[This list is a compilation of the RASC and Saguaro lists, together with the Caron list. We added some favorites that could not be left out. Every object on here looks good in a telescope of 8" aperture or more. Definitely an observing rather than an armchair list. It's designed to be the best next project for someone who's going past the Messiers. Jane Star Queen Smith, Joe Bob Jardine, Jeff Crilly and Jamie DDK Dillon put it together. Local product.]
Downloadable files -
- A comma-deliminated table: EyeCandyList.csv
- An excel (xls) version: EyeCandyList.xls
- A Google Docs "Sheet", Eye Candy List
TAC Eye Candy List (Ordered by RA from the list as it stood 4/2008)
Designation Cons ObjType Mag R.A. Dec Size Name and/or Notes
NGC 40 CEP PN 13 00:13.0 +72 31 48" bright central star
NGC 129 CAS OC 6.2 00:29.9 +60 14 20'
NGC 185 CAS Gxy 11.7 00:39.0 +48 20 12'x12' local group galaxy
NGC 246 CET PN 10.9 00:47.1 -11 52 4.1' sometimes called Pac Man nebula?
NGC 247 CET Gxy 9.2 00:47.1 -20 46 21'x5'
NGC 253 SCL G-Scp 7.1 00:47.6 -25 17 26'x6' Sculptor galaxy or Silver Coin gal
NGC 278 CAS Gxy 9.8 00:52.1 +47 33 2.4'
NGC 281 CAS EN ---- 00:52.8 +56 37 34'x29' sometimes called Pac Man nebula?
NGC 288 SCL GC 7.1 00:52.8 -26 35 12'
NGC 404 AND G-Sa 10.3 01:09.5 +35 43 3.5' 7' NW of Beta AND
NGC 457 CAS OC 6.4 01:19.1 +58 20 12' Owl cluster or E.T. cluster
NGC 663 CAS OC 7.1 01:46.0 +61 15 15'
NGC 752 AND OC 5.7 01:57.8 +37 41 50'
NGC 772 ARI G-Sb 10.3 01:59.3 +19 00 7.1x4.5
Stock 2 CAS OC 4.4 02:15.0 +59 16 60' Stock 2 or "Strongman" cluster
NGC 869/884 PER OC 4.4 02:19.0 +57 09 30/30 Double Cluster
NGC 891 AND G-Sb 10 02:22.6 +42 21 13.5x2.8
NGC 936 CET G-Sba 10.1 02:27.6 -01 09 4.5x3.7
NGC 1049 FOR GC 12.9 02:39.7 -34 17 0.4' Glob in the Fornax Dwarf Galaxy
NGC 1023 PER G-E7p 9.5 02:40.4 +39 04 8.7x3.3
NGC 1055 CET Gxy 10.2 02:41.7 +00 27 7.6x3.0
NGC 1097 FOR Gxy 9.3 02:46.3 -30 16 9.3x6.6
NGC 1232 ERI G-Sc 9.9 03:09.8 -20 35 7.8x6.9
IC 289 CAS PN 12.3 03:10.3 +61 19 34" IC 289
Stock 23 CAM OC ----- 03:16.3 +60 02 14' Stock 23 or "Pazmino's cluster"
