Clear Skies

visual astronomy

Observing Programs

If you know of other observing programs that can be part of the CSOG collection, please let me know.

Click the Index button to download only an edition's index pdf, click the Planfile & Tours button to download only the AstroPlanner planfile(s) and tours. Use the green download button(s) to download a complete edition in the image orientation of your choice. Please read Downloading CSOG and iPad Astronomy.

Herschel 400 - Herschel II - Herschel 3 - Herschel Sprint - ASSA Top-100 - AL Carbon Stars - TSP 2025 Regular Observing Program - TSP 2025 Advanced Observing Program - TSP Binocular Program - TSP Challenge Binocular Program - TSP Binocular Program from "Hell"

Herschel 400

The objects in the Herschel 400 Observing Program.

When a Herschel galaxy is part of a close galaxy group, the complete group is included. For example: NGC3190 & NGC3193 in Leo are part of the galaxy group Hickson 44, NGC5560 & NGC5566 in Virgo are part of Arp 286, NGC3949 in Ursa Major is part of Holmberg 301, etc.

Observing guides (pages): 444 (1242)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours: 94
Argo Navis User Catalogs: 95

Downloads
  • 1 of 2: Andromeda through Monoceros
  • 2 of 2: Ophiuchus through Vulpecula

99 open clusters
35 globular clusters
10 nebulae
23 planetary nebulae
227 galaxies

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations

Herschel II

The objects in the Herschel II Observing Program.

When a Herschel galaxy is part of a close galaxy group, the complete group is included. For example: NGC1199 in Eridanus is part of the galaxy group Hickson 22, NGC5560 & NGC5566 in Virgo are part of Arp 286, NGC7463 & NGC7465 in Pegasus are part of Holmberg 802, etc.

Observing guides (pages): 439 (1264)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours: 76
Argo Navis User Catalogs: 77

Downloads
  • 1 of 2: Andromeda through Libra
  • 2 of 2: Lynx through Vulpecula

36 open clusters
3 globular clusters
21 nebulae
3 HII regions
9 planetary nebulae
2 supernova remnants
320 galaxies
1 star cloud

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations

Herschel 3

The 292 galaxies and galaxy groups in the Herschel 3 list.

When a Herschel galaxy is part of a close galaxy group, the complete group is included. For example: NGC536 in Andromeda is part of the galaxy group Hickson 10, NGC750 & NGC751 in Triangulum are part of Arp 166, NGC4128 in Draco is part of Holmberg 337, etc.

Observing guides (pages): 326 (950)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours: 35
Argo Navis User Catalogs: 35

Downloads
  • 1 of 2: Andromeda through Leo
  • 2 of 2: Leo Minor through Virgo

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations

Herschel Sprint

The 69 galaxies and galaxy groups in the Herschel Sprint a.k.a. the Herschel Marathon or the Herschel Hustle.

When a Herschel galaxy is part of a close galaxy group, the complete group is included. For example: NGC4004 in Leo is part of the galaxy group Holmberg 312, NGC4169, NGC4173, NGC4174 & NGC4175 in Coma Berenices form Hickson 61, etc.

Observing guides (pages): 77 (265)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours: 8
Argo Navis User Catalogs: 8

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations

ASSA Top-100

100 Bright southern objects from the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa.

Observing guides (pages): 139 (331)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours: 38
Argo Navis User Catalogs: 39

38 open clusters
24 globular clusters
8 nebulae
5 dark nebulae
9 planetary nebulae
15 galaxies
1 star clouds

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations

Astronomical League Carbon Stars Observing Programs

100 Red stars in the Carbon Stars observing program from the Astronomical League.

Observing guides (pages): 139 (250)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours: 39
Argo Navis User Catalogs: 40

2 open clusters
4 globular clusters
3 nebulae
5 dark nebulae
4 planetary nebulae
1 protoplanetary disk
3 supernova remnants
13 galaxies & galaxy groups
1 galaxy cluster
4 quasars
2 stars
1 asterism

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations

Texas Star Party 2025 - Regular Observing Program

The Regular Observing Program for the 2025 Texas Star Party, in CSOG format.

Observing guides (pages): 39 (96)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours / Argo Navis User Catalogs: 26

4 open clusters
7 globular clusters
2 nebulae
8 planetary nebulae
1 protoplanetary disk
16 galaxies & galaxy groups
1 star cloud
1 double star

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations

Texas Star Party 2025 - Advanced Observing Program

The Advanced Observing Program for the 2025 Texas Star Party, in CSOG format.

Observing guides (pages): 43 (108)
Index files: 1
AstroPlanner planfiles: 1
Autostar Tours / NexTours / EQTours / Argo Navis User Catalogs: 25

2 open clusters
4 globular clusters
3 nebulae
5 dark nebulae
4 planetary nebulae
1 protoplanetary disk
3 supernova remnants
13 galaxies & galaxy groups
1 galaxy cluster
4 quasars
2 stars
1 asterism

Click here to review the CSOG image orientations