Object of the Week - August 20, 2023 - Planetary nebula Henize 1-6 in Vulpecula
This week's OotW is planetary nebula Henize 1-6, located centrally in the constellation of Vulpecula. 30 Minutes of arc east-southeast of the bright variable and double star QR Vulpecula (Burnham 983, A mag. 4.6-4.8).
The nebula was discovered and cataloged by Karl Gordon Henize: astronomer, pilot and astronaut who passed away on the flanks of mount Everest. That's quite the resume.
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.
Click here 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, 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. With a large scope the small reflection nebula GN 20.16.2 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..!
Last edited by Clear Skies; August 20th, 2023 at 09:31 PM.
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