NGC 1275 PER G-Pec 11.9 03:19.8 +41 31 2.2X1.7 Perseus A peculiar & radio source
Mel 20 PER OB Assoc 2.3 03:24.3 +49 52 300' Mel 20 or Perseus OB Association
NGC 1360 FOR PN 9.4 03:33.3 -25 51 390" 11.5 magnitude central star
NGC 1398 FOR Gxy 9.4 03:38.9 -26 20 6.6x5.2
IC 342 CAM Gxy 9.2 03:46.8 +68 06 21' IC 342
Asterism 0 CAM Asterism - 03:57.0 +63 00 180' Kemble's Cascade Leads to NGC1502
NGC 1491 PER EN ---- 04:03.4 +51 19 3'
NGC 1501 CAM PN 12 04:07.0 +60 55 52"
NGC 1502 CAM OC 5.7 04:07.7 +62 20 7'
NGC 1514 TAU PN 10.8 04:09.2 +30 47 2.2'
NGC 1535 ERI PN 10.4 04:14.1 -12 44 21"
NGC 1528 PER OC 6.4 04:15.4 +51 14 23'
NGC 1579 PER BN ----- 04:30.2 +35 16 12'X7'
NGC 1647 TAU OC 6.2 04:46.0 +19 04 44'
NGC 1746 TAU OC 6.1 05:03.6 +23 49 41'
NGC 1788 ORI RN ---- 05:06.9 -03 21 7x5
NGC 1907 AUR OC 7 05:28.0 +35 19 7'
NGC 1931 AUR E/RN ---- 05:31.4 +34 15 3'
NGC 1973 ORI E/RN ---- 05:35.1 -04 44 5'
NGC 1977 ORI DN 10 05:35.5 -04 52 19x9
NGC 2024 ORI BN ---- 05:42.0 -01 51 30' Flame Nebula or Lips Nebula a.k.a. Tank Track Nebula
NGC 2022 ORI PN 12.4 05:42.1 +09 05 19"
NGC 2158 GEM OC 5 06 07.5 +24 06 5' distant cluster "near" M35
NGC 2169 ORI OC 5.9 06:08.4 +13 57 7' "37" Cluster looks like numerals "37"
NGC 2194 ORI OC 8.5 06:13.8 +12 48 10'
NGC 2237 MON EN ---- 06:31.6 +05 03 80x60 Rosette Nebula
NGC 2244 MON OC 4.1 06:32.0 +04 55 23' Rosette Cluster
NGC 2261 MON E/RN ---- 06:39.2 +08 44 2x1 Hubble's Variable Nebula
NGC 2264 MON OC 3.9 06:41.1 +09 53 35x15 Christmas Tree Cluster Cone nebula in here
NGC 2301 MON OC 6 06:51.8 +00 28 12'
NGC 2360 CMA OC 7.2 07:17.8 +15 37 12' Opened Box Cluster
NGC 2359 CMA EN ---- 07:18.6 -13 12 7x6 Thor's Helmet or Duck Nebula
NGC 2362 CMa OC 4.1 07:18.8 -24 57 7' Contains Tau CMa (triple)
NGC 2371/2372 GEM PN 13 07:25 +29 29 44" twin-lobed PN with one NGC number per lobe
NGC 2392 GEM PN 8.3 07:29.2 +20 55 19.5" Clown Face or Eskimo Nebula
NGC 2403 CAM G-Sc 8.4 07:36.9 +65 36 23x11
NGC 2419 LYN GC 10.4 07:38.2 +38 53 4.7' Intergalactic Wanderer 300 000 LY away!
