Last month, we discussed the Hubble’s Night Sky Observing Challenge and the July 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 August. 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.
August 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.
- M8 (NGC 6523) – Lagoon Nebula
The Lagoon Nebula – Photo by DAS Member Tommy Lease Constellation: Sagittarius
A massive emission nebula and stellar nursery visible to the naked eye under dark skies. It features bright regions of star formation and a dark lane running through it, giving it the “lagoon” appearance. It also includes the open cluster NGC 6530. - M11 (NGC 6705) – Wild Duck Cluster
NASA, ESA, STScI and P. Dobbie (University of Tasmania) Constellation: Scutum
One of the richest and densest open clusters in the sky, containing several thousand stars. Through a telescope, it shows a wedge-shaped pattern that inspired its nickname, resembling a flock of wild ducks. - M16 (NGC 6611) – Eagle Nebula
The Eagle Nebula – Photo by DAS Member Issac Garfinkle Constellation: Serpens
A bright star-forming region that contains the famous “Pillars of Creation.” The open cluster NGC 6611 illuminates the surrounding nebula, making it a spectacular deep sky object for photography and observation. - M22 (NGC 6656)
ESA/Hubble & NASA Constellation: Sagittarius
One of the brightest and closest globular clusters to Earth, visible even in binoculars. It has an elongated shape and contains hundreds of thousands of stars, along with some planetary nebulae and dark dust lanes. - M57 (NGC 6720) – Ring Nebula
NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration Constellation: Lyra
A classic example of a planetary nebula, it appears as a small, glowing ring in amateur telescopes. Formed from the outer layers of a dying star, it hosts a faint white dwarf at its center. - M20 (NGC 6514) – Trifid Nebula
NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI); Acknowledgment: F. Yusef-Zadeh (Northwestern Univ.) Constellation: Sagittarius
A stunning combination of emission, reflection, and dark nebulae, divided by three dark dust lanes that give it a trifid (three-lobed) appearance. Often observed alongside the nearby Lagoon Nebula (M8). - C6 (NGC 6543) – Cat’s Eye Nebula
NASA, ESA, HEIC, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA); Acknowledgment: R. Corradi (Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes, Spain) and Z. Tsvetanov (NASA) Constellation: Draco
One of the most complex planetary nebulae known, with concentric shells, jets, and shock-induced structures. Its brilliant core and intricate design make it a standout target for high-powered telescopes.
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.
