Deep sky

Why dark skies matter here

A galaxy’s listed magnitude is its total light spread over an area that can be larger than the full Moon, so it looks far fainter than a star of the same number. Light pollution and moonlight raise the brightness of the sky behind it, and the faint glow disappears. Star clusters cope best; galaxies and most nebulae need a dark site, a moonless night and eyes that have adapted to the dark.

Read dark adaptation and light pollution and why can’t I see it? before your first deep-sky night.