NGC 2438 PUP PN 11 07:41.8 -14 44 64" PN "in" (in front of) M46
NGC 2440 PUP PN 10.3 07:41.9 -18 12 16"
NGC 2451 PUP OC 2.8 07:45.4 -37 58 44' knockout OC with bright carbon star
NGC 2477 PUP OC 5.8 07:52.3 -38 33 26' richest known cluster
NGC 2539 PUP OC 6.5 08:10.7 -12 50 21'
NGC 2683 LYN G-Sb 9.7 08:52.7 +33 25 9.3x2.5
NGC 2655 CAM G-Sa 10.1 08:55.6 +78 13 5.1x4.4
NGC 2841 UMA G-Sb 9.3 09:22.0 +50 59 8.1x3.8
NGC 2903 LEO G-Sb 8.9 09:32.2 +21 30 12.6x6.6
NGC 3003 LMI G-Sc 11.7 09:48.6 +33 25 5.9x1.7
NGC 3079 UMA G-Sb 10.6 10:02.0 +55 41 7.6x1.7
NGC 3077 UMA Gxy 9.8 10:03.4 +68 44 4.6x3.6
NGC 3115 SEX G-E6 9.2 10:05.2 -07 43 8.3x3.2 Spindle Galaxy
NGC 3184 UMA G-Sc 9.7 10:18.3 +41 25 6.9x6.8
NGC 3242 HYD PN 8.6 10:24.8 -18 38 25" Ghost of Jupiter
NGC 3344 LMI G-Sc 9.9 10:43.5 +24 55 6.9x6.5
NGC 3384 LEO G-E7 9.9 10:48.3 +12 38 5.9x2.6 in field with M105
NGC 3432 LMI G-SBm 11.3 10:52.5 +36 37 6.2x1.5
NGC 3521 LEO G-Sb 8.7 11:05.8 -00 02 9.5x5.0
NGC 3607 LEO G-E1 10 11:16.9 +18 03 4.6x4.1
NGC 3621 HYA G-Sa 8.9 11:18.3 -32 49 10X6.5 Frame Galaxy
NGC 3628 LEO G-Sb 9.5 11:20.3 +13 35 14.8x3.6 one of the "Trio in Leo" (with M65 and M66)
NGC 3675 UMA Gxy 10.2 11:26.1 +43 35 5.9x3.2
NGC 3877 UMA G-Sb 10.9 11:46.1 +47 30 5.4x1.5
NGC 3941 UMA G-E3 9.8 11:52.9 +36 59 3.8x2.5
NGC 4026 UMA G-SO 10.7 11:59.4 +50 58 5.1x1.4
NGC 4038/4039 CRV G-Sc 10.7 12:01.9 -18 52 6.0x3.4 Antennae or Rat Tail a pair of interacting galaxies
NGC 4088 UMA G-Sc 10.5 12:05.6 +50 33 5.8x2.5
NGC 4111 CVN G-SO 10.8 12:07.1 +43 04 4.8x1.1
NGC 4157 UMA G-Sb 11.9 12:11.1 +50 29 6.9x1.7
NGC 4214 CVN G-Irr 9.7 12:15.7 +36 20 7.9x6.3
NGC 4216 VIR G-Sb 9.9 12:15.9 +13 09 8.3x2.2
NGC 4220 CVN G-Sa 11.4 12:16.2 +47 53 3.8X1.5' very pretty galaxy
NGC 4244 CVN G-S 10.2 12:17.5 +37 48 16.2x2.5
NGC 4274 COM G-Sb 10.4 12:19.8 +29 37 6.9x2.8
NGC 4361 CRV PN 10.3 12:24.5 -18 48 63"
Mel 111 COM OC 1.8 12:25.0 +26 07 300' Mel 111 or Coma Star Cluster
NGC 4388 VIR G-Sb 11 12:25.8 +12 40 5.1x1.4 with M84 and M86 in Markarian's Chain
NGC 4414 COM G-Sc 10.2 12:26.5 +31 13 3.6x2.2
NGC 4435 VIR G-Sb 10.8 12:27.7 +13 05 3X2.1 The Eyes (with 4438)
NGC 4438 VIR G-Sap 10.1 12:27.8 +13 01 9.3x3.9 The Eyes (with 4435)
NGC 4449 CVN G-Irr 9.4 12:28.2 +44 06 6.0x4.9
NGC 4490 CVN G-Sc 9.8 12:30.6 +41 38 5.9x3.1
