Brightest nebulae
Here are the brightest nebulae in the night sky, ordered by constellation. Brightness, when applied to extended diffuse objects like nebulae, can be a tricky word. Apparent magnitude is listed, but should be used cautiously when applied solely for brightness as perceived by the human eye. For nebulae, "brightness" is a function of magnitude, surface brightness, and apparent size. This is because apparent magnitude applies most accurately to brightness for point objects like stars. Nebulae have an apparent size in the night sky, so their magnitude is "spread out" across it. The larger the nebula, the dimmer it appears, all other things being equal. See the sidebar for more information.
Also see 150 notable nebulae.
Top 10 best nebulae for telescopes
These are the 10 best and brightest nebulae for telescopes, ordered by approximate awesomness:
Bright Messier nebulae
Here are the brightest nebulae listed in the Messier catalog, ordered by constellation. Messier nebulae are predominately found in the northern hemisphere.
| NEBULA | MAGNITUDE | CONSTELLATION | |
| De Mairan's Nebula |  |
9 | Orion |
| Orion Nebula |  |
4 | Orion |
| Little Dumbbell Nebula |  |
10.1 | Perseus |
| Lagoon Nebula |  |
6 | Sagittarius |
| Omega Nebula |  |
6 | Sagittarius |
| Trifid Nebula |  |
6.3 | Sagittarius |
| Eagle Nebula |  |
6 | Serpens Claudia |
| Crab Nebula |  |
8.4 | Taurus |
| Owl Nebula |  |
10 | Ursa Major |
| Dumbbell Nebula |  |
7.5 | Vulpecula |
Bright Caldwell galaxies
Here are the brightest nebulae listed in the Caldwell catalog, ordered by constellation. Caldwell nebulae are predominately found in the southern hemisphere.
| NEBULA | MAGNITUDE | CONSTELLATION | |
| Helix Nebula |  |
7.3 | Aquarius |
| Saturn Nebula |  |
8 | Aquarius |
| Flaming Star Nebula |  |
6 | Auriga |
| Eta Carinae Nebula |  |
3 | Carina |
| Bubble Nebula |  |
10 | Casseopeia |
| Bow-Tie Nebula |  |
12 | Cepheus |
| Cave Nebula |  |
7.7 | Cepheus |
| Iris Nebula |  |
7 | Cepheus |
| R crA Nebula |  |
Corona Australis | |
| Coalsack |  |
Crux | |
| Blinking Planetary |  |
8.8 | Cygnus |
| Cocoon Nebula |  |
7.2 | Cygnus |
| Crescent Nebula |  |
7.4 | Cygnus |
| E. Veil Nebula |  |
7 | Cygnus |
| North America Nebula |  |
4 | Cygnus |
| W. Veil Nebula |  |
7 | Cygnus |
| Tarantula Nebula |  |
8.2 | Dorado |
| Cat's Eye Nebula |  |
8.1 | Draco |
| Eskimo Nebula |  |
9.2 | Gemini |
| Ghost of Jupiter |  |
7.8 | Hydra |
| Hubble?s Variable Nebula |  |
9 | Monoceros |
| Rosette Nebula |  |
9 | Monoceros |
| Bug Nebula |  |
9.6 | Scorpius |
| Eight Burst Nebula |  |
9.4 | Vela |
Bright Herschel nebulae
Here are the brightest nebulae listed in the Herschel 400 catalog, ordered by constellation. Herschel nebulae are generally fainter and harder to spot than Messier and Caldwell nebulae.
| NEBULA | MAGNITUDE | CONSTELLATION | |
| Saturn Nebula |  |
8 | Aquarius |
| Bow-Tie Nebula |  |
11 | Cepheus |
| Blinking Planetary |  |
10 | Cygnus |
| Fetus Nebula |  |
13 | Cygnus |
| N. American Nebula |  |
4 | Cygnus |
| Blue Flash Nebula |  |
12 | Delphinus |
| Cats Eye Nebula |  |
9 | Draco |
| Eskimo Nebula |  |
10 | Gemini |
| Ghost of Jupiter |  |
9 | Hydra |
| Little Ghost Nebula |  |
13 | Ophiuchus |
| Flame Nebula |  |
10 | Orion |
| Lost Jewel of Orion |  |
Orion | |
| Little Dumbbell Nebula |  |
12 | Perseus |
| Box Nebula |  |
13 | Sagittarius |
| Little Gem Nebula |  |
10 | Sagittarius |