Deep Sky Observations with Dwarf mini from January 2026
Conditions | Observation Overview | List of Observed Sky Objects | References
Since the beginning of January 2026, I own a DwarfLab Dwarf mini telescope for observing and taking photos of deep sky objects. On this page, I collect information about observations from the mid-January 2026. The photos that were taken during this phase are presented elsewhere (on the detail pages for the DSO).
Conditions
Sky Region and Objects
From January 2026 on, I observed mostly the following sky area (some observed objects are indicated):
Click the map for a larger version - it opens in a new window (Image Courtesy of SkySafari Astronomy, www.simulationcurriculum.com)
Observation Time
The observations in this phase took place from January 2026 on. They typically took place shortly after dusk, when it was sufficiently dark for a successful initialization of the Dwarf mini. This was at about 6 p.m. at the beginning of January.
Observation Location
The observations took place in Mühlhausen/Kraichgau (Germany):- Coordinates: 49° 15′ N , 8° 43′ E
- Coordinates (dec.): 49,25° N, 8,72° E
Equipment Used
When observing with the Dwarf mini, I only needed the Dwarf mini and my iPhone or iPad. When needed (e.g. for EQ mode), I used the DarfLab Tripod. Filters are inbuilt (Astro, Dual Band, Dark); or delivered with the Dwarf mini (Solar Filter)
General Conditions
In general, the sky above Mühlhausen/Kraichgau is "light-polluted" (SQM 20.5) and does not invite you to search for deep sky objects. For astro photography, however, light pollution is not as disturbing as for visual observations.
Observation Overview
Observation Dates
| Date 2026 |
Observed Objects | Observed Objects, Details | Remarks | Further Remarks |
| Jan 15 MH |
G: M 33 GN: M 42/43, M 45 |
Order: M 33 (60 min), M 45 (5 min), M 42/43 (5/30 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | M 33 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter) started shortly before 7 p.m.; aborted after 180 stacked subs (45 min) at about 7:50 p.m. because of fog; SQM mot measured, because of fog, and I was too late... Re-start shortly before 9 p.m.with M 42/43 (15 s, G 60, DuoBand filter); stopped after 150 stacked subs (37.5 min) at 9:44 p.m.; fog, resulting photo rather washed out, but there were clouds in that area... |
| Jan 16 MH |
G: M 31/32 DN: IC 1396 |
Order: IC 1396 (60 min), M 31 (51 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | IC 1396 (15 s, G 60, DuoBand filter) started at 6:28/19.45 p.m./SQM; stopped after 241 stacked subs (60 min) at 7:44 p.m.. M 31/32 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter) started at 7:55/19.86 p.m./SQM; aborted after 203 stacked subs (51 min) at 8:57 p.m. due to clouds; Battery went down to 18% , later even to 16%; connected a powerbank for testing purposes...
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| Jan 18 MH |
GN: IC 5070, NGC 1499, NGC 7000 | Order: NGC 7000/IC 5070 (60 min) NGC 1499 (32 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | NGC 7000/IC 5070 (15s, G 60, Astrof ilter) started at 18:07/18,45 (instead of NGC 7000 the star HD 199457 was lited - I had moved the section a little bit...; 6:45/19,7 p.m./SQM, foggy; the result was rather poor after 120 subs; stopped after 241 stacked subs (60 min) at 7:24/19.81 p.m./SQM; foggy... NGC 1499: First attempt failed at 7:33 p.m.; new attempt, observation started at 7:50/19.69 p.m./SQM; aborted at around 9 p.m., because nothing happened due to clouds (we had supper at that time...); 230 subs, but only 129 were stacked (32 min), stacking was done only until 8:28 p.m.; the battery went down to 17%. |
| Jan 19 MH |
OC: M 45 GN: M 42/43, M 78, NGC 2071 |
