Autumn targets
What to shoot in October.
Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Andromeda, and late Cygnus before winter takes over.
14 in-season targets Waning gibbous 28 shoulder season
Best beginner targets
Wide, bright, and forgiving — good first picks this season.
Milky Way Milky Way, September 2012
Daylight now Max altitude: 85.3° from NJ
Summer Triangle Summer Triangle Annotated
Daylight now Max altitude: 89.6° from NJ
Summer Triangle Summer Triangle Widefield
Daylight now Max altitude: 89.6° from NJ
Nebulae
Emission and reflection nebulae in season right now.
Galaxies
Broadband galaxy targets for dark moonless nights.
Narrowband-friendly
Targets that work well in moonlight with Ha, OIII, or SII filters.
Best on dark nights
Save these for moonless, transparent skies.
Milky Way Milky Way, September 2012
Daylight now Max altitude: 85.3° from NJ
Summer Triangle Summer Triangle Annotated
Daylight now Max altitude: 89.6° from NJ
Summer Triangle Summer Triangle Widefield
Daylight now Max altitude: 89.6° from NJ
Worth revisiting
Previously captured but could benefit from more integration or better gear.
Milky Way Milky Way, September 2012
Daylight now Max altitude: 85.3° from NJ
Need more detail?
The full planner has altitude charts, multi-night views, sky-check for any target, and a session queue you can build for the next clear night.
Open the planner