Observer: Mark G.Birkmann
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: 4-26-2000, 9:00 UT (4:00 CDT)
Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat ~38, Elev ~700 feet)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 5 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>
Seeing: 4, sometimes 5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 40" f/5 dob
Magnification: 556x
Filter(s): none
Category: Planetary nebula.
Class: 4+2
Constellation: Ophiuchus
Data: mag 12.9(p) size 38"
Position: RA 17h:29m 20.4s DEC -23:45' 35"
Description:
This little planetary is relatively easy to find due
to its proximity to nearby naked eye stars in southern Ophiuchus.
This nebula consists of a ring about equal in thickness to 1/4th its diameter.
The northen edge of the ring is much brighter than the rest of the nebula.
The central area was only slightly brighter than the surrounding sky and
the 16th mag. central
star was not seen. I noted no color in this pn
at any power and it responded very well to an OIII filter.
Note added 5-4-00: North is roughly down.
The faintest of the 3 stars is actually an artifact as is the stellar bright
area in the south side of the ring.