AstroPhotography.TV

AI Deep Research sky guide

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Tried out the guide. Check out his channel. Seriously, please do. This is all his work.

I used ChatGPT for the below. The output was markdown, which I put right in this document. I added some photos of my scopes, but that was it.

The Prompt

Create a comprehensive astrophotography planning document for April 2025, optimized specifically for observations from Houston, Texas, which is Bortle 9 area. Assume that it is new moon. Only include objects clearly visible and optimally positioned for imaging from this location.

Provide astrophotography object recommendations specifically tailored to each of the following rigs:

  • Apertura 75Q telescope (400mm focal length) with Player One IMX585MC cooled camera with dual narrowband filter
  • Apertura 6" Classic Cassegrain (1800mm focal length) with Player One IMX585MC cooled camera
  • ZWO Seestar S50 smartscope (250mm focal length, OSC integrated camera with optional dual narrowband filter).
  • ZWO Seestar S30 smartscope (150mm focal length, OSC integrated camera with optional dual narrowband filter).

For each rig, list the top 10 optimal astrophotography objects, sorted from most suitable (best) to least suitable (still very good). For each listed object, include the following detailed information:

  • Object Name (Messier, NGC, or IC numbers, if applicable)
  • Object Type (Galaxy, Nebula, Star Cluster, etc.)
  • Constellation
  • Apparent Magnitude
  • Angular Size (arcminutes)
  • Ideal Imaging Dates (within April)
  • Recommended Filters (if applicable)
  • Suggested Total Exposure Time
  • Special Notes (difficulty level, notable features, and rig-specific imaging tips)

Ensure object selection considers visibility from Texas, suitability for each rig's focal length and camera capabilities, and overall astrophotography appeal (e.g., color richness, structural detail, and visual complexity). Prioritize targets based on their peak altitude and ideal imaging conditions throughout April.

Present this information in a clear, structured, and user-friendly format for easy reference during astrophotography planning sessions.

ChatGPT Response

Great! I’ll prepare a detailed astrophotography planning document for April 2025, optimized for Houston, Texas (Bortle 9), assuming a new moon and focusing strictly on deep-sky objects.

The report will provide top 10 optimal targets for each of the following rigs:

  • Apertura 75Q (400mm, dual narrowband capable)
  • Apertura 6" Cassegrain (1800mm, best for galaxies and smaller targets)
  • ZWO Seestar S50 (250mm, OSC, dual narrowband optional)
  • ZWO Seestar S30 (150mm, OSC, dual narrowband optional)

Each object listing will include detailed data such as object type, constellation, apparent magnitude, angular size, optimal dates, recommended filters, exposure suggestions, and tips based on your gear.

I’ll prioritize emission nebulae where appropriate and select targets best suited for the visibility window in April from your location. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready.

The Prompt

Create a comprehensive astrophotography planning document for April 2025, optimized specifically for observations from Houston, Texas, which is Bortle 9 area. Assume that it is new moon. Only include objects clearly visible and optimally positioned for imaging from this location.

Provide astrophotography object recommendations specifically tailored to each of the following rigs:

  • Apertura 75Q telescope (400mm focal length) with Player One IMX585MC cooled camera with dual narrowband filter
  • Apertura 6" Classic Cassegrain (1800mm focal length) with Player One IMX585MC cooled camera
  • ZWO Seestar S50 smartscope (250mm focal length, OSC integrated camera with optional dual narrowband filter).
  • ZWO Seestar S30 smartscope (150mm focal length, OSC integrated camera with optional dual narrowband filter).

For each rig, list the top 10 optimal astrophotography objects, sorted from most suitable (best) to least suitable (still very good). For each listed object, include the following detailed information:

  • Object Name (Messier, NGC, or IC numbers, if applicable)
  • Object Type (Galaxy, Nebula, Star Cluster, etc.)
  • Constellation
  • Apparent Magnitude
  • Angular Size (arcminutes)
  • Ideal Imaging Dates (within April)
  • Recommended Filters (if applicable)
  • Suggested Total Exposure Time
  • Special Notes (difficulty level, notable features, and rig-specific imaging tips)

Ensure object selection considers visibility from Texas, suitability for each rig's focal length and camera capabilities, and overall astrophotography appeal (e.g., color richness, structural detail, and visual complexity). Prioritize targets based on their peak altitude and ideal imaging conditions throughout April.

Present this information in a clear, structured, and user-friendly format for easy reference during astrophotography planning sessions.

Astrophotography Targets – April 2025 (Houston, Bortle 9, New Moon)

Location: Houston, TX (Lat ~30°N, Bortle 9 urban sky) – All targets are optimally placed during April 2025 under new-moon conditions. Listed below are top 10 deep-sky objects for each imaging rig, with key details and recommendations. Emission nebulae are prioritized for narrowband-capable setups.

Rig 1: Apertura 75Q (400mm f/5.3) + Player One IMX585MC (cooled, OSC) + Dual Narrowband Filter

A wide-field 400mm refractor with a dual-band Hα/OIII filter excels at large nebulae and multi-object fields.

  1. Rosette Nebula (Caldwell 49, NGC 2237) – Emission Nebula

    • Constellation: Monoceros
    • Apparent Magnitude: 9.0 (Rosette Nebula and Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) – Constellation Guide) (integrated)
    • Angular Size: ~80′ (1.3° across) (Rosette Nebula and Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) – Constellation Guide)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: First half of April (high in SW after dusk, before it sets by midnight)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband (Hα+OIII) to combat light pollution and enhance nebulosity
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6–8 hours to capture faint outer nebulosity
    • Special Notes: A rich Hα region with a bright embedded cluster (NGC 2244). The nebula nearly fills a 400mm field – about four times the area of the full moon (Messier 42: Orion Nebula | Messier Objects). Use short sub-exposures for the bright core and longer ones for faint outer regions (HDR technique). In Bortle 9, narrowband brings out the detailed “rose” structure against the sky background. Focus on early April evenings for best altitude.

  2. Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174) – Emission Nebula

    • Constellation: Orion (near Gemini border)
    • Apparent Magnitude: 6.8 (NGC 2174 - Wikipedia)
    • Angular Size: ~40′ diameter (NGC 2174 - Wikipedia)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early April evenings (visible in west after dusk – sets by late evening)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband (strong Hα emission)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~4–6 hours
    • Special Notes: Also known as the “Monkey Head,” this nebula is bright and large – ideal for 400mm. It features a vibrant HII region around an open cluster. In a light-polluted sky, use Hα to pull out the red emission clouds. Aim for the first week of April while Orion is still above the horizon; by mid-month this target becomes too low. Moderate total exposure reveals the “face” shape; the dual-band filter will make the nebulosity stand out even from Houston.

  3. Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) – Supernova Remnant

    • Constellation: Gemini
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~12.0 (IC 443. The Jellyfish Nebula – Astrodrudis)
    • Angular Size: ~50′ × 40′ (IC 443. The Jellyfish Nebula – Astrodrudis)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April evenings (highest in west by mid-evening, best before late April)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband (Hα and OIII prominent in this SNR)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: 8+ hours (faint object – long integration needed)
    • Special Notes: A dim but rewarding nebula – a tangled filamentary remnant of a supernova. In Bortle 9 skies it is challenging: use long exposures and narrowband to tease out the curved tendrils. The nebula’s surface brightness is low, so plan for multiple nights of integration. At 400mm it fits well with some surrounding nebulosity. Stick to nights before the end of April; by then Gemini will be low. Patience with guiding and stacking will reveal the jellyfish-like arcs (IC 443. The Jellyfish Nebula – Astrodrudis).

  4. Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) – Emission/Reflection Nebula

  5. Tadpoles Nebula (IC 410) – Emission Nebula

    • Constellation: Auriga
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~10.0 (IC 410, the Tadpoles Nebula - Astrodrudis)
    • Angular Size: ~40′ × 30′ (IC 410, the Tadpoles Nebula - Astrodrudis)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early/mid-April evenings (near Flaming Star Nebula in Auriga; capture before Auriga sets)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband (strong Hα emission in “tadpoles”)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6+ hours
    • Special Notes: This nebula, home to the open cluster NGC 1893, contains two distinctive streamer-like structures (“tadpoles”). A 400mm scope can image the full nebula; it’s often paired in the same region as IC 405. Under city skies, Hα is key to revealing the tadpoles against the background. Focus on obtaining good dithered data to reduce noise – the object’s magnitude is modest, so long integration and narrowband filtering will be needed to pull out the details. Shoot in the first half of the night in mid-April for best results.

