Object of the Week June 14th, 2015 - NGC 6804

Object of the Week June 14th, 2015 - NGC6804

NGC 6804
PK 45-4.1

Aquila

RA 19 31 35.2
DEC 09 13 31

Type: Planetary Nebula
Size: 35"

Magnitude: 12.2
Central Star Mag: 14.3

Discovered by William Herschel on August 25th, 1791 and then later confirmed as a planetary by Francis Pease in 1917, NGC 6804 is a fairly faint planetary nebula in the constellation Aquila. Lying approximately 4900 light years away, 6804 has a physical size of about 1.3 light years across. Easily located, NGC 6804 lies only 5 degrees west of Altair.

Visually at lower powers, NGC6804 is rather small, faint round object with not much detail. Filters such as the UHC or NPB and magnification will improve contrast and bring out some of its fainter details helping give up its elongation along an ENE-WSW direction. In my 25" at 350x I can make out two lobes on either side of the darker central region with the ENE almost appearing triangular. These lobes are orientated along the same direction as the nebula's overall elongation with a 14th mag star imbedded in the northeastern lobe. Unfortunately, my notes do not make mention of the central star. You can attribute that to my poor note taking!

So if you're looking for an interesting planetary this summer, please remember:

"Give it a go and let us know!
Good luck and great viewing!"

Attachment 1676

Attachment 1678

Attachment 1677
Copyright 2007 Jim Soloman

Had the chance to take a peek at this one from Grandview CA back in 8/16/2012. Here is unfiltered and NPB observation on this observation being the best of the 3 times I have viewed it.

Aql NGC 6804 Plan 19 31 35.2 +09 13 31 mag 12.2
Date: 8/16/2012 Time: 23:10 Site: Grandview
Scope: 18SmF3.7Pc Eyepiece: 7mmNag Power: 278.0x
NELM: 6.8 SQM: 21.60 Seeing: 5 Transparency: 4
' 1/18fov [1'] unfiltered. Glow is a filled in disk. Has a feeling of a slight EW elongation. W is 8pm. A line of almost colinear stars runs almost EW through the object. One in the center that may be central star. One on the right [E] that is just inside the glow and one on the left that is at the edge of the glow on that side. NPB filter yields similar size [1'] with better contrast but still non-distinct edge on the object. Still appears filled in in the middle with little if any central darkening. '

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dragan

Object of the Week June 14th, 2015 - NGC6804

NGC 6804
PK 45-4.1

Aquila

RA 19 31 35.2
DEC 09 13 31

Type: Planetary Nebula
Size: 35"

Magnitude: 12.2
Central Star Mag: 14.3

Discovered by William Herschel on August 25th, 1791 and then later confirmed as a planetary by Francis Pease in 1917, NGC 6804 is a fairly faint planetary nebula in the constellation Aquila. Lying approximately 4900 light years away, 6804 has a physical size of about 1.3 light years across. Easily located, NGC 6804 lies only 5 degrees west of Altair.

Visually at lower powers, NGC6804 is rather small, faint round object with not much detail. Filters such as the UHC or NPB and magnification will improve contrast and bring out some of its fainter details helping give up its elongation along an ENE-WSW direction. In my 25" at 350x I can make out two lobes on either side of the darker central region with the ENE almost appearing triangular. These lobes are orientated along the same direction as the nebula's overall elongation with a 14th mag star imbedded in the northeastern lobe. Unfortunately, my notes do not make mention of the central star. You can attribute that to my poor note taking!

So if you're looking for an interesting planetary this summer, please remember:

"Give it a go and let us know!
Good luck and great viewing!"

Attachment 1676

Attachment 1678

Attachment 1677
Copyright 2007 Jim Soloman

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Here are 3 more observations, the oldest going back to 1983. Looking them over I seemed to be fascinated by the numerous involved or nearby stars.

18" (7/11/07): at 450x this striking planetary appeared elongated 4:3 WSW-ENE, ~60"x45". Three stars are involved including the 14th magnitude central star. A mag 12.5-13 star is at the northeast edge of the halo and a mag 14.5 star is at the west edge with a mag 15 companion close southwest. The surface brightness is irregular and weakest on the southwest side and slightly brighter along the east side, giving a "horseshoe" appearance.

17.5" (7/11/99): at lower powers appears moderately bright, irregularly round, ~1' diameter with several stars involved or nearby. At 280x, the view is very unusual with three stars involved and others nearby. The brightest is a mag 12.5-13 star at the NE edge. The mag 14 central star is visible with direct vision. Finally, a mag 14.5-15 star is at or just off the west side. The planetary is slightly elongated 4:3 SW-NE with an irregular surface brightness. The rim appears brighter along the east and northeast side and weakest at the west edge. Nearby stars include a mag 13 star ~1.5' NE (nearly on a line with the central star and the star on the northeast edge) and a mag 15-15.5 star close south-southwest of the star at the west edge.

13" (8/5/83): moderately bright, elongated WSW-ENE. Unusual appearance as four faint stars are very near or involved including the faint mag 14 central star visible with averted vision. A mag 13 star is at the northeast edge 27" from the center, a very faint mag 15 star is at west edge and a similar star is just northwest. The rim is possibly slightly brighter on the east edge.

Observed this gem two nights ago (for the first time!) with my 6" achro refractor. Quite bright, elongated but I would not say roundish, sort of odd-shaped. I noticed at least two very faint stars superimposed on its edge, in a spectacular star field.

One of my favorite PNe in the northern Sky because of the bright outer shell and the structures in the inner shell. Very nice one.

16", 450x, [OIII], NELM 7m+
Attachment 1691