What you'll actually see

An honest list beats a brochure. Conditions vary; this is what a good night delivers by season.

Spring

Galaxy season: dozens of galaxies in Leo and Virgo, the Whirlpool, globular M3 and M5.

Summer

The Milky Way core, the Lagoon and Trifid nebulae, Albireo's gold-and-blue double, occasional Perseids.

Fall

The Double Cluster, the Andromeda Galaxy filling the eyepiece, the Pleiades rising.

Winter

Orion's nebula is the headline; the Eskimo, the Beehive, and Sirius's rainbow scintillation the undercard.