Observer: Mark G. Birkmann
Your skills: Intermediate (some years)
Date/time of observation: 9-7-2000, 7:00 UT to 7:50 UT(2:00 to 2:50 CDT)
Location of site: New Haven, Missouri (Lat ~38, Elev ~700 feet)
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 5 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>
Seeing: 5 <1-10 Seeing Scale (10 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 40" f/5 dob
Magnification: 408x
Filter(s): Orion Ultrablock
Category: planetary nebula
Class: 3a
Constellation: Cygnus
Data: mag 12.7(P) size 20" central star mag 14.2
Position: RA 21h:06m 18.5s DEC +47:51'08"
Description:
This planetary was easily found just 12.5' north of 4.6
mag. star 63 Cyg. The pn was blue/gray and the central star was not
seen. Megastar lists the central star at a fairly bright mag.
14.2. Maybe it is obscured by dust or the bright inner region of
the nebula? The overall shape of the nebula was rectangular, aligned
roughly north/south. A prominent dark lane ran down the middle dividing
the nebula into two almost equal segments. The central part of each
section was much brighter than the ends with the central section of the
eastern segment appearing to be shifted slightly to the north. The
bright section of the eastern segment also appeared to be very slightly
shorter than its western counterpart. The east and west borders were
very sharp and distinct but the north and south ends gradually faded away
into the background sky glow. Inserting the orion uldtrablock caused
the north and south ends to grow slightly in lenght. The filter also
revealed a very faint extension to the southeast from the south end of
the eastern segment. I could hold this extension more than 50% of
the time with averted vision but wouldn't bet my life that it is actually
there.