Order: M 45 (45 min), M 78 (with NGC 2071, 45 min), M 42/43 (34.5 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | M 45 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): observed from 7:04 to 7:58 p.m.; observed from 181 subs (45 min) M 78 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): observed from 8:09 to 9:03 p.m. beobachtet; observed from 181 subs (45 min) M 42/43 (15 s, G60, DuoBand filter) : observed from 9:24 to 10:04 p.m.; observed from 138 subs (34.5 min); SQM not measured (forgot it...); everything in clouds at the end... |
| Jan 21 MH |
GN: NGC 1499, NGC 2024 DN: B 33 |
Order: NGC 1499 (25 min), NGC 2024/B 33 (25 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Start at about 8:00 p.m., everthing rather chaotic... SQM was 19.78 at aroung 9 p.m., the sky was fairly clare this night I trained the EQ and mosaic modes on NGC 1499 and NGC 2024/B 33; the EQ did not succeed, but the observations were OK, why ever... NGC 1499 (30 s, G60, DuoBand filter): Mosaic with 2 panels, observed from 8:29 to 21:37 p.m.; 50+50=100 subs (50 min) NGC 2024/B 33 (30 s, G60, DuoBand filter): Mosaic with 2 panels, observed from 10:00 to 11:07 p.m.; 50+50=100 subs (50 min); SQM was 19.89 at 22:24 p.m. |
| Jan 22 MH |
Moon | Moon | Dwarf mini; iPad | Photographed the crescent moon at about 5 p.m.. Took photos with 20, 38 and 50 subs, which were stacked. Post-processed some stacks in Stellar Studio. |
| Jan 23 MH |
Moon | Moon | Dwarf mini; iPad | Photographed the crescent moon at about 8 p.m.. Took photos with 2x20, 1x50 subs, which were stacked. All stacks were post-processed in Stellar Studio. |
| Jan 24 MH |
OC: M 34, NGC 752 G: NGC 891 Moon |
Order: Moon, M 15 (27 min), M 34 (35 min), NGC 752 (22.5 min), NGC 891 (45.5 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Photographed the crescent moon at about 6:15 p.m.. Took photos with 1x20, 1x50 subs, which were stacked. All stacks were post-processed in Stellar Studio. M 15 (15 s, G 60, Astrofilter), attempted from 6:33 p.m., low on the horizon (19°, nearly in a tree), sky rather bright; (6:45/18.6); aborted at 7:07 p.m., M 15 was in a tree for a long time... 109 stacked subs (27 min) NGC 1555 attempted at 7:16:p.m., but was still behind a house... M 34 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): 7:33/19.16 p.m./SQM, moon alread quite bright; aborted after 140 subs (35 min) at 8:07 p.m.; turned Dwarf mini off, because the battery was low... NGC 752 (C 28) (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): Start at 8:17/19.07 p.m./SQM; aborted after nach 90 subs (22.5 min) at 8:43 p.m. 9:15 p.m.: Powerbank connected NGC 891 (15 s, G 60, Astro filter): Start at 9:19/19.22 p.m./SQM; galaxy (small) hard to recognize in the beginning; stopped after 182 subs (45.5 min) at 10:15 p.m. |
| Feb 5 MH |
OS: M 45 G: M 31/32/110 Sun |
Order: Sun, M 31 (50 min), M 45 (50 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Photographed the sun in the afternoon (at about 3 p.m.). Took 4x photos with 20 subs each. Started observations with M 31 in EQ mode as a 1:1.8 mosaic at about 7:50/19.6 p.m./SQM (15/60/Astro; 50 subs per panel); stopped at about 8:35 p.m. New attempt at M 31 in EQ mode at 8:42/19.7 p.m./SQM with 30s (30?/60/Astro; 50 subs per panel) as a 1:1,8 mosaic; aborted, because 30s did not work (15 s because of automatic parameters) At about 9 p.m. attempt at M 45 in EQ mode as a 1:1.8 mosaic; this time, 30s worked (30/60/Astro; autom. param. off; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 10:15 p.m. |
| Feb 7 MH |
GN: M 42/43, NGC 2237, NGC 2261, NGC 2264 DN: 1977 OC: NGC 1980, NGC 1981, NGC 2244 |
