Planets, nebulae, galaxies and stellar clusters fill the summer night sky. Here is a list of the best targets for your telescope, suitable for both pro and beginner stargazers:

Planets

Venus

When to See: Just before sunrise (late July & August)

Where: Low in the eastern sky

Known as the "morning star," Venus is extremely bright and easy to spot. Through a telescope, you can observe its phases, much like the Moon.

Mars

When to See: Early morning, pre-dawn (July–August)

Where: Eastern sky

Small and reddish, Mars becomes more visible as the summer progresses. Look for its rust-colored hue and try to spot surface markings with higher magnification.

Jupiter

When to See: Late night to early morning (from July)

Where: Eastern sky, rising around midnight

A favorite for any stargazer. Even a small telescope shows its four Galilean moons, and a larger one reveals bands across its atmosphere.

Saturn

When to See: All night by August

Where: Southeastern sky, high around midnight

Famous for its rings, Saturn is breathtaking in any telescope. Its largest moon, Titan, is also visible.

Mercury

When to See: Just after sunset or just before sunrise (timing varies by year)

Where: Very low near the horizon

Mercury is the hardest planet to observe due to its closeness to the Sun. It never strays far from the horizon and often gets lost in twilight glare. A clear, flat horizon helps a lot.

Nebulae

❗WARNING! All celestial objects except for planets are black and white through a telescope! The colors can only be captured through a camera.

The Lagoon Nebula (M8)

Constellation: Sagittarius

Magnitude: +6.0

Best Time to View: June–August

A large, bright emission nebula. It glows pink in long-exposure photos and reveals detail even in small scopes.

The Trifid Nebula (M20)

Constellation: Sagittarius

Magnitude: +6.3

Best Time to View: June–August

Combines emission, reflection, and dark nebula types. Known for its three-part split and its blue-pink color combo in photos.

The Omega Nebula (M17)

Constellation: Sagittarius

Magnitude: +6.0

Best Time to View: June–August

Also called the Swan Nebula. Bright and detailed in telescopes, and striking in photos.

The Dumbell Nebula (M27)

Constellation: Vulpecula

Magnitude: +7.4

Best Time to View: July–September

A large planetary nebula. Shaped like an apple core or dumbbell, and easy to spot.

The Ring Nebula (M57)

Constellation: Lyra

Magnitude: +8.8

Best Time to View: June–September

Small but bright ring shape. Higher magnification brings it out clearly.

Galaxies

The Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Constellation: Andromeda

Magnitude: +3.4

Best Time to View: Late July–October

Closest major galaxy, visible to the naked eye in dark skies. Immense in size.

Bode's Galaxy (M81)

Constellation: Ursa Major

Magnitude: +6.9

Best Time to View: Early summer evenings

Bright spiral, often paired with M82.

The Cigar Galaxy (M82)

Constellation: Ursa Major

Magnitude: +8.4

Best Time to View: Early summer evenings

Edge-on galaxy undergoing intense star formation.

The Whirpool Galaxy (M51)

Constellation: Canes Venatici

Magnitude: +8.4

Best Time to View: Late spring through early summer

A classic spiral galaxy seen face-on with a companion. Stunning in astrophotography.

Black Eye Galaxy (M64)

Constellation: Coma Berenices

Magnitude: +8.5

Best Time to View: Late spring through early summer

Named for a dark band of dust resembling a bruised eye.

Star Clusters

The Wild Duck Cluster (M11)

Constellation: Scutum

Magnitude: +6.3

Best Time to View: July–September

Dense and rich open cluster. Looks like a flock of birds in flight.

The Hercules Cluster (M13)

Constellation: Hercules

Magnitude: +5.8

Best Time to View: June–August

Bright globular cluster. Easily resolved with a medium telescope.

Butterfly Cluster (M6)

Constellation: Scorpius

Magnitude: +4.2

Best Time to View: June–July

Open cluster shaped like a butterfly. Beautiful even in binocularsul even in binoculars.

Tips from the author

1.Stay away from light sources:

Avoid using bright white-light flashlights and make sure you pick a stargazing spot away from city/village lights. You can always check the amount of light pollution of your area in a light pollution map.

2.Find flat terrain where you will set up your telescope:

If you don't want your stargazing adventure to be ruined, you will need to make sure that you will set up your telescope on flat terrain, or else you will have to face the danger of your telescope tripping and even braking because of the fall.

3.Bring friends, snacks and a chair:

There is nothing better than stargazing with your loved ones and relaxing under the beautiful night sky. Food or drinks can further enhance the experience. I personally recommend that you always bring a chair or something to rest on, since your back and neck will certainly hurt after a long session of stargazing, whether you set out solo or with company.