AL/NASA 35 Years of Hubble September Challenge

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Last month, we discussed the Hubble’s Night Sky Observing Challenge and the August 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 September. 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.

Get Involved and Be Recognized

Stargazers of all experience levels are encouraged to join this exciting year-long challenge. By observing the monthly targets, sharing your experiences through outreach, and comparing your own views to Hubble’s breathtaking images, you can earn silver or gold awards. Whether you’re exploring the night sky on your own or with a group, this challenge is a great way to deepen your astronomical knowledge while celebrating Hubble’s incredible contributions to science.

September 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.

  • M15 (NGC 7078) – Great Pegasus Cluster

    M15 - NASA, ESA
    M15 – NASA, ESA

    A bright, compact globular cluster about 33,000 light-years away, containing over 100,000 stars and even a central black hole. It lies in the constellation Pegasus.

  • M27 (NGC 6853) – Dumbbell Nebula

    M27 - NASA/ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
    M27 – NASA/ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

    One of the brightest and largest planetary nebulae in the sky, formed from the outer layers of a dying star. Found in Vulpecula.

  • M55 (NGC 6809) – Specter Cluster

    M55 - NASA, ESA, A. Sarajedini (Florida Atlantic University), and M. Libralato (STScI, ESA, JWST); Image Processing: Gladys Kober
    M55 – NASA, ESA, A. Sarajedini (Florida Atlantic University), and M. Libralato (STScI, ESA, JWST); Image Processing: Gladys Kober

    A loose, relatively faint globular cluster visible in binoculars from dark skies, located about 17,600 light-years away. Resides in Sagittarius.

  • M75 (NGC 6864)

    M75 - NASA, ESA, STScI, and G. Piotto (Università degli Studi di Padova) and E. Noyola (Max Planck Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)
    M75 – NASA, ESA, STScI, and G. Piotto (Università degli Studi di Padova) and E. Noyola (Max Planck Institut für extraterrestrische Physik)

    A dense, compact globular cluster with a concentrated core, around 67,500 light-years from Earth. Found in Sagittarius.

  • C20 (NGC 7000) – North America Nebula

    C20 - NASA, ESA, and K. Stapelfeldt (Jet Propulsion Laboratory); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
    C20 – NASA, ESA, and K. Stapelfeldt (Jet Propulsion Laboratory); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

    A large emission nebula resembling the shape of the North American continent, rich in hydrogen-alpha emission. Located in Cygnus.

  • C27 (NGC 6885) – Crescent Nebula

    C27 - NASA, ESA, Brian D. Moore and J. Jeff Hester (Arizona State University)
    C27 – NASA, ESA, Brian D. Moore and J. Jeff Hester (Arizona State University)

    An open star cluster containing a few dozen stars, loosely scattered, often seen with nearby cluster NGC 6882. Found in Vulpecula.

  • C55 (NGC 7009) – Saturn Nebula

    C55 - Bruce Balick (University of Washington), Jason Alexander (University of Washington), Arsen Hajian (U.S. Naval Observatory), Yervant Terzian (Cornell University), Mario Perinotto (University of Florence, Italy), Patrizio Patriarchi (Arcetri Observatory, Italy), NASA/ESA
    C55 – Bruce Balick (University of Washington), Jason Alexander (University of Washington), Arsen Hajian (U.S. Naval Observatory), Yervant Terzian (Cornell University), Mario Perinotto (University of Florence, Italy), Patrizio Patriarchi (Arcetri Observatory, Italy), NASA/ESA

    A bright planetary nebula with an elongated oval shape and faint extensions resembling Saturn’s rings. Located in Aquarius.

  • C57 (NGC 6822) – Barnard’s Galaxy

    C57 - NASA, ESA, and J. Cannon (Macalester College); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
    C57 – NASA, ESA, and J. Cannon (Macalester College); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

    An irregular dwarf galaxy in the Local Group, about 1.6 million light-years away, containing star-forming regions and nebulae. Found in Sagittarius.

  • M71 (NGC 6838) – Angelfish Cluster

    M71 - ESA/Hubble and NASA
    M71 – ESA/Hubble and NASA

    A loosely packed globular cluster, sometimes considered a dense open cluster due to its structure, about 13,000 light-years away. Located in Sagitta.

  • C15 (NGC 6826) – Blinking Planetary Nebula

    C15 - NASA, ESA, B. Balick and J. Alexander (University of Washington), A. Hajian (U.S. Naval Observatory), Y. Terzian (Cornell University), M. Perinotto (University of Florence), and P. Patriarchi (Arcetri Observatory)
    C15 – NASA, ESA, B. Balick and J. Alexander (University of Washington), A. Hajian (U.S. Naval Observatory), Y. Terzian (Cornell University), M. Perinotto (University of Florence), and P. Patriarchi (Arcetri Observatory)

    A small but bright planetary nebula that appears to “blink” in and out of view when observed directly versus with averted vision. Found in Cygnus.

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.