AL/NASA 35 Years of Hubble June Challenge

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Last month, we discussed the Hubble’s Night Sky Observing Challenge and the May 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 June. 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.

June 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.

  • M3 (NGC 5272)

    NASA, ESA, STScI and A. Sarajedini (University of Florida)
    NASA, ESA, STScI and A. Sarajedini (University of Florida)

    A bright globular cluster located in the constellation Canes Venatici. M3 contains around 500,000 stars and is one of the largest and most populated globular clusters in our galaxy.

  • M5 (NGC 5904)

    ESA/Hubble & NASA
    ESA/Hubble & NASA

    Another stunning globular cluster, found in the constellation Serpens. M5 is estimated to be about 13 billion years old, making it one of the oldest globular clusters known.

  • M80 (NGC 6093)

    NASA, ESA, and G. Piotto (Universita degli Studi di Padova); Image Processing: Gladys Kober
    NASA, ESA, and G. Piotto (Universita degli Studi di Padova); Image Processing: Gladys Kober

    A compact and densely packed globular cluster in the constellation Scorpius. M80 is notable for its high population of blue straggler stars, which may result from stellar collisions.

  • M83 (NGC 5236) – Southern Pinwheel Galaxy

    Photo by DAS Member, Joe Gafford
    Photo by DAS Member, Joe Gafford

    A barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Hydra. M83 is one of the closest and brightest barred spiral galaxies in the sky and is known for its well-defined spiral arms and active star formation.

  • M101 (NGC 5457) – Pinwheel Galaxy

    M 101 - Photo by DAS Member, Tommy Lease
    M 101 – Photo by DAS Member, Tommy Lease

    A large face-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Ursa Major. M101 is famous for its beautiful, symmetrical spiral structure and spans about 170,000 light-years across—almost twice the size of the Milky Way.

  • Caldwell 45 (NGC 5248)

    Photo by DAS Member, Joe Gafford
    Photo by DAS Member, Joe Gafford

    A barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Boötes. It features a bright core and loosely wound spiral arms, with active star-forming regions visible in images.

  • Caldwell 66 (NGC 5694)

    NASA, ESA, G. Fahlman (Dominion Astrophysical Observatory), R. Ibata (Université de Strasbourg), and F. Ferraro (Università di Bologna); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
    NASA, ESA, G. Fahlman (Dominion Astrophysical Observatory), R. Ibata (Université de Strasbourg), and F. Ferraro (Università di Bologna); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

    A remote and faint globular cluster in the constellation Hydra. Caldwell 66 is one of the most distant known globular clusters in the Milky Way’s halo, located over 100,000 light-years from Earth.

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.