  6. Bode’s Galaxy & Cigar Galaxy (M81 & M82) – Spiral Galaxy + Starburst Galaxy

    • Constellation: Ursa Major
    • Apparent Magnitudes: 6.94 and 8.4 (Messier 81 - Wikipedia) ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy )
    • Angular Sizes: 26.9′ × 14.1′ (M81) (Messier 81 - Wikipedia); 9′ × 4′ (M82) ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy )
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: All of April (culminates high in north around 9–10 PM). Best on dark, clear nights in mid-April when Ursa Major is near zenith.
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband (galaxies emit broadband light). Use a light-pollution suppression filter (e.g. IDAS LPS or Optolong L-Pro) or just UV/IR-cut.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~8 hours (galaxy details benefit from many short subframes in Bortle 9)
    • Special Notes: This famous galaxy pair easily fits in the 400mm field. M81 is a large bright spiral and M82 is a smaller edge-on starburst with a red Hα outflow (which a dual-band filter can actually accentuate in M82’s core if you choose to use it for that feature). In heavy light pollution, take many short exposures (15–30s) to avoid skyfog, and stack aggressively. Expect to capture M81’s bright core and hint of spiral arms, plus M82’s elongated shape with its dark dust lane. These galaxies are well placed all month – start as soon as astronomical darkness each night for maximum integration time ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy ).

  7. Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628) – Galaxy Group (spirals)

    • Constellation: Leo
    • Apparent Magnitudes: ~8.9–10.3 range (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk) (M66 brightest)
    • Angular Size: ~50′ grouping (each galaxy ~8′–15′ in length) ( M65, M66 & NGC 3628 ("Trio in Leo")) ( M65, M66 & NGC 3628 ("Trio in Leo"))
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Entire April, best mid-month around 10 PM–12 AM when Leo is highest
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband; use UV/IR-cut or mild broadband LP filter
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6+ hours (stack lots of subframes to raise SNR in urban skies)
    • Special Notes: Three galaxies in one field make this a spring favorite. At 400mm you can frame the M65/M66 pair with the edge-on NGC 3628 (“Hamburger Galaxy”) easily. The triplet’s brightest members are ~mag 9 (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk), so they will register in individual exposures even under city skies. However, to reveal spiral structure and NGC 3628’s dust lane, you’ll need long integration and careful gradient reduction. Focus and guiding are crucial at this focal length for resolving detail. Remove the dual-band filter for galaxies – capturing their natural color requires broadband. Aim for nights around New Moon in April when Leo passes near the meridian (to minimize atmospheric extinction and gradient from horizon light dome).

  8. Markarian’s Chain (Virgo Cluster Galaxies) – Galaxy chain (Virgo Cluster)

  9. Whirlpool Galaxy (M51 & NGC 5195) – Interacting Galaxy Pair

    • Constellation: Canes Venatici
    • Apparent Magnitude: 8.4 ( Messier 51 - M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy ) (M51a)
    • Angular Size: ~11′ × 7′ (M51’s spiral extends ~11′) ( Messier 51 - M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy )
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April late nights – best around 1–2 AM in mid-April (earlier by end of April)
    • Recommended Filters: Broadband (UV/IR-cut or L-Pro filter) – no narrowband
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~8 hours
    • Special Notes: Although somewhat small for 400mm, M51’s bright core and spiral arms can be resolved with heavy integration. In Bortle 9, stick to short exposures (~30s) and stack hundreds of them to combat skyglow. The companion galaxy NGC 5195 (the smaller blob interacting with M51) will be visible hovering at the end of one spiral arm. Good seeing is important for this target – try to image when it’s near zenith (in late April it reaches ~85° altitude at transit). With careful processing you can bring out the spiral structure; using no filter or a gentle light-pollution filter preserves color in the galaxy’s core and star-forming regions. Focus carefully (use a bright star nearby to get tight FWHM) to maximize detail. M51 is an iconic spring galaxy – a bit small in frame but a worthwhile target for this rig.

  10. Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992, Caldwell 33) – Supernova Remnant

    • Constellation: Cygnus
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~7.0 (integrated) (Caldwell 33 (NGC 6992) E. Veil Nebula | Cygnus Constellation | Go Astronomy) (Caldwell 33 (NGC 6992) E. Veil Nebula | Cygnus Constellation | Go Astronomy)
    • Angular Size: ~60′ × 8′ (filament arc) (Caldwell 33 (NGC 6992) E. Veil Nebula | Cygnus Constellation | Go Astronomy)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Late April pre-dawn (rises after 2–3 AM; by 4–5 AM it’s ~30°+ high in east)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband highly recommended (strong Hα and OIII emission in nebula)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~8+ hours (faint fine filament structure)
    • Special Notes: The Eastern Veil is a long, delicate filament – the visible remnant of a ~10,000-year-old supernova. It’s faint but high surface brightness in narrowband filters (IC 443 - Wikipedia). At 400mm, you can capture the brightest section (NGC 6992/6995) in one frame. Even under city skies, a dual-band filter will reveal the nebula’s intricate lace-like structure given sufficient exposure. Use 5–10 minute sub-exposures if possible (the filter will permit longer subs by blocking skyglow). The target is best attempted near the end of April when Cygnus is rising well before dawn. Focus on a nearby star (the region has plenty of stars) using an Hα filter if possible, as the nebula itself may be too dim to focus on. This is an advanced target for urban astrophotography, but the dual narrowband filter and lots of patience will yield the beautiful filaments of the Veil nebula against a dark background.

Rig 2: Apertura 6" Classical Cassegrain (1800mm f/12) + Player One IMX585MC (cooled, OSC)

A long focal length (1800mm) setup optimized for small targets – ideal for galaxies, planetary nebulae, and globular clusters. Light pollution makes broadband imaging challenging, so careful planning and possibly a light pollution filter are needed.

  1. Whirlpool Galaxy (M51 & NGC 5195) – Interacting Spiral Galaxies

    • Constellation: Canes Venatici
    • Apparent Magnitude: 8.4 ( Messier 51 - M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy ) (M51’s core)
    • Angular Size: ~11′ × 7′ (M51) ( Messier 51 - M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy ); the companion NGC 5195 is ~5′ × 4′
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: All April – highest around 1 AM in mid-April (culminates near zenith)
    • Recommended Filters: Broadband (UV/IR-cut). Use a quality light-pollution suppression filter (e.g. Optolong L-Pro) to improve contrast without losing galaxy color.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6–8 hours (many subframes to overcome urban sky noise)
    • Special Notes: A showcase galaxy for an 1800mm scope – the increased image scale will capture M51’s spiral arms and the bridge to NGC 5195. Under Bortle 9, you’ll need to stack deep to reveal the faint outer structure. Dither and use proper dark/bias calibration to minimize noise. This target tolerates moderate sub-exposure lengths (1–2 minutes with an LP filter) – balance exposure to avoid skyfog histogram too far to the right. With good seeing, the long focal length will resolve details like the spiral arm patchiness and maybe hints of the tidal bridge. Focus frequently; temperature changes at night can shift focus at f/12 and blur these fine details. M51 is well placed in April, so you can accumulate many hours over multiple nights for a spectacular result.

  2. Sombrero Galaxy (M104) – Edge-on Spiral Galaxy

    • Constellation: Virgo (near Corvus border)
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~8.0 ( Messier 104 - M104 - Sombrero Galaxy )
    • Angular Size: ~9′ × 4′ ( Messier 104 - M104 - Sombrero Galaxy )
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Mid/Late April nights – crosses the meridian around midnight. (Visible low in the south; reaches ~50° altitude at best in Houston ( Messier 104 - M104 - Sombrero Galaxy ).)
    • Recommended Filters: Broadband – use UV/IR-cut. A mild CLS/LPS filter can help with skyglow, but avoid narrowband.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~5+ hours
    • Special Notes: This galaxy’s striking dark dust lane and bright nucleus give it the appearance of a hat. At 1800mm, frame M104 centrally – it will appear small but the dust lane should be visible with enough integration. The core is bright (easily visible even in short exposures), but the glow of the extended halo requires long integration, especially under light pollution (Sombrero Galaxy, Messier 104 Print - + kgp | monolith). Guiding needs to be accurate at this focal length to avoid elongated stars. M104 is located at –11° declination; from Houston it’s not extremely low, but try to image it when it’s highest (avoid imaging too early in the evening when it’s closer to the horizon). The small sensor of the IMX585 will nicely capture the galaxy without much background sky – this helps in a city environment. Expect a bright, star-like core and an edge-on disk cut by a crisp dust lane in your final image.

