Free Planning Tool

Sky-Match Planner

Enter your equipment and location to instantly see your Field of View, recommended exposure time, and the best visibility window for any deep-sky target.

Telescope / OTA

Focal Length (mm)

Aperture (mm)

Camera / Sensor

Sensor Width (mm)

Sensor Height (mm)

Sky Conditions & Location

Bortle Scale — Suburban (5)

1 – Pristine5 – Suburban9 – City

Your Latitude (°N positive, °S negative)

Select Target

1,440 targets

Showing 200 of 1440 — refine your search

Results for M31 – Andromeda Galaxy

Field of View⚠️ Small target

86.6′ × 64.6′

Target angular size: 8′

Frame preview

Target is small in frame. Increase focal length for detail.

Recommended ExposureBortle 5 · 50mm aperture

5h 57m

Minimum total integration for a satisfying result. Double for richer detail.

Visibility from 51°✅ Excellent

80° at transit

~10h above 30° altitude per night

Declination +41° · Best above 30° for quality imaging.

📓 Ready to observe?

Log your session in your observation diary — your equipment and target are already selected above.

ℹ️ About these calculations: FOV is computed from sensor size and focal length. Exposure estimates are guidelines based on surface brightness, Bortle scale, and aperture — actual results depend on your specific setup, sub-exposure length, and processing. Altitude figures are approximate based on object declination and your latitude.