NGC 246 – PLANETARY NEBULA

Cetus

(ra: 0,47.0 / dec -11:53)

DATA

TYPE Planetary Nebula

MAGNITUDE: m_b: 8.0 (mag) , m_v: 10.9 (mag)
SIZE: 3.8 arc minutes

DISTANCE: 1600 light years

OBJECT DESCRIPTION

NGC 246 surrounds a 12 magnitude sun like dying star. The Nebula  expands in a diameter of 2.5 light years and because its skeleton figure is also known as the Skull Nebula. It has a non spherical shape and the texture of the nebula is quite irregular. The rings are visible in the outer edge as most planetary nebulas of this type

Although is not possible to see in the photograph the central star is in fact a binary system (or probably the 12 mag star is imposed in perspective) where its fainter member is entering in its final phase.

It is located 6 degrees north from Deneb Kaitos or Beta Ceti. Dark skies and 6 inches telescopes or higher are required to see it.

NGC 246 was discovered in 1785 by William Herschel

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: Celestron SCT 8. Vixen GPDX with Sky Sensor 2000

GUIDING: Synta 70/400 refractor, SXV guidecam Astro Art Control interface 3.72 Plug in

IMAGE ACQUISITION: Astro Art 3.0

SKY CONDITIONS: 1/3 Moon at 50 degrees of the object. Visual limit magnitude 4

CAMERA: Starlight Xpress SXV7at @ f6.3

FILTERS: Astronomik Type II, Astronomik CLS

EXPOSURES: LRGB (10,10,10,12) 1 minute subs

PROCESSED: Darks, bias and flats in Images Plus, Photoshop CS