How to find Makemake (and what to look at instead)
What it really takes to spot a magnitude-17 dwarf planet, and the best beginner targets in the same part of the sky.
Published 2026-10-23
Makemake is the second-brightest object in the Kuiper belt as seen from Earth, after Pluto.[1] “Bright” is relative, though: at its best it reaches only about magnitude 17.[3] For comparison, the faintest stars you can see with the naked eye under dark skies are around magnitude 6, and each step of 5 magnitudes is a factor of 100 in brightness.
What it actually takes
- A large telescope, usually with a camera. Sources describe magnitude 17 as within reach of a high-end amateur telescope.[3] In practice, most amateurs who record it do so by imaging rather than looking through an eyepiece.
- The right season. Makemake is best placed around opposition in March and April.[3]
- Accurate positions. It sits in Coma Berenices and is expected to move into Boötes in late 2028.[3] Generate a current ephemeris from JPL Horizons for your date and location.
- Patience. Even through a big telescope it looks like a star. Confirm it by imaging the field on two nights and spotting the “star” that moved.
Great beginner targets in the same direction
Coma Berenices contains the northern part of the Virgo Cluster of galaxies and the large, loose Coma Star Cluster (Melotte 111), spread over more than five degrees and including several naked-eye stars — a lovely wide-field binocular sight on spring evenings in the Northern Hemisphere. With a small telescope under dark skies you can hunt for bright galaxies in the area, such as M64, the “Black Eye Galaxy.”[8]
Gear that helps
If you're starting out, a pair of 10×50 binoculars or a 6–8-inch Dobsonian is a classic first step. Our telescope picker will match categories of gear to your budget, sky and goals.
Numbered citations link to the sources list on the Makemake overview page.