s unique shape is the result of multiple ejections of gas from the dying star at its center.

Deep-sky objects in September: frequently asked questions

What is a deep-sky object?

A deep-sky object (DSO) is an astronomical object beyond our Solar System, including galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. Because DSOs are usually faint, they are best observed with binoculars or telescopes. However, a few spectacular ones – such as the Triangulum Galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy – can be seen with the naked eye under dark skies (about Class 1–4 on the Bortle Scale, which measures light pollution).

Wondering if you can spot that galaxy or nebula from your backyard? 🌌Our infographic has the answers! Here we use the Bortle Scale to illustrate how light pollution affects what you see. Get to know the night sky and enhance your stargazing experience!

See Infographic

What are the brightest deep-sky objects in September?

If you’re short on time and want to see the standout objects this month, here are the brightest and most rewarding targets from each category:

Nebula: The North America Nebula (NGC 7000) in Cygnus is the brightest in September, shining at magnitude 4.0. Its vast size makes it a great binocular target under dark skies. Photographers will love how well it pairs with the nearby Pelican Nebula.
Galaxy: The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) takes the crown — at magnitude 3.4, it’s visible to the naked eye from dark locations and breathtaking in binoculars or a small telescope.
Star cluster: The Pyramid Cluster (M39) in Cygnus is the brightest cluster of the month, at magnitude 4.6. It’s easily seen with binoculars, and under excellent conditions, even with the naked eye.

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 the Visible Tonight section.
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.

September Deep-Sky Objects: Bottom line

In the first month of autumn (or spring, if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere), you can see some beautiful deep-sky objects, especially if you own binoculars or a telescope. We recommend paying special attention to the Pelican Nebula, Wild Duck Cluster, Pyramid Cluster, and North America Nebula — all of these objects can be seen through binoculars under dark skies. The Sky Tonight app will help you quickly find any desired object in the 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 September. Discover what the universe has to offer each month with our guides to deep-sky objects:

Text Credit:Vito Technology, Inc.