Object(s): NGC 40      Observer: Mark Birkmann   
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)      Date/time of observation: 7-9-99, 6:30 UT Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat N 38, Elev ~700')      Site classification: Rural Sky darkness: 5 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>      Seeing: 5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>Moon presence: None Instrument: 30" f/4, dob      Magnification: 150x-540x      Filter(s): Orion Ultrablock      Category: Planetary nebula       Class: 3b+3      Constellation: Cepheus      Data: mag 10.7p  size 48"      Position: RA 00h:13m 1.0s  DEC +72:31' 19"   

Description:  This large, bright pn was gray at all powers.  I noted small dark lanes on either side of the easily detected mag 11.5 central star.  The upper edge of the pn was slightly brighter than the central regions and the lower edge was much brighter.  A faint field star marked the location of a notch in the edge of the pn.  The pn was brighter with the Orion Ultrablock but I preferred the view without the filter since the faint field star was no longer visible.