  3. Black Eye Galaxy (M64) – Spiral Galaxy

    • Constellation: Coma Berenices
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~8.5 (Messier 64 (NGC 4826) Blackeye Galaxy | Coma Berenices | Go Astronomy)
    • Angular Size: ~10.7′ × 5.1′ (Messier 64 (NGC 4826) Blackeye Galaxy | Coma Berenices | Go Astronomy)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Mid-April through late April – on meridian around 1–2 AM.
    • Recommended Filters: Broadband (UV/IR-cut or L-Pro). Galaxy has a prominent dust lane but emit no strong lines for narrowband.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~5–6 hours
    • Special Notes: M64 is known for its prominent “black eye” dust lane near the core. The 6″ Cassegrain at 1800mm is perfect for capturing this feature. In heavy light pollution, focus on many shorter exposures (e.g. 60–90s each) to prevent the sky background from washing out the image, then stack them. The dust lane creates a high-contrast feature that should be visible even in luminance frames (Messier 64 (NGC 4826) Blackeye Galaxy | Coma Berenices). Use your scope’s long focal length to your advantage by drizzling or applying deconvolution in post-processing to sharpen that dark lane. M64 is moderately high in the sky (declination +21°) – it will be at a comfortable altitude in the early morning hours. Good tracking is essential for round stars at f/12; consider using an off-axis guider if possible to improve guiding precision. This target is relatively forgiving in urban conditions because of its bright core and contrasty structure.

  4. Cat’s Eye Galaxy (M94) – Spiral Galaxy (starburst ring)

    • Constellation: Canes Venatici
    • Apparent Magnitude: 8.2 (visual) (Galaxy Messier 94 | Deep⋆Sky Corner)
    • Angular Size: ~14′ × 12′ (including outer ring) (Galaxy Messier 94 | Deep⋆Sky Corner)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April evenings through early mornings – highest around 11 PM–1 AM in mid-April.
    • Recommended Filters: Broadband. An IR-cut filter is recommended; you may use a light pollution filter to help with contrast since M94 is relatively bright.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~4–5 hours
    • Special Notes: M94 (sometimes nicknamed the “Cat’s Eye” or “Croc’s Eye” galaxy) has a very bright inner region and a faint extended outer ring (Galaxy Messier 94 | Deep⋆Sky Corner). In a city sky you will easily capture the bright core and inner disk with even short exposures. The challenge is to bring out the outer halo/starburst ring which is much fainter and larger (~14 arcmin) (Galaxy Messier 94 | Deep⋆Sky Corner). Use longer subs (2–3 min if possible) and aggressive stretching on the integrated image to reveal this outer structure. At 1800mm, the galaxy fills a fair portion of the frame, so you can resolve details in the core. Focus on the core for guiding (it will appear almost stellar in a sub) – you can even try lucky-imaging techniques (many short exposures) to sharpen detail, then combine with longer exposures for the halo. Given its high surface brightness, M94 is one of the more city-friendly galaxies. It’s circumpolar from Houston, so you have a wide window each night to image it. Keep an eye on star colors – this galaxy has a yellowish core and bluish ring; a calibrated color balance will show this subtle coloration (Galaxy Messier 94 | Deep⋆Sky Corner) (Galaxy Messier 94 | Deep⋆Sky Corner).

  5. M106 (NGC 4258) – Spiral Galaxy

    • Constellation: Canes Venatici
    • Apparent Magnitude: 8.4 (visual) (Messier 106 - Wikipedia)
    • Angular Size: ~18.6′ × 7.2′ (Galaxies Messier 106 & NGC 4217 | Deep⋆Sky Corner)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April nights (transits around midnight in mid-month). Well placed throughout spring.
    • Recommended Filters: Broadband (galaxy – use L-Pro or similar if available for LP).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6 hours
    • Special Notes: M106 is a large spiral galaxy with a bright core and faint extended spiral arms. At 1800mm, you’ll capture the bright nucleus and some spiral structure. This galaxy has some subtle Hα emission jets internally, but with a one-shot-color camera in city sky those are tough – focus on the broad features. The visual magnitude 8.4 (Messier 106 - Wikipedia) means the core will show up quickly, but the outer arms have low surface brightness. Drizzle integration can help improve the resolution of details like the dust lanes. Be mindful of guiding; at f/12 even slight tracking errors will blur detail. If your mount permits, consider 2×2 binning the camera to boost signal (at the expense of some resolution) – with the small sensor, field of view isn’t large anyway. M106’s declination ~+47° means it gets nearly overhead in Houston – take advantage of that high position for the best data (less atmospheric interference). Look for the galaxy’s elongated core and the sweeping arms; with careful stretching and color balance you may glimpse its companion galaxy NGC 4248 (mag ~13) in the same field as a bonus.

  6. Needle Galaxy (NGC 4565) – Edge-On Spiral Galaxy

    • Constellation: Coma Berenices
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~9.6 (NGC 4565, a showpiece galaxy – Astronomy Now)
    • Angular Size: ~16′ × 2.8′ (NGC 4565, a showpiece galaxy – Astronomy Now)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Mid-April to late April – on meridian ~1–2 AM. (High in late-night spring skies.)
    • Recommended Filters: Broadband (no narrowband; use IR-cut and possibly a contrast filter for LP).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6–8 hours
    • Special Notes: This is a stunning edge-on galaxy with a prominent dust lane, perfect for a long focal length scope. Under Bortle 9, NGC 4565 will appear as a thin “needle” of light with a bulging core in luminance frames (NGC 4565, a showpiece galaxy – Astronomy Now). The dust lane slicing through the center is the prize detail – with 1800mm and sufficient integration, you should capture it. Use sub-exposures around 2 minutes (with an LP filter) – if too short, the galaxy’s faint extensions won’t register well; too long and skyfog will dominate. Check focus often and use a bahtinov mask or fine focus on a bright star – depth of field is thin at f/12, and you want the edge-on galaxy’s stars pin-sharp to accentuate that needle-like appearance. It’s beneficial to image near the meridian (highest elevation) to minimize atmospheric extinction for this target. When processing, be gentle with noise reduction on the galaxy itself to preserve the texture of the dust lane. NGC 4565 is a bit fainter than Messier galaxies, but it’s a “WOW” object once processed – a reward for the patient astrophotographer (NGC 4565, a showpiece galaxy – Astronomy Now).

  7. Globular Cluster M3 – Globular Star Cluster

    • Constellation: Canes Venatici
    • Apparent Magnitude: 6.2 (Messier 3)
    • Angular Size: ~18′ diameter (Messier 3 (NGC 5272) | Canes Venatici - Go-Astronomy.com)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: All April – rises in early evening, highest around midnight in mid-April. (Visible earlier than M13, and well placed by ~10 PM.)
    • Recommended Filters: Broad or no filter (cluster stars cover a broad spectrum). A UV/IR-cut filter helps keep star color accurate.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~2–3 hours (clusters tolerate less integration; focus on shorter subs to avoid core burnout)
    • Special Notes: M3 is a splendid globular cluster with hundreds of thousands of stars. At 1800mm, you can resolve individual stars in the outer regions easily. In Bortle 9, globular clusters actually fare better than faint nebulae – the high surface brightness means you’ll get a good result even with a few hours of exposure. Use short sub-exposures (20–30s) to avoid blowing out the dense core, and consider an HDR approach: stack short exposures for core and longer (60s) for outer halo. The IMX585 color camera will capture the subtle orange and blue tints of giant vs. dwarf stars in the cluster – to emphasize this, don’t over-saturate colors in processing. Guiding is a bit more forgiving here since the target is a point-source collection (minor trailing won’t ruin faint fuzzies as with galaxies). M3 is high in the sky (dec +28°) in spring, so atmospheric effects are minimal. This is an easy target to get a pleasing result from an urban area: expect a bright, 18′ wide sphere of stars (Messier 3 (NGC 5272) | Canes Venatici - Go-Astronomy.com) with a dense blazing core. It’s a great “confidence booster” object in between faint galaxy projects.

  8. Globular Cluster M13 (Great Hercules Cluster) – Globular Cluster

    • Constellation: Hercules
    • Apparent Magnitude: 5.8 (EarthSky | Meet M13, the Great Cluster in Hercules)
    • Angular Size: ~20′ (arcminutes) (EarthSky | Meet M13, the Great Cluster in Hercules)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Late April (rising in NE by 9–10 PM, best after midnight at high elevation). Greatest altitude in the hours before dawn.
    • Recommended Filters: Broad/no filter (capture star colors; use UV/IR-cut).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~2–3 hours (short subs to avoid core saturation)
    • Special Notes: M13 is the premier globular in the northern sky – even brighter than M3. At 1800mm you’ll fill much of the frame with its glittering stars. The core of M13 is extremely dense; use 15–20s sub-exposures for core detail and around 60s for the outer regions, then combine. With proper focus and seeing, your 6″ scope can resolve stars towards the center. The cluster is ~25,000 light years away and ~20′ across (EarthSky | Meet M13, the Great Cluster in Hercules) – at your image scale, that’s almost the full height of the IMX585 sensor. Guiding needs to be tight if you attempt longer subs for faint outer halo stars. In processing, try a mild high-pass filter or deconvolution to sharpen star images and make the cluster “pop.” M13 is slightly larger in apparent size than M3 and has a less concentrated core, so it will appear a bit more “resolved.” It’s situated between two Hercules keystone stars, making it easy to locate. One cool bonus: with deep exposure you might pick up the tiny galaxy NGC 6207 (~11′ NE of M13, mag 11.7) in the same field – a fun fact to note if it appears. Overall, M13 is a forgiving and impressive target under city skies.

