What Is the NINA Sky Atlas?
One of the most powerful but underused features in NINA (Nighttime Imaging ‘N’ Astronomy) is the built-in Sky Atlas. If you have ever spent twenty minutes scrolling through Stellarium or Telescopius trying to figure out what is actually visible from your location tonight, the Sky Atlas is about to become your new best friend. It is a fully integrated target finder and planning tool that lives right inside your imaging software.
The Sky Atlas pulls from the same deep-sky object databases you may already be familiar with, but it filters everything against your actual sky conditions in real time. That means you see only the objects that are above your horizon, bright enough for your setup, and positioned for good imaging at the exact moment you are planning your session.
Opening the Sky Atlas
To access the Sky Atlas, click the Sky Atlas tab in the left-hand navigation panel in NINA. The icon looks like a small star chart. If you do not see it, make sure you are running a recent version of NINA (the Sky Atlas has been included since version 2.0).
When you first open it, you will see an interactive star chart centered on your current mount position. The chart displays stars, deep-sky objects, constellation lines, and a horizon overlay that shows exactly what is visible from your imaging location.
Setting Up Your Location and Time
Before the Sky Atlas can give you useful recommendations, you need to make sure your location and time settings are correct. NINA usually pulls these from your ASCOM mount driver or your system clock, but it is worth verifying.
- Go to Options > Equipment > Telescope and confirm your latitude and longitude are correct.
- Check that your system clock is set to the correct date and time with the proper UTC offset.
- Enter your elevation if it is not already populated. This affects atmospheric refraction calculations.
Once these are set, the Sky Atlas will accurately calculate object altitudes, transit times, and visibility windows for your specific location.
Filtering for Targets That Make Sense
This is where the Sky Atlas really shines. Rather than browsing an exhaustive catalog of thousands of objects, you can filter down to targets that actually match your equipment and conditions.
Minimum Altitude
Set a minimum altitude to avoid imaging objects that are too close to the horizon. I recommend a minimum of 30 degrees for most setups. If you have significant light pollution low on the horizon, consider raising this to 40 or even 45 degrees. Objects near the horizon suffer from atmospheric extinction, poor seeing, and light pollution.
Object Type
You can filter by object type to match your interests and equipment. Options include:
- Galaxies — Best for dark sky sites and longer focal lengths
- Nebulae (emission, reflection, planetary) — Great for narrowband imaging from light-polluted locations
- Star clusters (open and globular) — Excellent targets for shorter focal lengths and beginner imagers
- Supernova remnants — Often faint, requiring significant integration time
Constellation
If you know which constellation is well-placed for the season, you can restrict your search to objects within that constellation. For example, in late summer from mid-northern latitudes, Sagittarius and Cygnus are high in the sky and packed with nebula targets.
Magnitude Range
Filtering by magnitude helps you find targets that match your equipment capabilities. If you are imaging with a modest setup like a Canon DSLR and a short focal length refractor, stick to objects brighter than magnitude 10. With a cooled monochrome camera and narrowband filters, you can go much fainter, down to magnitude 12 or beyond.
Remember that catalog magnitudes for extended objects like nebulae can be misleading because the light is spread over a large area. A magnitude 6 nebula can actually be quite faint if it covers two degrees of sky. Use surface brightness as a better guide when available.
Reading the Object Details
When you click on any object in the Sky Atlas, NINA displays a detailed information panel. Here is what each field means and why it matters.
Altitude and Azimuth
These tell you exactly where the object is in your sky right now. Altitude is especially important because it directly affects image quality. Most atmospheric distortion, light pollution, and extinction happen below 30 degrees altitude.
Transit Time
Transit time is when the object reaches its highest point in your sky. This is your prime imaging window. Ideally, you want to start imaging an hour or two before transit and continue for an hour or two after, capturing the object when it is highest and the atmosphere is thinnest.
Maximum Altitude
This tells you how high the object will get from your location. An object that only reaches 35 degrees maximum altitude from your latitude will never be a great target, no matter how much integration time you put in. Look for objects that reach at least 45 degrees or higher for the best results.
Angular Size
The angular size tells you how large the object appears in the sky, which determines whether it fits in your field of view. Compare this to your camera and telescope combination. A good rule of thumb is that the object should fill roughly 50 to 80 percent of your frame for the best composition.
