Last month, we discussed the Hubble’s Night Sky Observing Challenge and the April targets announced by the Astronomical League and NASA to celebrate 35 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope. These organizations have announced a new set of targets for the month of May. Read on to find out more.

Discover the Universe Like Hubble!

Join the celebration of the Hubble Space Telescope’s 35th anniversary by participating in the Hubble’s Night Sky Observing Challenge! Equipped with a telescope, clear skies, and star charts, you can explore breathtaking nebulae and galaxies that Hubble has captured from space. A fresh list of targets is released every month in 2025, inviting stargazers from around the globe to seek out these incredible sights.

Take Part and Earn Recognition

The Astronomical League and NASA welcome stargazers of all levels to join this exciting year-long challenge. You can earn silver or gold awards by observing the monthly targets, sharing your findings through outreach activities, and comparing your views to Hubble’s iconic images. Whether you’re observing solo or attending a star party, this program is a wonderful opportunity to deepen your connection to the cosmos while honoring Hubble’s achievements.

May Targets

For your convenience, you can download this target list in either a CSV format (with names, constellation, coordinates, etc.) or in a SkySafari skylist format, that you can import directly into the app, by simply downloading it to your device and opening it.

M51 - Photo by DAS Member Isaac Garfinkle — M51 – Photo by DAS Member Isaac Garfinkle

M51 (NGC 5194): Whirlpool Galaxy
Located about 31 million light-years away in the constellation Canes Venatici, M51 is one of the most iconic spiral galaxies in the sky. It’s famous for its beautifully defined arms and its interaction with a smaller companion galaxy, NGC 5195, which gives it a stunning, dynamic appearance. Even small telescopes can reveal its bright core, and larger scopes start to hint at its spiral structure.

M53 (NGC 5024)
M53 is a bright globular cluster in the constellation Coma Berenices, lying about 58,000 light-years from Earth. It’s one of the more distant globular clusters visible to amateur astronomers, and in binoculars or a small telescope, it appears as a tight, misty ball of light. Medium-sized telescopes begin to resolve its countless ancient stars.

Black Eye Galaxy - Photo by DAS Member Michael Legary — Black Eye Galaxy – Photo by DAS Member Michael Legary

M64 (NGC 4826): Black Eye Galaxy
Also known as the “Sleeping Beauty Galaxy,” M64 is famous for the dark band of dust that sweeps across its bright nucleus, giving it the nickname the Black Eye Galaxy. Found in the constellation Coma Berenices, it’s about 17 million light-years away and shines brightly enough to be seen with small telescopes under dark skies.

NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

M104 (NGC 4594): Sombrero Galaxy
With its brilliant central bulge and thick dust lane, M104 truly resembles a wide-brimmed sombrero hat. Located in Virgo about 29 million light-years away, the Sombrero Galaxy is a treat for telescopes of all sizes. Its distinctive appearance stands out even with modest backyard equipment.

NASA, ESA, A. Aloisi (STScI/ESA), and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration

C21 (NGC 4449)
Caldwell 21, better known as NGC 4449, is an irregular galaxy in Canes Venatici. Sometimes compared to a mini-version of the Large Magellanic Cloud, this starburst galaxy is a hotbed of star formation. It’s about 12 million light-years away and, while compact, its clumpy, irregular shape is visible with amateur telescopes.

Whale Galaxy - Photo by DAS Member Caleb Leonard — Whale Galaxy – Photo by DAS Member Caleb Leonard

C32 (NGC 4631): Whale Galaxy
The Whale Galaxy, or NGC 4631, is a beautiful edge-on spiral galaxy in Canes Venatici that resembles a swimming whale. It lies about 30 million light-years away. Through a medium or large telescope, you can catch hints of its textured structure and even spot its nearby companion, the Hockey Stick Galaxy (NGC 4656).

NASA, ESA, and C. Sarazin (University of Virginia); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

C52 (NGC 4697)
Caldwell 52, or NGC 4697, is an elliptical galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It lies about 40 million light-years away and is often called the “Diamond in the Sky.” Unlike the more structured look of spirals, C52 appears as an elongated, soft glow, best viewed in darker skies with medium-sized telescopes.

NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgment: P. Cote (Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics) and E. Baltz (Stanford University)

M87 (NGC 4486)
M87 is a giant elliptical galaxy at the heart of the Virgo Cluster, about 53 million light-years away. It’s most famous today as the home of the supermassive black hole captured in the first-ever black hole photograph by the Event Horizon Telescope. In amateur scopes, M87 shows up as a bright, round glow without much structure, but its historical and scientific significance make it a must-see.

Tips for Success

For the best experience, use a telescope with at least six inches of aperture and find a dark sky far from city lights. Explore the objects from the Messier and Caldwell catalogs listed above. Once observed, you can share your sketches or photos as part of the challenge. Though your view won’t match Hubble’s space-based clarity, it’s still thrilling to see these distant wonders for yourself.

More Information

For more information about the Hubble Space Telescope 35th Anniversary Observing Challenge, check out the webpages at the Astronomical League and NASA. You can also reach out to the NASA Observing Challenges and Special Awards Coordinator or the DAS Astronomical League Coordinator if you have further questions.