  9. Ghost of Jupiter Nebula (NGC 3242) – Planetary Nebula

    • Constellation: Hydra
    • Apparent Magnitude: 8.4 (NGC 3242, THE GHOST OF JUPITER NEBULA – Astrodrudis) (central nebula)
    • Angular Size: ~40″ × 35″ (arcseconds) (NGC 3242, THE GHOST OF JUPITER NEBULA – Astrodrudis) (core nebula; outer halo extends a bit more)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early April to mid-April – highest in the south around 9–10 PM (NGC 3242, THE GHOST OF JUPITER NEBULA – Astrodrudis) (NGC 3242, THE GHOST OF JUPITER NEBULA – Astrodrudis)
    • Recommended Filters: Consider an OIII or UHC filter if available (to boost contrast of the nebula against sky). Otherwise, no filter or basic UV/IR-cut (the nebula’s cyan color comes from OIII and Hβ emissions).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~2+ hours (many short subs; or lucky-imaging to sharpen)
    • Special Notes: This small, bright planetary nebula earns its nickname from its pale disk resembling Jupiter. At 1800mm you have enough magnification to see it as a tiny aqua-blue orb rather than a star. Because NGC 3242 is bright, you can use very short exposures (5–10s) to freeze seeing – this can yield surprisingly sharp results of the planetary’s structure (it has a brighter inner ellipse and fainter outer envelope). It’s a great target to try “lucky imaging” – take hundreds of very short exposures and stack the best. In processing, you can push saturation to bring out the nebula’s turquoise hue. The dual narrowband filter isn’t ideal here, as it will dim the continuum from the white dwarf and star field; a dedicated OIII narrowband, however, would make the nebula stand out dramatically (if you have one). Collimation of the 6″ scope should be checked – a slight mis-collimation can smear this high-resolution target. The Ghost of Jupiter lies ~42° above the horizon at transit in Houston – not too low. You’ll notice a sharp drop-off in brightness at the nebula’s edge in your subs, which helps distinguish it from stars. This object is small but high surface brightness, making it one of the easiest deep-sky objects for an urban imager – a nice change of pace from large faint galaxies.

  10. Ring Nebula (M57) – Planetary Nebula

    • Constellation: Lyra
    • Apparent Magnitude: 8.8 (Messier 57 - M57 - Ring Nebula - AstroPixels)
    • Angular Size: ~1.4′ × 1.0′ (Messier 57 - M57 - Ring Nebula - AstroPixels)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Late April (rising in the east after midnight). Best in last week of April around 2–4 AM, or wait until May for higher altitude.
    • Recommended Filters: OIII or UHC helpful for contrast (M57’s ring shines strongly in OIII). Otherwise no special filter needed beyond IR-cut.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~3 hours (can be a combination of normal and short exposures)
    • Special Notes: The Ring Nebula is small and bright – a perfect target for a long focal length. With the 6″ scope, you’ll clearly resolve the donut shape of the nebula, which is about 1.4 arcmin across (Messier 57 - M57 - Ring Nebula - AstroPixels). Even a single 30-second exposure will show M57 as a fuzzy ring. To get the most detail (the textured structure in the ring, the faint outer halo, and possibly the central star of ~mag 15 if conditions allow), plan for a good chunk of time on a night of excellent seeing. Since M57 is low in April evenings, shoot it in the early morning when it’s higher, or consider adding data in May when it climbs to zenith – the new moon period in late April gives you a chance to start. Use a high gain and relatively short exposures (15s to 30s) to avoid overexposing the ring. Because it’s so small, you might even try barlowing your scope to 3600mm for planetary nebula imaging, effectively treating it like a planetary target – though guiding at that focal length is extremely demanding. In processed images, you’ll see a bright multicolored oval (the ring’s near side is reddish from Hα, outer part bluish-green from OIII). M57’s central hole will be obvious, and with heavy stretching you might detect an outermost faint shell around the main ring. This target adds variety to your April lineup and showcases the power of a long focal length on tiny DSOs.

Rig 3: ZWO Seestar S50 Smart Scope (250mm aperture, ~250mm FL, OSC camera, optional Dual-NB)

A portable smart telescope with a 250mm focal length – great for wide-field shots of nebulae and larger galaxy groups. Optional dual narrowband filter can be used for emission nebulae. This rig likely stacks images automatically, so plan targets that benefit from wide fields and don’t require too much fine detail.

  1. Rosette Nebula (Caldwell 49) – Emission Nebula

    • Constellation: Monoceros
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~9.0 (Rosette Nebula and Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) – Constellation Guide)
    • Angular Size: ~1.3° (80′ across) (Rosette Nebula and Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) – Constellation Guide)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early April evenings (Monoceros in west after dusk; best before 11 PM in early April)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband filter ON – strongly boosts Hα and OIII in this nebula
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~4+ hours (the Seestar’s stacking will improve with more frames; aim for several nights if possible)
    • Special Notes: The Seestar S50’s wide field will capture the entire Rosette Nebula with room to spare. This emission nebula is an excellent match for the dual-band filter in heavy light pollution – expect the filter to highlight the nebula’s rose-like ring of nebulosity while dimming the sky. With the Seestar’s smaller aperture (50mm), the Rosette’s bright core and parts of the nebulous shell will show well, but faint outer areas may require substantial integration. The built-in smart tracking should handle the short exposures; let it stack for hours. Focus on this target in the first half of April – by mid-month it gets low. The result will be a rich red nebula surrounding a star cluster. Pro tip: ensure dew control, as Spring nights in Houston can be humid and a small lens can dew over during long integrations.

  2. Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) – Emission/Reflection Nebula

    • Constellation: Auriga
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~6.0 (Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405): Striking Nebula in Auriga – Constellation Guide) (bright star AE Aur is mag 6)
    • Angular Size: ~0.6° × 0.3° (about 37′ × 19′) (Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405): Striking Nebula in Auriga – Constellation Guide)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early April evenings (Auriga high at nightfall; try to capture before it sets by late evening)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband ON (emission regions benefit; some reflection portions will be dimmer, but overall contrast is better in city sky)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~4–5 hours
    • Special Notes: The Flaming Star Nebula, with its mix of glowing hydrogen gas and bluish reflection, is a gorgeous wide-field object. In the S50 smartscope, framing is easy – it will likely center on AE Aurigae (the illuminating star). The dual-band filter will primarily bring out the red emission filaments (Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405): Striking Nebula in Auriga – Constellation Guide); the bluish reflection nebulosity might not be as apparent under heavy LP, but some of it should come through with enough integration (you can always do one session with the filter, one without, and combine images if the software allows). This target is bright enough that the Seestar’s live stacking will show a faint nebula after just a few minutes. Total integration of a few hours will make the structure (the “flames”) clearer. Take advantage of early April — by month’s end Auriga will be low at dusk. Also, consider capturing IC 410 (Tadpoles Nebula) in a separate session; it’s nearby in Auriga and also suited for this rig. The smartscope’s plate-solving should have no trouble locating IC 405; once done, just let it stack while you perhaps observe progress on your mobile app.

  3. Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443) – Supernova Remnant

    • Constellation: Gemini
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~12 (integrated) (IC 443. The Jellyfish Nebula – Astrodrudis)
    • Angular Size: ~50′ across the main nebula (IC 443. The Jellyfish Nebula – Astrodrudis)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April evenings (in the west after dark, best before mid-April). Begin imaging as soon as it’s dark in early April to get it at a higher altitude.
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband ON – essential to detect the faint Hα/OIII filaments in city skies
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~8–10 hours (this faint object benefits from multiple nights of stacking)
    • Special Notes: The Jellyfish Nebula is a dim target for a 50mm aperture, but it is achievable with persistent stacking and filtering. The Seestar S50 will capture a wide field – likely including part of the nearby emission nebula Sharpless 249 – which adds context around the Jellyfish. Expect that this will be a challenging target: initial live stack frames might barely show the nebula. Don’t be discouraged; the dual-band filter and long integration will gradually reveal the curved jellyfish-like tendrils (IC 443. The Jellyfish Nebula – Astrodrudis). It’s important to image on the clearest nights available (minimal haze) and avoid any moonlight (which we assume is none in this scenario) because every bit of contrast helps. This SNR lies near bright star Eta Geminorum; the smartscope’s internal processing might auto-adjust around that, but be mindful of potential gradient from that star. In processing, you may need to boost the stretch on the stacked image to see the nebula clearly. Use the full capability of the Seestar’s stacking – let it run for as many hours as you can over multiple nights, since the device can automatically realign and continue stacking. The end result, with luck, will show the ghostly outline of a cosmic jellyfish floating among the stars – a satisfying catch from Bortle 9.