NGC 4494 COM G-E1 9.8 12:31.4 +25 46 4.5x4.3
NGC 4517 VIR G-Sc 10.5 12:32.8 +00 07 10.2x1.9
NGC 4526 VIR G-E7 9.6 12:34.0 +07 42 7.0x2.6 Lost Galaxy between two 7-mag stars
NGC 4535 VIR G-Sc 9.8 12:34.3 +08 12 6.8x5.0
NGC 4559 COM G-Sc 9.8 12:36.0 +27 58 10.5x4.9
NGC 4565 COM G-Sb 9.6 12:36.3 +25 59 16.2x2.8 Needle Galaxy
NGC 4567/4568 VIR G-Sc 11.3 12:36.5 +11 16 3.0x2.1 Siamese Twins interacting galaxies
NGC 4605 UMA G-SBcp 9.6 12:40.0 +61 37 6.0x2.5
NGC 4631 CVN G-Sc 9.3 12:42.2 +32 33 14.0x2.6 Whale Galaxy or "the slug" a.k.a. Millenium Falcon
NGC 4656 CVN G-Sc 10.4 12:44.0 +32 10 13.8x3.3 The Hockey Stick (with 4657)
NGC 4666 VIR G-Sab 10.5 12:45.1 -00 28 4.5X1.5' mini 4565
NGC 4697 VIR Gxy 9.2 12:48.6 -05 48 6.0x4.1
NGC 4699 VIR G-Sa 9.6 12:49.0 -08 40 3.9x2.9
NGC 4725 COM G-Sb 9.4 12:50.4 +25 30 11.0x7.9
NGC 4762 VIR G-SBO 10.2 12:52.9 +11 14 8.7x1.6 flattest galaxy known
NGC 4782/4783 CRV G-? 11 12:54.6 -12 34 2.3X1.3 interacting galaxies
NGC 5005 CVN G-Sb 9.8 13:10.9 +37 03 5.4x2.7
NGC 5033 CVN G-Sb 10.1 13:13.5 +36 36 10.5x5.6
NGC 5128 CEN Gxy 6.7 13:25.5 -43 01 27x20 Centaurus A radio galaxy -- looks like a hamburger
NGC 5139 CEN GC 3.9 13:26.8 -47 29 50' Omega Centauri the big one!
NGC 5195 CVN G-irr 9.6 13:30.0 +47 16 5X4.7 Companion of M51
NGC 5466 BOO GC 9.1 14:05.5 +28 32 8'
NGC 5634 VIR GC 9.5 14:29.6 -05 59 5'
NGC 5746 VIR G-Sb 10.6 14:44.9 +01 57 6.0x1.2
NGC 5907 DRA G-Sb 10.4 15:15.9 +56 20 11x1.3 Splinter Galaxy
NGC 5981 DRA G-Sc 13 15:37.9 +59 23 2.6x0.3 nice trio with 5982 and 5985
NGC 5982 DRA G-E3p 11.1 15:38.7 +59 21 3x2.1 nice trio with 5981 and 5985
NGC 5985 DRA G-Sb 11.1 15:39.6 +59 20 5x2.7 nice trio with 5981 and 5982
NGC 6207 HER G-Sc 11.6 16 43.1 +36 50 3.3X1.2 0.5 deg NE of M13
NGC 6229 HER GC 4.5 16 47.0 +47 32 4.2'
NGC 6144 SCO GC 9 16:27.2 -26 02 16' near M4
NGC 6210 HER PN 9.3 16:44.5 +23 49 16"
NGC 6231 SCO OC 2.6 16:54.0 -41 48 15' False Comet
NGC 6293 OPH GC 8.3 17:10.2 -26 35 5'
NGC 6302 SCO PN 9.6 17:13.7 -37 06 44" Bug Nebula
NGC 6309 OPH PN 11.5 17:14.1 -12 55 16" Box Nebula
NGC 6356 OPH GC 8.4 17:23.6 -17 49 7'
NGC 6369 OPH PN 10.4 17:29.3 -23 46 38" Little Ghost
IC 4665 OPH OC 4.2 17:46.3 +05 43 40' IC 4665
NGC 6445 SGR PN 11.2 17:49.3 -20 01 34"
NGC 6503 DRA G-Sb 10.2 17:49.5 +70 09 7.0x2.5
