The planetary nebula NGC 3132 (also known as the Eight-Burst Nebula, the Southern Ring Nebula, or Caldwell 74) is located low in the sky in Vela, as seen from my observing location at 36°N latitude in central California. It is a beautiful blue-colored oval planetary displaying a bright outer ring, a dark division, and a bright center. What looks like a central star at the nebula's center is only a overlying magnitude 10 field star.
Attachment 61
