Cloudy Nights'
Monthly Challenge Objects - 2026
Observing guides for Cloudy Nights' Monthly Challenge Objects in the year 2026; no Challenge Objects were posted in May.
Use the buttons to download the objects of the month in the image orientation of your choice, click the object's name to visit the corresponding page on the Cloudy Nights forum. Please read Downloading CSOG and iPad Astronomy.
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January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October
Registration is not required to download the current Objects of the Month
Cloudy Nights' Monthly Challenge Objects
An index file, AstroPlanner planfile and Tour files by constellation and object category for all Cloudy Nights' Monthly Challenge Objects posted since November 2023.
These downloads will be updated with every new MCO.
Updated: 26 September 2026
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours: 70
Argo Navis User Catalogs: 70
Observing guides for the current year can be downloaded below.
Observing guides for preceding years can be downloaded on the respective pages:
October
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Open cluster NGC6823 & emission nebula Courtès 32 in Vulpecula
This object is included in CSOG's:
Constellation editions by telescope aperture
Herschel edition
Courtès Nebulae edition
Simeis Nebulae edition
Gaze-Shajn Nebulae edition
Sharpless Nebulae edition
Raab Open Clusters edition
Collinder Star Clusters edition
Herschel 400 observing program
Globular cluster Mayall V in Andromeda
Galaxy pair MCG-01-60-021 & MCG-01-60-022 (Arp 295) in Aquarius
This object is included in CSOG's:
September
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Open cluster Alessi 10 in Aquila
Galaxy cluster Abell 3744 in Capricornus
August
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Galaxy NGC7576 in Aquarius
Galaxy NGC7585 (Arp 223) in Aquarius
Emission nebulae Cederblad 175 (IC4954 & IC4955) & open cluster Roslund 4 in Vulpecula
Galaxy pair Vorontsov-Vel'yaminov 668 (MCG+00-53-014 & MCG+00-53-015) in Aquarius
July
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Globular cluster NGC6535 in Serpens (Cauda)
Reflection nebula Dorschner-Gürtler 152 in Serpens (Cauda)
Reflection nebula Bernes 12 - the "Serpens Reflection Nebula" in Serpens (Cauda)
June
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Galaxy NGC6086 in Corona Borealis
Galaxy MCG+06-35-003 in Corona Borealis
Galaxy group Hickson 82 in Hercules
April
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Galaxy NGC4395 in Canes Venatici
Galaxy Van den Bergh Dwarf Galaxy 133 in Canes Venatici
March
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Planetary nebula IRAS 09371+1212 - the "Frosty Leo Nebula" in Leo
Galaxy group WBL 210 in Cancer
Galaxy group Vorontsov-Vel'yaminov 707 in Cancer
February
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Planetary nebula NGC2440 - the "Bat Nebula" in Puppis
Galaxy group IC2375, IC2377 & IC2379 in Puppis
Planetary nebula Longmore-Tritton 1 in Lepus
January
Click here to review the CSOG image orientations
Unmirrored
MH
MV
MHV
Planetary nebula NGC1514 - the "Crystal Ball Nebula" in Taurus
Planetary nebula Kohoutek 2-2 in Monoceros
Planetary nebula Stephenson 3-1 in Monoceros