  4. Tadpoles Nebula (IC 410) – Emission Nebula

    • Constellation: Auriga
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~10 (IC 410, the Tadpoles Nebula - Astrodrudis)
    • Angular Size: ~40′ × 30′ (IC 410, the Tadpoles Nebula - Astrodrudis)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early April evenings (same window as Flaming Star Nebula – Auriga setting by ~11 PM in early April)
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband ON (to highlight Hα tadpole structures against sky background)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~5–6 hours
    • Special Notes: IC 410 contains two notable “tadpole” shaped dark nebulae within a field of emission – a great subject for the Seestar’s wide field. With 250mm focal length, you may even capture both IC 405 (Flaming Star) and IC 410 in one frame if positioned carefully (they’re about 1° apart), but it might be tight on the S50’s sensor. It might be better to center IC 410 alone to do it justice. The smartscope’s tracking/stacking will bring out the two tadpole shapes as subtle squiggly features in the nebula after enough integration. Use the dual-band filter to boost contrast; without it, the nebula may be too faint in Houston’s sky. Because the S50 is only 50mm aperture, the fine tadpole details won’t be super sharp, but the general shape and the surrounding HII region will be evident in the final image. Take many short exposures (the device likely does 10–15s subs) and allow the stack to grow. If possible, save the raw stack and do an external post-process where you can carefully stretch the image to reveal the tadpoles. This target is somewhat faint, so it’s a mid-tier difficulty for the S50 – but capturing it from the city will be a proud accomplishment. Make sure to image it early in the month and as high in the sky as you can for best results.

  5. Bode’s Galaxy & Cigar Galaxy (M81 & M82) – Galaxy Pair

    • Constellation: Ursa Major
    • Apparent Magnitudes: 6.9 and 8.4 (Messier 81 - Wikipedia) ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy )
    • Angular Sizes: ~27′ × 14′ (M81) (Messier 81 - Wikipedia); ~9′ × 4′ (M82) ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy )
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: All April (circumpolar – visible all night. Best high up in evenings around 9–11 PM.)
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband (galaxies). Use the Seestar’s default IR-cut. If an external light pollution filter is attachable, an IDAS or similar could help, but often the smartscope is optimized as-is.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~4–5 hours (the smartscope will benefit from long total integration to smooth out noise in galaxy images)
    • Special Notes: M81 and M82 form a beautiful pair in the same wide field – perfect for the 250mm focal length. The Seestar S50 will easily plate-solve to M81; you’ll see both galaxies in the frame. Under Bortle 9, expect M81’s bright core to show up quickly, and M82’s cigar shape will be apparent as well. The spiral arms of M81 and the red hydrogen burst in M82 are more subtle – they will emerge after stacking many frames. Make sure to disable any dual-band filter for this target; we want full spectrum light. The S50’s advantage is its automation: it will keep accumulating data without field rotation issues (it likely has an alt-az mount with field derotation algorithms). Use that time to your advantage – let it run for hours. By the end, you’ll have a color image where M81 appears as a fuzzy oval with a bright center and hints of spiral structure, and M82 shows as a thin streak with a possible reddish tone in its middle (starburst region) ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy ). Framing tip: center slightly towards M82 (the smaller galaxy) so that you don’t put M81 dead-center – this ensures both galaxies are well within the field with some space around. This pair is among the brightest galaxies in the northern sky, so it’s very achievable even with a small smartscope from the city.

  6. Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628) – Galaxy Group

    • Constellation: Leo
    • Apparent Magnitudes: 9.3, 8.9, 9.5 respectively ( M65, M66 & NGC 3628 ("Trio in Leo")) ( M65, M66 & NGC 3628 ("Trio in Leo"))
    • Angular Sizes: ~10′ × 3′ (M65) (Messier 65. NGC 3623 – Astrodrudis); ~9′ × 4′ (M66) (Messier 66 - Wikipedia); ~15′ × 3.6′ (NGC 3628) ( M65, M66 & NGC 3628 ("Trio in Leo"))
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April (best in mid-month around 10 PM–12 AM when Leo is highest).
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband. Rely on the smartscope’s built-in light pollution reduction algorithms or add a gentle LP filter if possible in front of the lens.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~5+ hours (the more, the better to pull out fainter galaxy detail in stacking)
    • Special Notes: The Leo Triplet nicely fits in a ~1° field – the 250mm scope will capture all three galaxies in one go (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk). In Houston’s bright sky, the galaxies will appear as small fuzzy smudges on the live view (M66 and M65 are relatively compact; NGC 3628 is larger but low surface brightness). Over a few hours of stacking, you should see M66’s elongated core, M65’s slender oval, and NGC 3628’s extended streak (likely dimmer). The Seestar’s strength is framing and tracking these wide fields automatically, so once centered, it will handle drift. The challenge is contrast: you’re hunting faint galaxies in a bright sky. Use whatever “boost” or “deep space” mode the Seestar app might have to emphasize faint structures. It may also apply noise reduction – sometimes turning that off and doing your own post-processing yields better detail. Special imaging tip: if the software allows, schedule the Triplet for near the meridian and avoid imaging it when it’s low (less than ~30° altitude) to reduce gradient and atmospheric extinction. The final image likely won’t show the delicate spiral details due to the small aperture, but it will clearly show three distinct galaxy shapes. That in itself is impressive from a city. Mark this as a moderate difficulty target – not as easy as M81/M82, but definitely doable with persistence.

  7. Markarian’s Chain (Virgo Galaxy Cluster) – Galaxy Chain

    • Constellation: Virgo
    • Apparent Magnitudes: 8.9 up to ~12 for various members (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk) (M84/M86 ~mag 9)
    • Angular Size: ~1.5° span of the chain (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Late April nights (the Virgo cluster is optimally placed around midnight to 1 AM). Also observable in early May; in April, try after 11 PM.
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband – broadband imaging. If the Seestar has any in-app LP filtering algorithm, use it. Otherwise, just collect raw color data.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~8–10 hours (a faint target for a small scope – plan multiple nights)
    • Special Notes: Markarian’s Chain is a stretch of numerous galaxies in the Virgo Cluster. With the 250mm focal length, you can capture the core part of the chain, including bright ellipticals M84 and M86 and others forming the gentle arc (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk). Keep in mind: at 50mm aperture, most of those galaxies will be little oval smudges at best. This is a difficult target for the S50, but not impossible. The key is dark time and lots of it. Devote as many clear, moonless hours as you can to stacking – the signal of galaxies improves only by deep integration. The smartscope’s stacking might start to reveal 5–7 galaxies in the field after several hours (the brighter ones down to mag ~11). Don’t expect to see structure – they will mostly appear as gray fuzzy dots. But capturing the chain under Bortle 9 is an accomplishment. Try to frame the “chain” so that M84/M86 duo is in one third of the frame and the chain extends diagonally – this yields a pleasing composition. A good trick is to use shorter exposures and high gain to hunt for the galaxies, then once centered, use longer exposures to build up signal. The Seestar likely manages this automatically, but you can check if manual mode is available for tweaking settings. In post-processing, aggressive stretching and perhaps binning the image 2×2 (to reduce noise by sacrificing resolution) can help make the galaxies stand out. Markarian’s Chain might not be as eye-catching as nebulae, but it’s a classic spring deep-sky object – capturing it with a tiny smartscope in the city is a testament to how far tech has come.

  8. Pinwheel Galaxy (M101) – Face-on Spiral Galaxy

    • Constellation: Ursa Major
    • Apparent Magnitude: 7.9 ( Messier 101 - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy ) (integrated, but low surface brightness)
    • Angular Size: ~22′ across ( Messier 101 - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy )
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Late April (best after midnight). In mid-April, M101 is highest around 3–4 AM; by end of April, around 1–2 AM.
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband. Use standard color mode with UV/IR-cut. A gentle LP filter can be used if available, but M101’s light is diffuse – too strong a filter can cut its outer glow.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6–8 hours
    • Special Notes: M101 is a large but faint-surface-brightness galaxy – a bit of a tough ask in Bortle 9 with a 50mm scope, but the wide field of the S50 covers it nicely. Center M101 so that you might also catch a few neighboring smaller galaxies (like NGC 5474, mag 10.8, 45′ south – though that might be just outside a 1° field). The Pinwheel’s core will show up in modest exposure stacks, but its signature grand design spiral arms will be very faint. To improve results, ensure the Seestar is well focused (use a bright star or the built-in AI focus) and that you stack for as long as possible. If your smartscope app has a “Night” or “Deep Sky” mode, use it – it might automatically optimize gain and stacking for such a faint object. Over many hours, you should see a round diffuse glow with a brighter center – that’s M101’s nucleus and inner disk. The spiral arms will appear as asymmetries or mottling in the glow if you stretch the image heavily. Don’t be alarmed if it’s not obvious – even larger scopes struggle with M101 in city skies because its brightness is spread out (Messier 101: Ursa Major's spectacular Pinwheel Galaxy). It helps to image when M101 is highest (to minimize looking through thick atmosphere). One strategy: start your M101 imaging in the late evening and let it run all night unattended – by morning, you’ll have the maximum integration and likely a decent detection of this galaxy. While not as immediately dramatic as smaller bright galaxies, seeing the Pinwheel from Houston with a tiny lens is quite rewarding.

