Clear Skies
August 20th, 2023, 08:28 AM
This week's OotW is planetary nebula Henize 1-6 (https://aladin.cds.unistra.fr/AladinLite/?target=20%2018%2012.138%2B25%2038%2001.29&fov=0.147&survey=CDS%2FP%2FDSS2%2Fblue), located centrally in the constellation of Vulpecula (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulpecula). 30 Minutes of arc east-southeast of the bright variable and double star QR Vulpecula (Burnham 983 (https://www.stelledoppie.it/index2.php?menu=29&iddoppia=87139), A mag. 4.6-4.8).
The nebula was discovered and cataloged (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/127642/pdf) by Karl Gordon Henize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Gordon_Henize): astronomer, pilot and astronaut who passed away on the flanks of mount Everest. That's quite the resume (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unWtrXx7t64).
It's a small nebula, 20"x13" in dimensions, with faint outer regions, lacking a distinct central star. Its northeastern and southwestern edges are brighter, a detail that one ought to be able to pickup visually.
5' PanSTARRS
5202
5203 5204
Click here (https://clearskies.eu/csog/downloads/dsfootw2023#34) to download the observing guide in pdf.
In the vicinity:
An arcminute and a half to the southeast is the faint double star Pourteau 4342 (https://www.stelledoppie.it/index2.php?menu=29&iddoppia=87508), consisting of a mag. 11.2 primary flanked by a mag. 12.3 secondary. Farther to the northeast, at 21 minutes of arc is Burnham 985 (https://www.stelledoppie.it/index2.php?menu=29&iddoppia=87627). With a large scope the small reflection nebula GN 20.16.2 (https://aladin.cds.unistra.fr/AladinLite/?target=20%2018%2011.793%2B25%2038%2009.07&fov=0.15&survey=CDS%2FP%2FDSS2%2Fblue) southwest thereof can perhaps be glimpsed. As stated in the intro, QV Vul is to the west-northwest: its mag. 7.6 companion can be considered as non-splitable at 0.4", but component C is a wide one, shining at mag. 9.7 with a separation of 116".
As always, give it a go and be sure to report back..!
The nebula was discovered and cataloged (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1086/127642/pdf) by Karl Gordon Henize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Gordon_Henize): astronomer, pilot and astronaut who passed away on the flanks of mount Everest. That's quite the resume (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unWtrXx7t64).
It's a small nebula, 20"x13" in dimensions, with faint outer regions, lacking a distinct central star. Its northeastern and southwestern edges are brighter, a detail that one ought to be able to pickup visually.
5' PanSTARRS
5202
5203 5204
Click here (https://clearskies.eu/csog/downloads/dsfootw2023#34) to download the observing guide in pdf.
In the vicinity:
An arcminute and a half to the southeast is the faint double star Pourteau 4342 (https://www.stelledoppie.it/index2.php?menu=29&iddoppia=87508), consisting of a mag. 11.2 primary flanked by a mag. 12.3 secondary. Farther to the northeast, at 21 minutes of arc is Burnham 985 (https://www.stelledoppie.it/index2.php?menu=29&iddoppia=87627). With a large scope the small reflection nebula GN 20.16.2 (https://aladin.cds.unistra.fr/AladinLite/?target=20%2018%2011.793%2B25%2038%2009.07&fov=0.15&survey=CDS%2FP%2FDSS2%2Fblue) southwest thereof can perhaps be glimpsed. As stated in the intro, QV Vul is to the west-northwest: its mag. 7.6 companion can be considered as non-splitable at 0.4", but component C is a wide one, shining at mag. 9.7 with a separation of 116".
As always, give it a go and be sure to report back..!