Summer targets
What to shoot in August.
Emission nebulae, Cygnus fields, Sagittarius targets, and narrowband work.
13 in-season targets Waning gibbous 18 shoulder season
Best beginner targets
Wide, bright, and forgiving — good first picks this season.
NGC 7000 / IC 5070 North America and Pelican Nebulae
Daylight now Max altitude: 85.2° from NJ
Nebulae
Emission and reflection nebulae in season right now.
Clusters
Open and globular clusters — moon-tolerant and colorful.
Narrowband-friendly
Targets that work well in moonlight with Ha, OIII, or SII filters.
NGC 7000 / IC 5070 North America and Pelican Nebulae
Daylight now Max altitude: 85.2° from NJ
Best on dark nights
Save these for moonless, transparent skies.
Worth revisiting
Previously captured but could benefit from more integration or better gear.
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