  9. Eastern Veil Nebula (NGC 6992) – Supernova Remnant (Veil East)

    • Constellation: Cygnus
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~7 (integrated) (Caldwell 33 (NGC 6992) E. Veil Nebula | Cygnus Constellation | Go Astronomy) (Caldwell 33 (NGC 6992) E. Veil Nebula | Cygnus Constellation | Go Astronomy)
    • Angular Size: ~1° long, thin filament (about 60′ length) (Caldwell 33 (NGC 6992) E. Veil Nebula | Cygnus Constellation | Go Astronomy)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: End of April (rising by 3–4 AM). Best captured in the pre-dawn hours of late April when Cygnus is ~30°+ up, or in May/June for more altitude.
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband ON – crucial for isolating the nebula’s Hα/OIII glow in a bright sky.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6 hours (you can split over a couple of pre-dawn sessions)
    • Special Notes: The Eastern Veil is one of the most eye-catching nebula segments – essentially a wisp of a supernova remnant. For the S50, which has limited aperture, the strategy is to leverage the filter and the wide field. The Veil’s filaments will be quite faint per single exposure, but the 250mm focal length covers the entire Eastern Veil easily, which helps the stacking algorithm lock on the structure. The dual-band filter will make the nebula stand out as a reddish-green string against almost no background – a huge boost for contrast in Bortle 9. The main challenge is timing: you only get a short window before dawn in April. You might set the Seestar to auto-start imaging the Veil at, say, 3 AM and continue until dawn twilight. If you can do this on multiple nights, even better – the device can align and stack across sessions. Over a few hours, you should start to see a gentle arc of emission. The brighter portions of NGC 6992/6995 will register as thin, curling lines – albeit not as sharp as in larger scopes, but definitely visible. Star density in Cygnus is high; the filter will dim many stars, but expect a rich starfield in your image. This actually adds to the beauty: the Veil will be weaving through a carpet of stars. Be mindful of the coming dawn – stop or the sequence will end when sky brightens and could wash out the faint nebula in final stack. This is an advanced target for a smartscope, but within reach given the filter and persistence. The end result will be a subtle but real capture of a supernova’s ghostly remains from your light-polluted backyard – a fine finish to April’s imaging.

  10. Beehive Cluster (M44) – Open Star Cluster

    • Constellation: Cancer
    • Apparent Magnitude: 3.7 (Messier 44: Beehive Cluster | Messier Objects)
    • Angular Size: ~95′ (1.6° across) (Messier 44: Beehive Cluster | Messier Objects)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: All April – highest in the evening (transits ~8 PM in mid-April). Observe as soon as it’s dark, as Cancer sets by late night in April.
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband (star cluster). No filter needed; the Seestar’s optics will capture star colors well under dark-sky conditions (new moon). If heavy light pollution gradients appear, an LPS filter can be used but usually isn’t necessary for bright clusters.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~1–2 hours (clusters don’t require extremely long exposure; focus on many short subs to avoid saturating bright stars)
    • Special Notes: The Beehive is a showpiece open cluster for wide-field instruments – and the S50 can probably frame the majority of it. This cluster contains dozens of bright stars of various colors, which will test the dynamic range of the smartscope’s camera. The good news: it’s very bright (visible even in a finderscope visually), so you won’t struggle with detection. The main goal is a pretty star field. Use shorter exposures (perhaps the Seestar defaults to a few seconds for bright targets) to avoid bloating the stars too much. Since it’s a smartscope, it might automatically pick exposure – if you have control, you might even intentionally under-expose slightly to keep star colors from clipping. After stacking, you’ll get pinpoint stars (the device’s tracking will keep them aligned). In post-processing, you may want to do a gentle star size reduction to offset any seeing blur. The Beehive spans ~1.5°, so a few of the outer members might be at the very edge of the frame – but you’ll still capture the core 40+ stars easily (Messier 44: Beehive Cluster | Messier Objects). This cluster is a great target to observe early in the night before moving to fainter objects, and it doubles as a focus test – make sure stars are sharp across the field (it will reveal any field curvature or tilt issues). In an image, expect a glittering collection of mostly blue-white stars with a handful of orange giants. While simple compared to nebulas, a well-resolved open cluster like M44 under city skies is delightful and a reminder that not all deep-sky imaging from urban areas has to be narrowband. Enjoy the relative ease of this target – it’s a perfect warm-up or finale for an imaging session.

Rig 4: ZWO Seestar S30 Smart Scope (approx. 30mm aperture, 150mm FL, OSC camera, optional Dual-NB)

The ultra-portable Seestar S30 with 150mm focal length provides a very wide field (several degrees) but limited light-gathering. It excels at the brightest, largest deep-sky objects. Use the dual-band filter for nebulae, and target clusters and the brightest galaxies for best results. The S30’s integrated system will live-stack images, so even faint objects can accumulate over time.

  1. Orion Nebula (M42 & M43) – Bright Diffuse Nebula

    • Constellation: Orion
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~4.0 (Messier 42: Orion Nebula | Messier Objects) (entire nebula complex)
    • Angular Size: ~1° × 1° (66′ × 60′) (Messier 42: Orion Nebula | Messier Objects)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: First week of April (Orion sets early – start at end of dusk in early April). By mid-April this nebula is very low at nightfall.
    • Recommended Filters: No filter or an ultra-high contrast (UHC) filter if available. (M42 is extremely bright; the dual-narrowband filter can be used, but it will omit the beautiful reflection nebula color – better to capture full spectrum if sky conditions allow.)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~1–2 hours (plenty given its brightness; the smartscope will show it in minutes)
    • Special Notes: M42 is the showcase nebula and luckily even a 30mm device can capture its brilliance. This might be your last chance of the season to image it. The Seestar S30’s 150mm focal length will not only encompass M42 but also the Running Man Nebula (NGC 1977) just north of it. In Bortle 9, the core of Orion Nebula will appear almost immediately – it’s magnitude ~4 and has high surface brightness. You’ll see the trapezium region burn in quickly. To avoid overexposure, the smartscope likely automatically adjusts – but if you have manual control, use short exposures (5–10s) for the core and longer (30s) for the faint outer loops, then rely on its HDR stacking (if supported) or do two separate stacks. With the S30’s small aperture, you won’t capture the very faint outermost nebulosity well, but the main nebula’s greenish-gray core and magenta outer regions (from Hα) will be evident in a stacked image. Even under city lights, M42’s high surface brightness makes it one of the easiest astrophotography targets (Messier 42: Orion Nebula | Messier Objects). Make sure to image it as soon as the sky is dark in early April – each day you wait, Orion sets ~4 minutes earlier. If you get a chance, also swing the scope to the Orion’s Belt area (if time allows the same evening) to perhaps glimpse the Horsehead/Flame Nebula region – though that is much fainter and may be beyond the S30’s grasp in city conditions. As for M42, enjoy the quick gratification of seeing structure in a nebula in near real-time. This is a great object to show friends/family what the little smartscope can do – the nebula’s core will be bright and detailed even in a short live stack.

  2. Rosette Nebula (C49) – Emission Nebula

    • Constellation: Monoceros
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~9 (Rosette Nebula and Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) – Constellation Guide)
    • Angular Size: ~1.3° diameter (Rosette Nebula and Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) – Constellation Guide)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early April (soon after dark, before it gets too low – by 10 PM in early April it’s already sinking). Aim for the first half of April.
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband ON – highly recommended to cut light pollution and highlight nebulosity.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~3–4 hours
    • Special Notes: The Rosette is large and relatively bright – a good match for the S30’s wide field. With a 150mm focal length, you’ll capture the entire nebula and its central cluster (NGC 2244) comfortably. The dual-band filter is important here, as Monoceros is a dim constellation and skyglow will otherwise wash out the faint portions. Expect the Seestar S30 to show a hint of the nebula after perhaps 10–20 minutes of stacking as a circular haze around a cluster of stars. After a few hours, the characteristic rosette shape (darker hole in the middle with a ring of nebulosity) will become more clear. The small 30mm aperture means you won’t see fine texture, but you will capture the overall form and the rich star field embedded in it. One benefit of the S30’s ultra-wide view is that you’ll also catch some surrounding nebula segments and star clusters in Monoceros, making for a rich frame. Keep an eye on focus – the device should autofocus, but the dense star field can sometimes confuse systems, so verify that the central cluster stars are pinpoints. Special care: the Rosette’s integrated magnitude is around 9 (Rosette Nebula and Satellite Cluster (NGC 2244) – Constellation Guide), but that light is spread out. Don’t be surprised if the nebula looks faint – just let it stack longer. Given the timing (only early evening window), you might need to break the integration across two nights to reach your 3–4 hour goal. It’s worth it – the final result will be a beautiful wide-field shot of a cosmic bloom, even under city lights.

