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Explore the Night Sky

Hubble is famous for its detailed images of distant wonders, but with the benefit of a dark, clear sky, anyone with a telescope, binoculars, or sometimes even the unaided eye can see some of the same objects Hubble has observed. These catalogs of backyard-friendly cosmic targets give information about each object and help you locate it in the night sky. Break out your telescope or binoculars and compare your observations with those of Hubble.

Quick Facts

The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57, is tilted toward Earth so that we see the ring face-on.

The Ring Nebula, also known as Messier 57, is tilted toward Earth so that we see the ring face-on.

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also called Messier 51, is 31 million light-years from Earth.

The Whirlpool Galaxy, also called Messier 51, is 31 million light-years from Earth.

Messier 16, the Eagle Nebula, provided Hubble with one of its most iconic images.

Messier 16, the Eagle Nebula, provided Hubble with one of its most iconic images.

Caldwell 104 is just one of about 150 globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy.

Caldwell 104 is just one of about 150 globular clusters in the Milky Way galaxy.

Hubble's image of Caldwell 6, better known as the Cat’s Eye Nebula, reveals intricate shells of gas and dust.

Hubble's image of Caldwell 6, better known as the Cat’s Eye Nebula, reveals intricate shells of gas and dust.

Celebrating 35 Years of Discovery

Hubble's Night Sky Observing Challenge

Celebrate 35 years of Hubble observations with our year-long stargazing adventure!

Each month in 2025, the Hubble team will release a new set of objects for you to explore. Compare your view to Hubble’s, then submit your observations to the Astronomical League to earn recognition for your achievement.

Join the celebration about Hubble's Night Sky Observing Challenge
Dark blue starry night sky. People looking through a telescope and at the sky silhouetted against the starry backdrop.
Gather your family and friends and explore the night sky with Hubble!
NASA
To explore the Skymap, scroll, double click, or pinch/swipe to zoom. Roll over an icon to see the object, click to zero in, and click again for a detailed view. Drag the map to navigate.
Background Image: ESA/Gaia/DPAC; CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO. Acknowledgement: A. Moitinho
View full screen Skymap

Hubble's Messier Catalog

The objects in Charles Messier’s catalog are nice targets for backyard astronomers with a pair of binoculars or a small telescope and a relatively dark sky.

The Messier catalog, begun by astronomer Charles Messier in the 18th Century and revised over the years, includes some of the most fascinating astronomical objects that can be observed from Earth’s Northern Hemisphere.

Explore the Messier Catalog about Hubble's Messier Catalog
A white band of stars that cuts across a black background, from the lower left to the upper right, is the galaxy M82. Reddish brown gas and dust overlays the galaxy concentrated in the center of the image and fanning out above and below the white band of the galaxy. Black background is dotted with stars.
M82, or the Cigar galaxy, shines brightly at infrared wavelengths and is remarkable for its star formation activity.
NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgment: J. Gallagher (University of Wisconsin), M. Mountain (STScI), and P. Puxley (National Science Foundation)

Hubble’s Messier Catalog

112 Images
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Hubble's Caldwell Catalog

The Caldwell Catalog goes beyond the work of Charles Messier, offering backyard astronomers more cosmic wonders to explore.

In the 1980s, an Englishman named Sir Patrick Moore produced an additional list to highlight more cosmic wonders visible to amateur astronomers. Unlike the Messier catalog, which only features objects that were visible from Charles Messier’s viewing location in Europe, Moore’s Caldwell catalog includes celestial bodies that are found in both the northern and southern skies.

Explore the Caldwell Catalog about Hubble's Caldwell Catalog
Caldwell 11
The Bubble Nebula (Caldwell 11, NGC 7635) is the result of an extremely bright, massive, and short-lived star that shed most of its outer hydrogen and is now fusing helium into heavier elements. The star is about 4 million years old, and in 10 million to 20 million years, it will likely detonate as a supernova.
NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Hubble’s Caldwell Catalog

144 Images
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Observing the Night Sky

What's Up

Your monthly video guide to the night sky from NASA

Each month, NASA's skywatching video series shares highlights to help you prepare for your stargazing adventures and feel more connected to the real places NASA explores.

Learn More about What's Up
A stylized logo graphic showing silhouettes of an adult pointing toward the sky, while a child holding a telescope looks on.
NASA

Explore More

A man looks through a telescope at twilight.

Skywatching

NASA's tips, guides, activities, and videos for skywatchers.

Hubble Online Activities

Find your Hubble birthday image, take interactive tours, play games, and discover the universe with Hubble.

A galaxy with a large, yellow core shines against black space, surrounded by feathery, short spiral arms laced with dark brown dust and blue regions of star formation.

Hubble Posters

Downloadable versions of Hubble's iconic images ready to print and hang on your classroom, office, science center, or home walls.

Astronaut in a white space suit tethered to the Hubble Space Telescope floating in space.

Hubble Servicing Missions

Hubble’s serviceable design and modular components enabled upgrades that took advantage of advancements in technology.

Upper left: "Hubble Focus" opening of the telescope is the "O" Center: bright-white star, Center Bottom: Orange-red planet with cloud bands, Center: small, bright-white star and very small red-orange dwarf star

Hubble E-books

Investigate the mysteries of the universe, or dive into Hubble's history with our free, downloadable e-books.