This page contains multiple drawings.
 
 
 

Object: NGC 3242 (PK 261-32.1; PN G261.0+32.0; ARO 4)     Observer: Yann POTHIER (France)  Your skill: advanced (many years)     Category: planetary nebula      Constellation: HYA      Object data: Vmag=7.7; Bmag=8.6; 40"x35"; type IIIb+IV; central star of Vmag=11.4; discovered by W. Herschel in 1785; ELCAT: [OIII,496+501nm] = 17 x [Hbeta, 486nm].      RA/DE: 10h24.80m, -18°38.0' (2000.0)       Date and UT of observation: 16 February 1994, early evening      Location & latitude: La Clapiere Obs. (France, latN44 40 00, longE06 27 36)      Site classification: rural, alt.1650m (5500ft)      Limiting magnitude (visual in UMi): 6.2      Transparency (1 to 5 - best to worst): 1      Seeing (1 to 5 - best to worst): 3      Moon up (phase?): no      Instrument: Coulter 445mm/17.5" F/4.5      Magnification: 145-312x      Filters used: OIII  Description: at 145x, bright PN, medium sized (about 70"x49" on drawing), oval in a NW-SE axis;  double-shell clearly seen, even without OIII filter; central part is annular but the ring is pinched on the SE side and has a brighter surface on the NW side; the inner ring is only 45"x35"; no central star visible.

 
 
 

Object(s): NGC 3242, Ghost of Jupiter Observer: Mark G.Birkmann Your skills: Intermediate (some years)     Date/time of observation: 1/14/2000, 9:30 UT (3:30 CST)     Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat ~38, Elev ~700 feet)     Site classification: Rural     Sky darkness: 5 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>     Seeing: 6 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>     Moon presence: None - moon not in sky     Instrument: 40" f/5 dob     Magnification: 235, 470, 858     Filter(s): none     Category: Planetary nebula.     Class: 4 + 3b     Constellation: HYA     Data: mag pn is 8.6(p), central star is 13.3  size 25"     Position: RA 10:24m 46.1s  DEC -18:38' 33" Description:  My favorite view of this planetary was at 235x.  The inner ring was an intense blue green superimposed on a blue grey disc.  The inner ring maintained it's color at all powers although it became less intense as the power increased.  The outer ring was grey at all higher powers.  The central star was visible at all powers, although it, like the nebula, became pretty fuzzy at 858x.  The inner ring was elongated and was much thicker in the long dimension.  The outer ring showed no detail other than a little brightening near the edges corresponding to the short dimension of the inner ring.

 
 
 

Vincent Le Guern.  0=perfect, 5=awful