  3. Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405) – Emission/Reflection Nebula

    • Constellation: Auriga
    • Apparent Magnitude: ~6 (for the illuminating star AE Aur) (Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405): Striking Nebula in Auriga – Constellation Guide); nebulosity is fainter (~10)
    • Angular Size: ~0.6° × 0.3° (Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405): Striking Nebula in Auriga – Constellation Guide)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Early April evenings (Auriga sets by ~11 PM in early April). Start as soon as it’s dark.
    • Recommended Filters: Dual narrowband ON (to emphasize Hα emission; note some reflection parts will be subdued)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~3–4 hours
    • Special Notes: IC 405 is another wide nebula that fits well in the S30’s field. It won’t be as immediately obvious as the Rosette because its brightness is a bit lower and it has a lot of blue reflection component which the dual-band filter will partially suppress. However, using the filter will greatly improve contrast for the red emission filaments. Over a multi-hour stack, you can expect to capture the flaming “fan” shape surrounding AE Aurigae (Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405): Striking Nebula in Auriga – Constellation Guide). The Seestar S30’s modest aperture will capture the brightest portion of the nebula without trouble; the fainter tendrils might be at the noise floor, so longer total integration or aggressive stretching might be needed to see them. Because this rig is alt-az, field rotation could slightly blur very faint details over long sessions – not a big issue for broad nebulae, but something to keep in mind (the device likely corrects for rotation though). As Auriga is full of other nebulae, you might inadvertently catch a bit of IC 410 (Tadpoles) in the same frame if oriented appropriately – check your image corners for any extra haze. If so, that’s a bonus! Try to image this early in the month; by late April, Auriga will only be visible during twilight. The Flaming Star Nebula is a great target to demonstrate the power of narrowband on a tiny scope: without the filter, it would barely register in Bortle 9, but with it, you’ll see structure emerge. The name comes from its appearance – with enough exposure, you’ll notice streaky patterns that really do look like flames around a star.

  4. Bode’s & Cigar Galaxies (M81 & M82) – Galaxy Pair

    • Constellation: Ursa Major
    • Apparent Magnitudes: 6.9 (M81) (Messier 81 - Wikipedia), 8.4 (M82) ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy )
    • Angular Sizes: ~27′ × 14′ (M81) (Messier 81 - Wikipedia); ~9′ × 4′ (M82) ( Messier 82 - M82 - Cigar Galaxy )
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: All April – best in evenings (around 9–11 PM when high in the north). Circumpolar, so can be imaged any night in April.
    • Recommended Filters: No narrowband – use broadband. The Seestar S30’s native configuration should suffice (its optical system likely has built-in IR-cut). If light pollution is severe, you could attach a mild LP filter over the lens if an accessory allows, but often these smartscopes don’t require it for bright galaxies.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~3–5 hours
    • Special Notes: M81 and M82 are among the brightest galaxies in the northern hemisphere, and the 150mm focal length will easily capture them together with plenty of surrounding sky. For the S30, this is a relatively easy target. M81’s core will show up as a bright fuzzy star-like point with a halo even in short stacks, and M82 will appear as an elongated smudge. Over a few hours, you can expect to make out some extent of M81’s disk (it may reach ~10′ in radius in your image) and the cigar shape of M82 more clearly. Don’t expect detailed spiral arms or the red jets in M82 – the aperture is too small for fine detail – but do expect a pleasant image showing two distinctly shaped galaxies. The smartscope’s stacking will improve the signal-to-noise so that these galaxies stand out from the background. One tip: ensure good calibration or use the device’s internal dark frame subtraction to minimize fixed pattern noise, since you’ll be stretching the image to see galaxy halos. Also, try imaging near the meridian (Ursa Major passes near zenith in spring) for the least atmospheric interference. With 150mm FL, star trailing isn’t an issue due to the short subs the device uses, and field rotation is negligible for the couple-hour span you’ll likely image these. If your processed image shows a gradient (perhaps from city skyglow or nearby star hotspots), do background subtraction so the faint outer reach of M81 isn’t lost – it extends quite far out ( Messier 101 - M101 - Pinwheel Galaxy ) even if very faint. Overall, this pair is one of the best galaxy targets for a small smartscope: they are bright, close together, and high in the sky. It’s a great target to leave the device running on while you perhaps observe visually or image something else with another setup.

  5. Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628) – Galaxy Trio

    • Constellation: Leo
    • Apparent Magnitudes: 9.3, 8.9, 9.5 ( M65, M66 & NGC 3628 ("Trio in Leo")) ( M65, M66 & NGC 3628 ("Trio in Leo"))
    • Angular Size: ~0.5° total span (M65–NGC 3628 separation ~35′) (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April evenings (highest around 10 PM–12 AM). Try mid-April nights for peak altitude.
    • Recommended Filters: No filter (broadband). Rely on stacking to overcome LP.
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~4–6 hours
    • Special Notes: The Leo Triplet is an iconic trio for wide-field imaging. The S30 at 150mm will have no trouble framing all three galaxies in Leo’s belly. These galaxies are fainter than M81/M82, so they will appear more slowly in the stack – initially you might see only M66 and M65 as fuzzy spots. With time (a couple of hours in), NGC 3628 (the elongated Hamburger Galaxy) will also become apparent. Being small aperture, the S30 will only capture the brightest portions: the cores and some of the inner halos. Nevertheless, the composition of three galaxies in one shot is compelling. Use the smartscope’s highest sensitivity mode if available. One thing to watch: the Triplet is in a region with relatively few bright stars, so the scope’s autofocus or field recognition might have a bit less to latch onto – ensure it’s centered properly (maybe go-to via the app using “Leo Triplet” or M66 as target). If any gradient from city lights shows up, particularly from the direction of downtown Houston if imaging toward the south, it could interfere; try gradient removal in processing or simply make sure to image when the Triplet is toward the southwest (away from city center glare). As for expectations: M66 (mag 8.9) will be the most visible, M65 slightly dimmer, and NGC 3628 the faintest, possibly requiring stretching to see well. Don’t be surprised if NGC 3628’s dust lane isn’t really distinguishable – that needs larger aperture – but you should see its edge-on shape. The Seestar S30’s advantage is that it will align and stack automatically, making capturing this trio straightforward. It’s quite thrilling to capture galaxies millions of light years away with a device the size of a coffee mug. This is a medium-difficulty target: doable, but ensure plenty of total exposure to get a nice result.

  6. Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) – Spiral Galaxy with companion

    • Constellation: Canes Venatici
    • Apparent Magnitude: 8.4 ( Messier 51 - M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy )
    • Angular Size: ~11′ × 7′ (M51) ( Messier 51 - M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy )
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April late nights (after 11 PM). High in sky from midnight onwards. Best around 1–3 AM in mid-April.
    • Recommended Filters: No filter (broadband).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~4+ hours
    • Special Notes: M51 is a bit small for 150mm FL (it will appear as a tiny patch), but it is bright and a classic spring object, so the S30 can certainly attempt it. Frame it with a bit of space – you might also catch a hint of its companion galaxy NGC 5195 which is interacting with it ( Messier 51 - M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy ). In the stacked image from a 30mm scope, do not expect to resolve the spiral arms clearly; it will likely show as a round fuzzy blob with a brighter core and a fainter adjacent blob (the companion). However, you will know it’s the Whirlpool, and with heavy stretching you might see suggestions of its face-on spiral structure. The smartscope’s small aperture again means many short subs and lots of stacking to improve SNR. Keep an eye on background sky level – if your automated system does very long exposures, the sky brightness could swamp the target; it’s better to have moderate sub-exposure lengths and rely on stacking quantity. One advantage of including M51 in your plan is that by late evening most other targets (Rosette, Flaming Star, etc.) have set, and M51 can utilize the after-midnight hours. So it’s a good “second half of the night” target for the S30. If you can leave the Seestar out all night, have it switch to M51 after your early targets set – this way you maximize imaging time (some smartscopes allow scheduling or have a built-in library to image sequentially). By dawn, you’ll have a few hours on M51 and likely a visible detection. Processing this image, you might apply drizzle or a mild sharpen to bring out any hint of spiral arm contrast. It won’t be Hubble-like, but capturing this grand-design spiral from Bortle 9 with effectively a telephoto lens is still an achievement. It’s a testament to stacking power that even a small smartscope can record M51’s light.

