Take your first image (using Discover)

Use this guide to browse the catalog first, choose your target, then plan your session. (Already know which telescope you want? See Take Your First Image Starting from a Telescope.)

Part 1 — Finding a target

1. Open the Discover section

   From the top navigation bar, click Discover, then choose an object type: Deep Sky, Asteroids, or Comets.

2. Apply filters

   Narrow the catalog to what's worth imaging tonight using the filters below. Leave everything on defaults to see everything visible, then click Find targets.

3. Select your target

   Pick a result — for example M 83 (magnitude 7.6, peak altitude ~89°, visible on T71, T72, T74).

4. Review the target detail page

   The detail page gives you three planning tools: Field of View, Altitude — Tonight, and Sky Track.

5. Compare telescopes

   Use the telescope dropdown to switch instruments. A wider scope frames the whole object; a narrower one fills the frame for a tighter, close-up composition. Compare the field of view to choose.

6. Find your imaging window

   Hover the Altitude — Tonight chart to find when the target is highest, and the Sky Track to confirm it's in astronomical darkness across your session. Here's the same pair of charts you'll use:

Part 2 — Building your plan

1. Open the planner

   Click Plan on T72 (or whichever telescope you chose) to open the planner with your target pre-loaded.

2. Name your plan and confirm the start time

   Give the plan a name, then hover the planner's altitude chart to confirm your start time and altitude.

3. Plan your exposures

   Add a row per filter. A balanced 2-hour LRGB set is a great first colour image — for example 12×L, 4×R, 4×G, 4×B at 300s, Bin 1×1. Adjust and watch the totals:

4. Save or run your plan

   Save Plan stores it for future scheduling; Run Now starts immediately (the telescope must be idle and past your start time).