Order: M 42/43 (50 min ), NGC 2237/2244 (50 min), NGC 2261/2264 (50 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for M 42/43 at about 7:30 p.m. (Coal Car Cluster down to Jewels) (30/120/Astro; 50 subs per panel); SQM 19.8; stopped at 8:41 p.m. Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC NGC 2237/2244 at about 8:50 p.m.(30/120/Astro; 50 subs per panel); 9:06/19.99 p.m./SQM; stopped at 10:02/19.99 p.m./SQM. Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC 2264 at 10:10/19.99 p.m./SQM (30/120/Astro; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 11:19 p.m. |
| Feb 9 MH |
GN: IC 405, IC 410, NGC 2237, NGC 2264 OC: NGC 2244 |
Order: IC 405/410 (50 min, 50 min), NGC 2237/2244 (50 min), NGC 2264 (50 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for IC 410 at 7:18/19.65 p.m./SQM (30/60/Duo; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 8:28 p.m. Ditto with gain 120 at 8:35/19.67 p.m./SQM; stopped at about 9:44 p.m. Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC 2237/2244 at about 9:57/19.86 p.m./SQM (30/120/Duo; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 11:06 p.m. - ran until 11:25 p.m.??? Started in EQ mode a 2-panels 1:1.8 mosaic for NGC 2264 at about 11:30 p.m. (30/120/Duo; 50 subs per panel); stopped at 0:38 p.m. |
| Feb 25 MH |
GN: M 42/43 Sun, Moon |
Order: Sun, Moon, M 42/43 (25 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Observed the sun at 3:20 p.m. just once with 20 subs; post-processed in Stellar Studio. Observed the "good" half moon after 6:45 p.m.. Observed 4x with 20 subs, which were stacked automatically and post-processed in Stellar Studio. M 42/43 as 1:1,8 EQ mosaic; 7:50-8:30 p.m. (15/60/Astro, 50 subs per panel, 25 min) |
| Feb 26 MH |
GN: M 42/43 OC: M 45 Moon |
Order: Moon, M 42/43 (50 min), M 45 (50/50 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Observed the even further half moon at about 7 p.m. Observed 2x with 20 subs, which were stacked automatically and post-processed in Stellar Studio. M 42/43 as 1:1,8 EQ mosaic; 6:39-7:46 p.m. 30/60/DuoBand, 50 subs per panel, 50 min) M 45 as 1:1,8 EQ mosaic; 7:56-9:04 p.m. (30/60/DuoBand, 50 subs per panel, 50 min) M 45 as 1:1,8 EQ mosaic; 9:11-10:22 p.m. (30/60/Astro, 50 subs per panel, 50 min) |
Feb 27 |
Moon | Order: Moon |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Observed the moon just after the Golden Handle at about 9:30 p.m.. Observed 3x with 20 subs, which were stacked automatically and post-processed in Stellar Studio. |
| Mar 1 MH |
Sun | Order: Sun |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Observed the sun at about 4:30 p.m. Observed 4x with 20 subs, which were stacked automatically and post-processed in Stellar Studio. |
| Mar 2 MH |
Sun, Moon | Order: Sun, Moon |
Dwarf mini; iPad | Observed the sun at about 3:20 p.m. Observed 3x with 20 subs, which were stacked automatically and post-processed in Stellar Studio. Observed the nearly full moon after 9:45 p.m.. Observed 3x with 20 subs, which were stacked automaticallyand post-processed in Stellar Studio. |
| Mar 12 MH |
GN: IC 2177, M 78, NGC 2071, Sh2-261, Sh2-276 OC: M 46, M 47 PN: NGC 2438 |
Order: M 78 (NGC 2071, Sh2-276, 50 min), M 46 (NGC 2438)/M 47 (25 min), IC 2177 (50 min), Sh2-261 (50 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | M 78 with NGC 2071 and a little section of Sh2-276 as 1:1,8 mosaic, 7:50-9:00 p.m., SQM 19.48 (30/60/Astro, 50 subs per panel, 50 min) M 46 (with NGC 2438)/M 47 as 1:1,8 mosaic, 9:08-9:40 p.m., SQM 19.66 (30/60/Astro; aborted after 51 subs in total, should have used 15s instead of 30s exposure time..., 25 min) IC 2177 Seagull Nebula a 1:1,8 mosaic, 9:47-10:58 p.m., SQM 19.82 (30/60/DuoBand, 50 subs per panel, 50 min) Sh2-261 Lower's Nebula as 1:1,8 mosaic, 11:00 p.m.-00:10 a.m., SQM 20.2 (30/120/DuoBand; 50 subs per panel, 50 min >> the app does not know this object, had to enter the coordinates manually (6h08m44.19s / +15°40'27.2") |