  7. Markarian’s Chain – Virgo Cluster Galaxy Chain

    • Constellation: Virgo
    • Apparent Magnitudes: 8.9 to ~12 (range of members) (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk)
    • Angular Size: ~1.5° long region (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Late April (around midnight to 2 AM). Also early May. In April, best after 12 AM when Virgo is high in south.
    • Recommended Filters: No filter (broadband; galaxies).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~6–8 hours (expect faint results; requires patience)
    • Special Notes: Attempting Markarian’s Chain with a 30mm aperture in Bortle 9 is ambitious. However, the wide 1.5° field is actually well-suited to the S30’s FOV, so you can frame the main chain from M84 down to M88 region. The limiting factor is sensitivity: the brighter elliptical galaxies (M84, M86 ~mag 9) (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk) will show up as small fuzzy dots after some stacking, but the dimmer ones (mag 11–12) will be at or beyond the noise threshold for such a small scope in bright sky. Realistically, expect to capture maybe 3–5 of the brightest chain members. You will not see the chain as clearly as in longer FL/larger scopes, but you might identify the general curve of a few glows if you know where to look. If you’re up for the challenge, let the Seestar go for as long as possible – overnight if you can. Every additional hour will pull up the floor a bit on those mag 11–12 galaxies. You might also consider post-processing techniques like aligning and stacking frames outside of the Seestar app (if it allows you to save them) using algorithms tuned for faint point-source detection. From a practical point, the Seestar’s live view may only show M84/M86 and maybe a hint of others even after stacking. Markarian’s Chain is more about the satisfaction of having a deep-sky image with a dozen galaxies in one frame. If your final stack is a bit noisy, you can apply noise reduction liberally since we only need to see blob-like galaxies. On the plus side, the S30 will have no issue fitting the chain – you might even capture the famous “Markarian’s Eyes” galaxies (NGC 4435/4438) next to M86 (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk) if the integration is deep enough. Keep your expectations measured: this is the faintest kind of target for this rig. But even detecting the Virgo Cluster from downtown Houston with a 30mm lens is a triumph of modern tech. If you prefer an easier wide target, skip this and try a star cluster; but if you’re game, Markarian’s Chain can be your “grad-school” project – tough but rewarding when you finally stretch the image and realize those smudges are entire galaxies bustling in a distant cluster (April Astrophotography Targets | April Deep Sky Objects | Deep Sky Objects Tonight | Star Walk).

  8. Beehive Cluster (M44) – Open Cluster

    • Constellation: Cancer
    • Apparent Magnitude: 3.7 (Messier 44: Beehive Cluster | Messier Objects)
    • Angular Size: ~1.6° (95′) across (Messier 44: Beehive Cluster | Messier Objects)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: All April, early evenings. Highest at ~8–9 PM. By midnight it’s setting in west, so image it early.
    • Recommended Filters: No filter (cluster of stars; keep natural color).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~1 hour (even 30 minutes can do – stacking helps mainly for noise, as stars are bright)
    • Special Notes: The Beehive is an ideal target for the S30: very wide and full of bright stars. This cluster easily fits in the ~3° field of the Seestar S30. In fact, you’ll capture not just the cluster but also many background stars of the Milky Way Cancer region. Because it’s an open cluster, there’s no need for long total exposure – the stars will come through clearly even in short time. Instead, focus on getting good star color and tight stars. The smartscope will handle tracking; you might want to limit each sub-exposure length to avoid saturating the brightest members (most Beehive stars are mag 6–10 (Messier 44: Beehive Cluster | Messier Objects)). If your unit allows “light frames” length adjustment, try perhaps 5–10 second subs. The cluster has a mix of blue-white and orange stars; aim for a color-balanced stack (the Seestar’s auto white balance might lean one way; you can color-correct in post if needed). Since no nebulosity or faint detail is involved, you can comfortably image under urban skies without filter and still get a pleasing result. The contrast of bright stars against a slightly bright sky is fine. One thing to watch for: lens aberrations. With a ~30mm aperture, the optics are simple but ensure the field is reasonably flat (the cluster’s spread will test the edge performance). If you see elongated edge stars, you might crop in a bit in processing. Overall, this is a very easy and rewarding target – essentially point and shoot. It’s great to include in your plan as a palate-cleanser between complex nebula/galaxy sessions. Plus, the Beehive was known to ancient astronomers as a “little cloud” – now you’ll resolve it into dozens of stars in your image. It’s also a good reference frame to gauge your smartscope’s limiting magnitude – see what’s the dimmest star you recorded in the cluster field as a measure of performance. Most of all, enjoy the simple beauty of an open cluster – often overlooked in imaging, but from a city, bright star clusters are among the most satisfying targets.

  9. Hercules Globular Cluster (M13) – Globular Cluster

    • Constellation: Hercules
    • Apparent Magnitude: 5.8 (EarthSky | Meet M13, the Great Cluster in Hercules)
    • Angular Size: ~20′ (EarthSky | Meet M13, the Great Cluster in Hercules)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: Late April into May – starts rising in NE by 10 PM in late April, best after midnight or in early morning when higher.
    • Recommended Filters: No filter (broadband – cluster stars).
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~2 hours
    • Special Notes: M13 is bright enough to be seen in binoculars even in Houston’s skies, and the S30 can definitely capture it. However, at 150mm focal length, the cluster will appear quite small – only about 1/3 of the frame height. It will basically look like a concentrated ball of stars. The Seestar will stack many short exposures to avoid trailing; ensure to check that the core isn’t blown out. If the live stack shows the center as a big white blob, you might be able to reduce gain or exposure time a tad (some smartscopes have limited manual control though). Despite the small aperture, you might resolve a handful of the outer stars of M13 given its high integrated brightness – the core will remain unresolved (just a bright glow) in your image because of resolution limits. Still, the overall view will be impressive: a tight, bright cluster surrounded by a rich field of background stars. Plan to image M13 in the later part of the night – in late April, by 2–3 AM it’s nicely placed about 60° up in the east. The dual narrowband filter should be off – it would only dim the starlight. Light pollution won’t significantly hinder cluster imaging since these stars are relatively bright and concentrated. One benefit of capturing M13 with a wide-field smartscope is you might also capture the nearby smaller globular M92 in the same session (not same frame, they are ~17° apart, so not together). If you want to try a mosaic or just slew after M13, M92 is another bright globular (mag 6.5). But focusing on M13: use it as a test of the S30’s resolving power. The cluster has stars down to mag 11 easily seen in small scopes; see if your image reveals the grainy texture at the edges. Globular clusters are beautiful in their simplicity – a densely packed star city. Your image of M13 might not resolve it like larger scopes, but it will clearly show a dense core and halo. It’s a nice target to have in your April roster, especially toward the end of the month as a preview of the summer globular season. It also contrasts well with all the nebulae and galaxies – giving you a rounded deep-sky portfolio for April.

  10. Globular Cluster M3 – Globular Cluster

    • Constellation: Canes Venatici
    • Apparent Magnitude: 6.2 (Messier 3)
    • Angular Size: ~18′ (Messier 3 (NGC 5272) | Canes Venatici - Go-Astronomy.com)
    • Ideal Imaging Dates: April evenings and nights (rises earlier than M13, and near zenith by midnight mid-April). Can be imaged as soon as it’s dark.
    • Recommended Filters: None (broadband; star cluster)
    • Suggested Total Exposure: ~1–2 hours
    • Special Notes: M3 is another bright globular, often considered nearly as impressive as M13. For the S30, it will appear very similar in size and brightness to M13 (just a tad smaller and slightly less bright). One strategy is to image M3 earlier in the night (it’s high by late evening), then switch to M13 later – giving you two globulars in one session. The comments for M13 largely apply: use no filter, relatively short exposures, and focus on not saturating the core too much. M3 sits in a less star-dense region of sky (between CVn and Boötes), so the backdrop might be a bit sparser than M13’s, but that also means the cluster stands out nicely in the frame. Align the cluster somewhat centrally or slightly offset for aesthetic composition – there are a couple 8th-magnitude stars near M3 that could be included to give context. With 150mm FL, the cluster will occupy only a small portion of the image, but its brilliance will draw the eye. M3’s integrated magnitude 6.2 (Messier 3) ensures even a single short exposure will detect it. The benefit of stacking is mainly to smooth out and perhaps reveal some of the outer fringe stars. Also, stacking many frames can help bring out the subtle color differences (globulars often have some red giants that appear slightly orange amid the sea of blue-white stars). If the Seestar’s software allows, try a mild saturation boost to see if you captured any star colors in M3. While globular clusters don’t require dark skies, they do benefit from good seeing – since the S30 has a very wide field, it’s not heavily affected by seeing, but steady air will make the point-spread of each star tighter. If you notice the cluster looking especially mushy, try again on a night with calmer atmosphere. Overall, M3 is a straightforward target that yields a pretty image of a stellar jewel box. It complements M13 well – you might compare the two images to notice M3’s core is a bit more compact. By including both, you round out April with some of the spring’s best star clusters, demonstrating that even under city lights, bright deep-sky objects are within reach of a tiny 30mm telescope.