Winter Perseus Targets — Seestar S50 | Rockwood, TX | January 18, 2026

It is a good night for imaging at Starfront Observatories using my Seestar S50. My broader objective is to conduct systematic observations under Bortle 1 skies in Texas and compare those results with equivalent observations obtained under Bortle 7 skies near my home in Columbia, Missouri.

Tonight’s session is focused on Perseus, imaging the California Nebula (NGC 1499), the Double Cluster (NGC 869 & NGC 884), M34, M76, NGC 1491, and NGC 1579. These targets provide a mix of emission nebulae, open clusters, and planetary nebulae, allowing for a broad assessment of contrast, sensitivity, and fine-detail recovery under dark-sky conditions.

At present, the Seestar S50 is the only instrument available to me at Starfront Observatories, which limits direct Bortle 1–to–Bortle 7 comparisons to this platform. In Columbia, however, my comparative imaging program will expand across multiple systems, including the Seestar S30, Seestar S50, Dwarf 3, Dwarf Mini, Celestron Origin, Unistellar Equinox 2, and my dedicated astrophotography rig. The goal is to evaluate relative performance across varying sky conditions, with particular emphasis on angular resolution, sensitivity, and fine-detail recovery.

Planned Targets by Constellation

Auriga
Flaming Star Nebula (IC405), Tadpole Nebula (IC410), Spider Nebula (NGC6537), Fly Nebula (NGC 1931), M36, M37, M38

Canis Major
M41, Thor’s Helmet (Sh2-298), Caroline’s Cluster (Collinder 58)

Canis Venatici
M51, M63, M94, M106, NGC 4244, NGC 4395, NGC 4631, NGC 4656, NGC 5033, M3

Gemini
Jellyfish Nebula (IC 443), Shoe-Buckle Cluster (M35), IC 444, Eskimo Nebula (NGC2392)

Leo
Leo Triplet (M65, M66, NGC 3628)

Monoceros
Rosette Nebula (NGC 2237), Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula (NGC2264), Seagull Nebula (IC 2177), M50, IC 447, IC 448

Orion
M42, the Flame Nebula (NGC2024), the Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33), the Witch Head Nebula (IC2118), the Monkey Head Nebula (NGC2174), and M78

Perseus
California Nebula (NGC 1499), the Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884), M34, M76, and NGC 1491

Taurus
Pleiades (M45), Crab Nebula (M1), Spaghetti Nebula (Simeis 147), Hyades

Virgo
Markarian’s Chain (M84, M86, NGC 4402, NGC 4387, NGC 4388, NGC 4407, NGC 4425, NGC 4438, NGC 4431, NGC 4458, NGC 4473, NGC 4477, NGC 4468, NGC 4459)

Shared Images
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/alh640...