PLANETARY NEBULAE : Part 2SELECTED LIST of BRIGHT PLANETARIES
|
Catalog. Number |
Common Name |
Con | R.A. (2000) h m.m |
Dec. (2000) o mm |
Mag. | Type | Diameter (arcsec) |
Nearest Star |
NGC 246 | Skull | Cet | 00 47.1 | -11 52 | 8.0 | 3b | 268″×222″ | φ2 Cet |
NGC 650-1 | M76/ Little Dumbbell | Per | 01 42.3 | +51 35 | 12.2 | 3+6 | 95″×42″ | φ Per |
NGC 1360 | - | For | 03 33.3 | -25 52 | 9.6 | 3 | 200″×170″ | α For |
NGC 1514 | - | Tau | 04 09.3 | +30 46 | 10.0 | 3+2 | 136″×121″ | ζ Aur |
NGC 1535 | - | Eri | 04 14.3 | -12 44 | 9.6 | 4+2c | 21″ | γ Eri |
NGC 2392 | Eskimo Nebula | Gem | 07 29.2 | +20 55 | 9.9 | 3b+3b | 19.5″ | δ Gem |
NGC 2438 | Pup | 07 41.8 | -14 44 | 10.1 | 4+2 | 64″ | 2 Pup* | |
IC 2448 | - | Car | 09 07.1 | -69 57 | 10.5 | 2b | 9.0″ | β Car |
NGC 2867 | Car | 09 21.4 | -58 19 | 9.7 | 4 | 24″ | ι Car | |
NGC 3132 | Eight-Burst Nebula | Vel | 10 07.0 | -40 26 | 8.2 | 4+2 | 47″ | q Vel |
NGC 3195 | “The Grey Nebula” | Cha | 10 19.4 | -80 52 | 11.6 | 3 | 38″ | ζ Cha |
NGC 3242 | Ghost of Jupiter | Hya | 10 25.8 | -18 38 | 8.6 | 4+3b | 75″ | μ Hya |
NGC 3587 | M97 / Owl Nebula | UMa | 11 14.8 | +55 01 | 12.0 | 3a | 210″×203″ | β UMa |
NGC 3918 | The Blue Planetary | Cen | 11 50.3 | -57 11 | 8.4 | 2b | 12″ | ο Cru |
NGC 4361 | -- | Crv | 12 24.5 | -18 47 | 10.3 | 3a+2 | 118″ | δ Crv |
NGC 5189 | The Spiral Planetary | Mus | 13 34.5 | -65 59 | 10.3 | 5 | 180″×120″ | η Mus |
NGC 5307 | Cen | 13 51.1 | -51 12 | 12.1 | 3 | 13″ | M Cen | |
NGC 5315 | - | Cir | 13 54.0 | -66 31 | 9.8 | 2 | 6″ | α Cir |
IC 4406 | Retina Nebula | Lup | 14 22.4 | -44 09 | 10.6 | 4+3 | 106″×38″ | ι Lup |
NGC 5882 | - | Lup | 15 16.8 | -45 39 | 9.4 | ?? | 5″/20″ | λ Lup |
NGC 5844 | - | TrA | 15 10.7 | -64 40 | 13.2 | ?? | 73″×52″ | η Cir |
NGC 6210 | Her | 16 44.5 | +23 49 | 9.3 | 2+3b | >14″ | 55 Her | |
NGC 6302 | Bug Nebula | Sco | 17 13.8 | -37 06 | 12.8 | 6 | 44.5″ | λ Sco |
NGC 6445 | Little Gem Nebula | Sgr | 17 49.3 | -20 00 | 13.2 | 3b+3 | 33″ | μ Sgr |
NGC 6543 | Cat’s Eye | Dra | 17 58.6 | +66 38 | 8.8 | 3a+2 | 19.5″ | ζ Dra |
NGC 6572 | Oph | 18 12.1 | +06 51 | 9.0 | 2a | 8″ | 71 Oph | |
NGC 6720 | M57 / Ring Nebula | Lyr | 18 54.6 | -06 26 | 9.7 | 4+3 | 70″×150″ | β Lyr |
NGC 6818 | Little Gem Nebula | Sgr | 19 44.0 | -14 09 | 9.9 | 4 | 17″ | 55 Sgr |
NGC 6853 | M27 / Dumbbell Neb | Vul | 19 59.6 | +22 43 | 12.2 | 4+2 | 400″ | 14 Vul |
NGC 7009 | Saturn Nebula | Aqu | 21 04.2 | -11 22 | 8.3 | 4+6 | 25″×100″ | υ Aqr |
NGC 7293 | Helix Nebula | Aqu | 22 29.7 | -20 48 | 7.5 | 4+3 | 900″×900″ | u Aqr |
NGC 7662 | Blue Snowball | And | 23 25.9 | -42 32 | 9.2 | 4+3 | 17″ | ι And |
This is a very tough choice because of the wide variety of objects to select from. Magnitude is certainly the major factor, but personally I think that visible structure and colour ranks more important in suitability and attractiveness, but after much contemplation, these are my own Top Ten Planetaries.
Last Update : 27th November 2012
Southern Astronomical Delights © (2012)