AL/NASA 35 Years of Hubble November Challenge

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Last month, we discussed the Hubble’s Night Sky Observing Challenge and the October 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 November. 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.

November 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.

  • M31 – The Andromeda Galaxy (NGC 224)

    M31 - NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton, B.F. Williams and L.C. Johnson (University of Washington), the PHAT team and R. Gendler
    M31 – NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton, B.F. Williams and L.C. Johnson (University of Washington), the PHAT team and R. Gendler

    The Andromeda Galaxy is a massive spiral galaxy located in the constellation Andromeda, about 2.5 million light-years away. It’s the closest large galaxy to the Milky Way and is visible to the naked eye under dark skies as a faint, elongated smudge. Through binoculars or a small telescope, its bright core and faint spiral arms become more apparent.

  • M32 – Le Gentil Galaxy (NGC 221)

    M32 - NASA, ESA, A. Crotts (Columbia University), W. Freedman (University of Chicago), and J. Westphal (California Institute of Technology); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
    M32 – NASA, ESA, A. Crotts (Columbia University), W. Freedman (University of Chicago), and J. Westphal (California Institute of Technology); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

    M32 is a dwarf elliptical galaxy and a satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy, also found in the constellation Andromeda. It appears as a small, bright oval just south of M31’s core. Though tiny compared to its giant neighbor, M32 is densely packed with older stars and lacks the dust and gas needed for new star formation.

  • M33 – The Triangulum Galaxy (NGC 598)

    M33 - NASA, ESA, and M. Durbin, J. Dalcanton and B. F. Williams (University of Washington)
    M33 – NASA, ESA, and M. Durbin, J. Dalcanton and B. F. Williams (University of Washington)

    The Triangulum Galaxy is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Triangulum, roughly 3 million light-years away. It’s the third-largest member of the Local Group after the Milky Way and Andromeda. In dark skies, M33 shows a faint spiral structure, and telescopes reveal several bright H II regions, including the giant star-forming nebula NGC 604.

  • M74 – The Phantom Galaxy (NGC 628)

    M74 - NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgment: R. Chandar (University of Toledo) and J. Miller (University of Michigan)
    M74 – NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA)-ESA/Hubble Collaboration; Acknowledgment: R. Chandar (University of Toledo) and J. Miller (University of Michigan)

    M74 is a grand-design spiral galaxy in the constellation Pisces, viewed nearly face-on from Earth. It’s sometimes called the Phantom Galaxy because of its low surface brightness, which makes it challenging to observe. Long-exposure photographs reveal its beautifully symmetric spiral arms studded with pink star-forming regions.

  • M110 – (NGC 205)

    M110 - NASA, ESA, STScI and D. Geisler (Universidad de Concepción)
    M110 – NASA, ESA, STScI and D. Geisler (Universidad de Concepción)

    M110 is another dwarf elliptical galaxy and one of Andromeda’s satellite galaxies, located in the constellation Andromeda. It appears as a faint, elongated glow just northwest of M31’s bright nucleus. Despite its small size, M110 shows hints of dust and young star clusters, unusual features for an elliptical galaxy.

  • Caldwell 14 – The Perseus Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884)

    C14 - NASA, ESA, and S. Casertano (Space Telescope Science Institute); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
    C14 – NASA, ESA, and S. Casertano (Space Telescope Science Institute); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

    The Perseus Double Cluster consists of two open star clusters in the constellation Perseus, located about 7,500 light-years away. Easily visible to the naked eye as a hazy patch, binoculars and telescopes reveal two rich clusters of blue-white stars surrounded by a dense star field. It’s one of the most striking binocular objects in the northern sky.

  • Caldwell 23 – The Silver Sliver Galaxy (NGC 891)

    C23 - ESA/Hubble & NASA; Acknowledgment: Nick Rose
    C23 – ESA/Hubble & NASA; Acknowledgment: Nick Rose

    The Silver Sliver Galaxy is an edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Andromeda. It appears as a long, thin streak of light bisected by a dark dust lane running through its center. This dust lane gives the galaxy a striking resemblance to how our Milky Way might appear if viewed from the side.

  • Caldwell 56 – The Skull Nebula (NGC 246)

    C56 - NASA, ESA, J. Westphal (California Institute of Technology), and K. Werner (Eberhard Karls Universitat); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
    C56 – NASA, ESA, J. Westphal (California Institute of Technology), and K. Werner (Eberhard Karls Universitat); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

    The Skull Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cetus, located about 1,600 light-years away. It gets its eerie nickname from its appearance—a roughly circular shell with darker patches resembling eye sockets. This expanding cloud of gas is the remains of a dying sun-like star shedding its outer layers.

  • Caldwell 65 – The Sculptor Galaxy (NGC 253)

    C^% - NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington), T.A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage, T. Abbott, and NOAO/AURA/NSF
    C^% – NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington), T.A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage, T. Abbott, and NOAO/AURA/NSF

    The Sculptor Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy in the constellation Sculptor, about 11 million light-years away. Also known as the Silver Coin Galaxy, it’s one of the brightest galaxies in the sky and easily seen with binoculars from dark locations. Its dusty spiral arms are rich with star-forming regions, giving it a mottled, textured appearance.

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.