| Mar 18 MH |
SR: M 1 GN: IC 447 DN: IC 2169 OC: NGC 2169 |
Reihenfolge: NGC 2169 (4, 55 min), M 1 (30 min), IC 447/2169 (68:30 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | NGC2169 (37 Cluster) with EQ from about 7:45/18.96 p.m./SQM (30/120/Astro); aborted after 8 subs because the EQ mode was not aligned... 2. attempt with EQ (< 2°) from 7:58/19.32 p.m./SQM; stopped at about 21:10 after 110 subs (55 min) >> was not Dreyer's Nebula, but the 37 Cluster, I had mixed up IC and NGC :( M 1 (Crab Nebula) with EQ from 9:15/19.7 p.m./SQM (30/120/Duo); stopped at 9:52 p.m. after 61 subs (30 min) IC 2169/IC 447 (Dreyer's Nebula) mit EQ; 2nd attempt at about 10:10/19.74 p.m./SQM (30/120/Duo); stopped at 11:33 p.m. after 137 Subs (68:30 min) |
| Mar 19 MH |
GN: IC 447 DN: IC 2169 OC: M 44 |
Reihenfolge: IC 447/2169 (2h), M 44 (25 min) |
Dwarf mini; iPad | IC 2169/IC 447 (Dreyer's Nebula) with EQ from 7:55/19.25 p.m./SQM (30/120/Duo); stopped at about 10:20 p.m. after 240 subs (2 h) M 44 (Praesepe, Crib, Beehive) as 1:1.8 EQ mosaic; 10:25/19.88 p.m./SQM (15/60/Astro, 50 subs per panel, 25 min); stopped at 10:10 p.m. |
Bold: First observation during this observation period; G = galaxy, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GN = galactic nebula, PN = planetary nebula, SP = star pattern, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, SN = supernova, SR = supernova remnant; IT = integration time (net observation time)
List of Observed Sky Objects
Object details can be obtained via the links to the relevant deep sky objects.
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DSO Details
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Name | Constellation | Type | Remarks |
| B 33 | Horse Head Nebula | Orion | GN/DN | Together with NGC 2024; plus NGC 2023 close to B 33 |
| IC 405 | Flaming Star Nebula | Auriga | GN | Reddish nebula; with DB filter; together with IC 410 |
| IC 410 | Tadpole Nebula | Auriga | GN | Reddish nebula; with DB filter; together with IC 405 |
| IC 435 | Orion | GR | To the left of NGC 2023 and below NGC 2024 | |
| IC 447 | Dreyer's Nebula | Monoceros | GN | Reflection nebula not far from the Christmas Tree Cluster/Cone Nebula NGC 2264 |
| IC 1396 | Elephant Trunk | Cepheus | GE | Dark nebula; poor section |
| IC 2169 | Inside IC 447 | Monoceros | DN | Dark nebula in Dreyer's Nebula IC 447 |
| IC 2177 | Sea Gull Nebula | Monoceros | GNE | Red emission nebula, extended, the wings do not fit |
| IC 5070 | Pelican Nebula | Cygnus | GNE | Large reddish nebula; together with NGC 7000 (partly) |
| M 1 | Crab Nebula | Taurus | GE/SR | Small, but nice; supernova remnant |
| M 15 | Pegasus | GC | Supposedly, it is the best globular cluster in autumn, bright core; small with the Dwarf mini | |
| M 31 | Andromeda Galaxy | Andromeda | G | Together with M 32 and M 110; too large for the FOV of the Dwarf mini (in this orientation); fits as a mosaic |
| M 32 | Together with M 31 and M 110 | Andromeda | G | Together with M 31 and M 110 |
| M 33 | Triangulum Galaxy | Triangulum | G | Quite impressive |
| M 34 | Perseus | OC | Large and nice open star cluster, reminds me of M 41 | |
| M 42 | Orion Nebula | Orion | GN | Nebula partly captured with clouds and also as a mosaic with more DSO (NGC 1977, 1980, and 1981); with and without DuoBand filter |
| M 43 | De Mairan's Nebula | Orion | GN | |
| M 44 | Praesepe, Beehive | Cancer | OC | Very large |
| M 45 | Pleiades, Seven Sisters | Taurus | OC | Somewhat large, but fits a mosaic; hints of the nebulae in M 45 recognizable (NGC 1432, NGC 1435, and more) |
