AL/NASA 35 Years of Hubble February Challenge

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Last month, we discussed the Hubble’s Night Sky Observing Challenge and the January targets announced by the Astronomical League and NASA to celebrate 35 Years of the Hubble Space Telescope

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.

February 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.

  • M46 (NGC 2437) – A gorgeous open cluster in the constellation Puppis, featuring a striking planetary nebula nestled among its stars.
    Photo by DAS Member Tommy Lease. ASI533MC-Pro, Orion 6" f4 newt, SW Quattro CC, HEQ5-Pro. RGB- 200x60s, gain 100, -10c, bin 1x1. Total Integration: 3.3 hrs. Acquired in NINA, Processed in Pixinsight.
    Photo by DAS Member Tommy Lease. ASI533MC-Pro, Orion 6″ f4 newt, SW Quattro CC, HEQ5-Pro. RGB- 200x60s, gain 100, -10c, bin 1×1. Total Integration: 3.3 hrs. Acquired in NINA, Processed in Pixinsight.

     

  • Caldwell 7 (NGC 2403) – A spiral galaxy in Camelopardalis, rich with star-forming regions and reminiscent of our Milky Way.
    Photo by NASA, ESA, A.V. Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley), P. Challis (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), et al.
    Photo by NASA, ESA, A.V. Filippenko (University of California, Berkeley), P. Challis (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics), et al.”

     

  • Caldwell 25 (NGC 2419) – Known as the “Intergalactic Wanderer,” this distant globular cluster in Lynx is one of the farthest from our galaxy.
    Photo by ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Larsen et al.
    Photo by ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Larsen et al.

     

  • Caldwell 39 (NGC 2392) – The “Eskimo Nebula,” a colorful planetary nebula in Gemini, named for its resemblance to a face wrapped in a parka.
    Photo by NASA, Andrew Fruchter, and the ERO Team [Sylvia Baggett (STScI), Richard Hook (ST-ECF), Zoltan Levay (STScI)]
    Photo by NASA, Andrew Fruchter, and the ERO Team [Sylvia Baggett (STScI), Richard Hook (ST-ECF), Zoltan Levay (STScI)]
  • Caldwell 58 (NGC 2360) – An open cluster in Canis Major, sometimes called “Caroline’s Cluster,” discovered by Caroline Herschel in 1783.
    Photo by NASA, ESA, and T. von Hippel (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)
    Photo by NASA, ESA, and T. von Hippel (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

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.