Finder Charts

Because I do not have a GOTO equipped mount, I resort to old fashion star hopping when I locate and frame my objects for photography. To generate star charts, I use a free skycharts program which is called Cartes du Ciel. This program is an excellent program for generating star charts and produces top notch charts for printing. The following is a list of charts I have already generated using this program. Each chart includes both widefield and zoomed versions of the object. The circular indicator in the center of the charts shows a 6 degree field of view which is standard for many finderscopes. The objects included in these charts are organized by season. These charts can also serve as a reference list of some of the larger and easier targets to photograph in the night sky.

Note: These files are in PDF format. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Winter Objects

IC 405 - The Flaming Star Nebula (Auriga)

M36 - Open Cluster (Auriga)

M37 - Open Cluster (Auriga)

M38 - Open Cluster (Auriga)

IC 2177 - The Seagull Nebula (Canis Major)

M41 - Open Cluster (Canis Major)

NGC 2359 - Thor's Helmet (Canis Major)

M35 and NGC 1907 - Open Clusters (Gemini)

IC 443 - The Jellyfish Nebula (Gemini)

IC 443 - Widefield 200mm (Gemini)

M79 - Globular Cluster (Lepus)

R LEP - Crimson Star (Lepus)

NGC 2237 - The Rosette Nebula (Monoceros)

NGC 2264 - The Cone Nebula (Monoceros)

M50 - Open Cluster (Monoceros)

NGC 2237, 2264 - The Rosette and Cone Nebulae - Widefield 200mm (Monoceros)

IC 2118 - The Witches Head Nebula (Orion)

B33 - The Horsehead Nebula (Orion)

M42 - The Orion Nebula (Orion)

SH2-276 - Barnard's Loop (Orion)

SH2-276 and M78 - Widefield 200mm (Orion)

M78 - Diffuse Nebula (Orion)

Spring Objects

M44 - The Beehive Cluster (Cancer)

M67 - Open Cluster (Cancer)

M51 - The Whirlpool Galaxy (Canes Venatici)

M63 - The Sunflower Galaxy (Canes Venatici)

M106 - Galaxy (Canes Venatici)

NGC 5005 - Galaxy (Canes Venatici)

NGC 5033 - Spiral Galaxy (Canes Venatici)

M3 - Globular Cluster (Canes Venatici)

Abell 1656 - Coma Galaxy Cluster (Coma Berenices)

M53 - Globular Cluster (Coma Berenices)

M64 - The Blackeye Galaxy (Coma Berenices)

NGC 4565 - Galaxy (Coma Berenices)

NGC 5907 - Spiral Galaxy (Draco)

M66 - Leo Galaxy Group (Leo)

NGC 2903 - Spiral Galaxy (Leo)

NGC 3521 - Galaxy (Leo)

M81 / M82 Galaxies (Ursa Major)

M101 - The Pinwheel Galaxy (Ursa Major)

Markarian's Chain - Galaxy Cluster (Virgo)

Summer Objects

Fall Objects

IC 5146 - The Cocoon Nebula (Cygnus)

IC 1805 - The Heart and Soul Nebulae (Cassiopeia)

IC 1805 - The Heart and Soul Nebulae - Widefield 200mm (Cassiopeia)

NGC 1499 - The California Nebula (Perseus)

M31 - The Andromeda Galaxy (Andromeda)

M1 - The Crab Nebula (Taurus)

M45 - The Pleiades Cluster (Taurus)