NGC 6543 DRA PN 8.8 17:58.6 +66 38 20" Cat's Eye Nebula
B 86 SGR DN ---- 18:02.7 +27 50 4' B86 or Ink Spot
NGC 6520 SGR OC 8.1 18:03.4 -27 54 6' Ink Spot (B86) Adjacent
NGC 6544 SGR GC 7.5 18:07.4 -25 00 7'
NGC 6553 SGR GC 8.3 18:09.3 -25 54 6'
NGC 6572 OPH PN 9 18:12.1 +06 51 11"
NGC 6569 SGR GC 8.4 18:13.7 -31 50 7'
NGC 6624 SGR GC 7.6 18:23.7 -30 22 4.3'
NGC 6633 OPH OC 4.6 18:27.7 +06 34 26'
IC 4756 SER OC 4.3 18:39.0 +05 27 50' IC 4756
NGC 6712 SCT GC 8.2 18:53.1 -08 42 8'
NGC 6723 SGR GC 6.8 18:59.6 -36 38 12' Albert's Glob
NGC 6760 AQL GC 9 19:11.2 +01 02 8'
NGC 6781 AQL PN 11.8 19:18.4 +06 33 1.8'
CR 399 VUL OC 3.6 19:25.4 +20 11 90' Cr 399 or Brocchi's or Coathanger - binocular
NGC 6802 VUL OC 8.8 19:30.6 +20 16 3.2'
NGC 6819 CYG OC 7.3 19:41.3 +40 11 5'
NGC 6818 SGR PN 9.9 19:44.0 -14 09 20" Little Gem
NGC 6826 CYG PN 9.8 19:44.8 +50 31 25" Blinking Plenetary
NGC 6888 CYG SNR ---- 20:12.0 +38 21 20x10 Crescent Nebula
NGC 6905 DEL PN 11.1 20:22.4 +20 06 40" Blue Flash Nebula
NGC 6939 CEP OC 8 20:31.4 +60 38 7' same field as 6946
NGC 6934 DEL GC 8.9 20:34.2 +07 24 7'
NGC 6940 VUL OC 6.3 20:34.6 +28 18 30'
NGC 6946 CEP G-Sc 8.9 20:34.8 +60 09 11.0x9.8 same field as 6939
NGC 6960 CYG SNR ---- 20:45.7 +30 43 70x6 Veil Nebula
NGC 6992 CYG SNR ---- 20:56.4 +31 43 60x7 Veil Nebula
NGC 6995 CYG SNR ---- 20:57.1 +31 13 12' Veil Nebula
NGC 7000 CYG EN ---- 20:58.8 +44 20 120x100 North America Nebula
NGC 7008 CYG PN 11.1 21:00.6 +54 33 1.4'
NGC 7006 DEL GC 10.6 21:01.5 +16 11 3.3'
NGC 7009 AQR PN 8.3 21:04.2 -11 22 28" Saturn Nebula
NGC 7027 CYG PN 10.4 21:07.1 +42 14 15"
NGC 7129 CEP RN ---- 21:42.5 +66 10 8x7
NGC 7209 LAC OC 7.4 22:05.2 +46 30 25'
NGC 7217 PEG Gxy 10.1 22:07.9 +31 22 4.1x3.4
NGC 7243 LAC OC 6.4 22:15.3 +49 53 20'
NGC 7293 AQR PN 6.5 22:29.6 -20 48 16x12 Helix Nebula Nearby PN
NGC 7320 PEG G-Sa 12.6 22:36.0 +33 58 2.2X1.1 brightest galaxy in Stephan's Quintet
NGC 7331 PEG G-Sb 9.5 22:37.1 +34 25 10.7x4.0
NGC 7380 CEP OC+BN ----- 22:47.0 +58 06 30'X25'
NGC 7479 PEG Gxy 10.8 23:05.0 +12 19 4.3x3.3
NGC 7510 CEP OC 7.9 23:11.5 +60 34 4'
NGC 7635 CAS EN ---- 23:20.6 +61 12 15x8 Bubble Nebula
NGC 7662 AND PN 9.2 23:25.9 +42 33 17" Blue Snowball
NGC 7789 CAS OC 6.7 23:57.0 +56 44 15' Magnificent Cluster very rich cluster
(Size is in arcmin unless otherwise specified)