| M 46 | with NGC 2438 (PN) | Puppis | OC | Large; NGC 2438 (PN) on the photo! M 46 and M 47 in the same FoV (mosaic) with NGC 2423 and NGC 2425 |
| M 47 | Puppis | OC | Large, contains some large bright stars; M 47 and M 46 in the same FoV (mosaic) with NGC 2423 and NGC 2425 | |
| M 78 | with NGC 2071 | Orion | GE | Nice to see, together with NGC 2071 (and with a section of Sh2-276 in a mosaic) |
| M 110 | Andromeda | G | Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy M 31, together with M 31 and M 32 | |
| NGC 752 | Andromeda | OC | Large, loose open star cluster | |
| NGC 891 | Andromeda | G | Seen from the edge, small | |
| NGC 1499 | California Nebula | Perseus | GN | Large red nebula, requires a mosaic with the Dwarf mini |
| NGC 1977 | Running Man Nebula | Orion | GN | Called Running Man Nebula because of the form of a dark nebula inside of it; in a mosaic together with M 42/43, NGC 1981 (top), and NGC 1980 (bottom) |
| NGC 1980 | Lost Jewel of Orion | Orion | OC+GN | Diffuse nebula and open star cluster below the Orion Nebula; together with M 42/43, NGC 1977 (above M 42/43), and NGC 1980 (top) |
| NGC 1981 | Coal Car Cluster | Orion | OC | Open star cluster above the Running Man Nebula; together with M 42/43, NGC 1977, and NGC 1980 (bottom). |
| NGC 2023 | Orion | GN | Close to the Horsehead Nebula B 33 | |
| NGC 2024 | Flame Nebula | Orion | GN | Together with B 33 in a mosaic; plus NGC 2023 close to B 33 |
| NGC 2071 | with M 78 | Orion | GR | North of M 78 in Orion |
| NGC 2169 | Little Pleiades, 37 Cluster | Orion | OS | Compact cluster that is said to remind of the Pleiades |
| NGC 2237-39/46 | Rosette Nebula | Capricornus | GN | Observed as a mosaic with and without DB filter |
| NGC 2244 | Star cluster in Rosette Nebula | Monoceros | OC+GN | Cluster at the center of the Rosette Nebula; observed as a mosaic with and without DB filter |
| NGC 2261 | Hubble's Variable Nebula; together with NGC 2264 | Monoceros | GN | Looks like a comet; partly together with NGC 2264 in the FOV |
| NGC 2264 | Christmas Tree Cluster and Cone Nebula; together with NGC 2261 | Monoceros | OC+DN | Partly together with NGC 2261; observed as a mosaic with and without DB filter |
| NGC 2438 | within M 46 | Puppis | PN | Planetary nebula inside of M 46 (very small) |
| NGC 7000 | North America Nebula | Cygnus | GN | Only partly visible; together with IC 5070 (partly) |
| Sh2-261 | Lower's Nebula | Orion | GNE | Faint galactic emission nebula |
| Sh2-276 | Barnard's Loop | Orion | GNE | Faint extended galactic emission nebula |
| Moon | M | Observed during different phases | ||
| Sun | S | Observed with different numbers of sun spots |
G = galaxy, GaC = galaxy cluster, OC = open star cluster, GC = globular star cluster, GE = galactic emission nebula, GR = galactic reflection nebula, DN = dark nebula, C = comet, PN = planetary nebula, SP = star pattern, A = Asterism, SR = Supernova remnant, HII = HII region (emission nebula in other galaxies)
References
Books
- Michael Feiler & Philip Novak (2023). Deep Sky Reiseatlas (5th edition), Oculum Verlag (ISBN 978-3-949370-04-5)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=608 - Ronald Stoyan (2021). Deep Sky Reiseführer (6th edition), Oculum Verlag (ISBN: 978-3-938649-72-9)
www.oculum-verlag.de/detailview?no=603 - Erich Karkoschka (2022). Atlas für Himmelsbeobachter, Kosmos Verlag (EAN: 9783440173602)
www.kosmos.de/de/atlas-fur-himmelsbeobachter_1074889_9783440173602
On this Website
- My Deep Sky Observations with the Dwarf mini (Complete List of Observed DSO)
- Dwarf mini - Information
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made by  on a mac! |
| 22.03.2026 |  |