For reference, here are approximate field-of-view sizes for common setups:
- Canon T3i (APS-C) on a 750mm Newtonian: about 1.7 x 1.1 degrees
- Canon T3i on a 400mm refractor: about 3.2 x 2.1 degrees
- ASI294MC (APS-C) on a 750mm Newtonian: about 1.6 x 1.1 degrees
Sending a Target to Your Sequence
Once you have found a target you want to image, the Sky Atlas integrates directly with NINA’s sequencer. Right-click the object and select Slew to Target to send your mount to the correct coordinates immediately. Or, if you are building a sequence for later, you can copy the coordinates and paste them into a sequencer instruction.
Even better, you can right-click and choose Send to Framing Assistant to open the Framing Assistant with the object already loaded. From there you can adjust rotation, set up a mosaic, or fine-tune the framing before committing to the sequence. This workflow is covered in detail in our NINA Framing Assistant guide.
Planning a Full Night with the Sky Atlas
Here is a practical workflow for planning an entire imaging session using the Sky Atlas.
- Open the Sky Atlas an hour before sunset. Set your minimum altitude to 40 degrees and your object type to whatever you are in the mood for.
- Look for objects transiting between 10 PM and 2 AM. These will be highest during the darkest part of the night.
- Check the angular size against your field of view. Make sure the target fills your frame nicely without being cropped.
- Plan two or three targets at different transit times. Start with an object transiting early, then switch to a later target after the first one drops below your minimum altitude.
- Send each target to the Framing Assistant. Set up your sequence with slew, centering, autofocus, and guiding instructions for each target.
- Use the sequencer’s time-based conditions to automatically switch between targets at the right time. Our Advanced NINA Sequencer guide covers how to set up these smart logic blocks.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Sky Atlas
Use the Time Slider
The Sky Atlas has a time slider at the bottom that lets you scrub forward through the night. Use this to see how objects move across your sky and plan your session timing. This is especially useful for catching objects that rise late or for figuring out when to switch targets.
Save Your Favorite Targets
You can bookmark objects in the Sky Atlas by right-clicking and selecting Add to Sequence or noting them in a personal target list. Over time, you will build up a library of objects for each season.
Cross-Reference with Online Catalogs
For detailed information about an object, including professional images and scientific data, look it up on the SIMBAD astronomical database or Telescopius. The Sky Atlas gives you the planning basics, but these resources add depth when you are researching a challenging target.
Account for the Moon
The Sky Atlas shows the Moon’s position, which is critical for planning. A bright Moon near your target will wash out faint details, especially for broadband imaging. If the Moon is up, either choose narrowband targets that are less affected by moonlight or plan your imaging for the moonless windows around new Moon.
Seasonal Target Planning
The Sky Atlas is not just for tonight. By adjusting the date in the time controls, you can plan ahead for the entire season. This is invaluable for deciding which targets to prioritize before they disappear below the horizon for another year.
For example, from mid-northern latitudes:
- Spring is galaxy season. Leo, Virgo, and Coma Berenices are packed with galaxies.
- Summer brings the Milky Way core, nebulae in Sagittarius and Cygnus, and globular clusters.
- Autumn offers faint nebula complexes like the Heart and Soul, plus edge-on galaxies in Andromeda and Perseus.
- Winter is prime time for bright nebulae like Orion, the Rosette, and the Flaming Star, plus open clusters in Gemini and Auriga.
Use the Sky Atlas to identify your seasonal targets a month or two before they reach optimal position, giving you time to prepare sequences and test your equipment.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Ignoring Maximum Altitude
It is tempting to image that beautiful galaxy you saw online, but if it only reaches 25 degrees from your latitude, the results will likely be disappointing. Always check the maximum altitude and prioritize objects that get as high as possible.
Forgetting About Field of View
Some of the most spectacular objects are enormous. The North America Nebula spans over two degrees. If your field of view is only one degree, you will capture just a fragment. Match your targets to your equipment, or plan a mosaic using the Framing Assistant.
Not Checking Moon Phase
Even a properly filtered Sky Atlas view will show objects that are technically visible but practically ruined by moonlight. Always cross-check the Moon phase and position before committing to a night’s plan.
Putting It All Together
The NINA Sky Atlas is one of those tools that quietly transforms your imaging workflow. Instead of jumping between Stellarium, Telescopius, and your sequencing software, you can research, plan, and execute your entire session from a single application. Start by spending ten minutes with it before your next session. Filter for objects above 40 degrees, check what is transiting tonight, and send a target to your sequencer. Once you get comfortable with the workflow, you will wonder how you planned imaging sessions without it.
For the complete NINA setup workflow, check out our guide on setting up NINA for first light. And if you are ready to take your sequencing to the next level with conditions and loops, our Advanced NINA Sequencer tutorial has you covered.
Clear skies, and happy hunting.
