Field of View Calculator
Check if a target fits your sensor and lens combination
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Select an object above or from the catalog to see framing
Essential Gear for Deep Sky Objects
Fast wide-angle lens
Astro is an aperture game: going from f/4 to f/1.8 more than doubles the starlight you capture in the same 20 seconds.
See mount picksSturdy tripod
Milky Way and aurora exposures run 15–25 seconds.
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Star trails and stacked Milky Way frames need dozens of identical exposures.
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Filter and browse popular astrophotography targets from the Messier, NGC, and IC catalogs
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Seasonal Visibility
Objects are best when their constellation is highest in the sky
Imaging Quick Reference
Recommended settings by object type
| Object Type | Sub-Exposure | ISO / Gain | Total Integration | Key Tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Nebulae M42, M8, M17 |
30s – 2min | 800 – 1600 | 1 – 3 hours | Bracket exposures for bright cores. HDR blend short + long subs. |
| Faint Nebulae NGC7000, IC1805 |
2 – 5min | 1600 – 3200 | 4 – 10 hours | Narrowband filters (Ha, OIII) dramatically improve contrast. |
| Planetary Nebulae M27, M57, NGC7293 |
1 – 3min | 800 – 1600 | 2 – 5 hours | Small targets — use longest focal length you can. OIII filter helps. |
| Galaxies M31, M51, M81 |
2 – 5min | 800 – 1600 | 4 – 10 hours | Precise tracking critical. Dark skies essential for faint arms. |
| Globular Clusters M13, M5, M22 |
15s – 1min | 400 – 800 | 30min – 2 hours | Short subs prevent star bloat in the core. Easy beginner targets. |
| Open Clusters M45, M35, M44 |
30s – 2min | 400 – 800 | 1 – 2 hours | Wide field lenses work well. M45 reflection nebulosity needs longer subs. |
| Supernova Remnants NGC6960, M1 |
2 – 5min | 1600 – 3200 | 5 – 15 hours | OIII filter essential for Veil Nebula. Long integration reveals filaments. |
Gear Recommendations by Difficulty
| Level | Typical Setup | Focal Length | Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beginner | Camera + telephoto lens on star tracker | 50 – 200mm | Star tracker (Sky-Watcher, iOptron) |
| Intermediate | Camera + dedicated astro lens or small scope | 200 – 600mm | EQ mount with autoguiding |
| Advanced | Cooled astro camera + telescope | 500 – 2000mm+ | EQ mount with autoguiding + narrowband filters |
Light Pollution: Bortle 1–3 skies are ideal for galaxies and broadband imaging. Narrowband filters (Ha, OIII, SII) enable imaging from Bortle 5–7 suburban skies. See the Bortle Scale reference in the Night Sky Planner.