ABELL 39 (aka PK 47+42.1)

PLANETARY NEBULA IN HERCULES

 (ra 16:28.4/ dec 27:52)

June 2013 - Camping La Porteña - San Antonio de Areco, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE:  Planetary Nebula

Apparent magnitude: 12.9

Apparent diameter: 2.9 arc minutes

Distance: 7.000 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

SCOPE: 8" Orion Optics UK with Televue Paracorr

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

FILTERS: Baader LRGB, 2" IDAS LPS for all channels

SKY CONDITIONS: rural skies 35 % Moon

EXPOSURES: LRGB (60,30,30,30)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

Abell 39 was discovered by north American astronomer George Abell in 1966.  Its outer halo spans over five light years and it is the result material ejected from a "dying sun like star" as the star runs out of fuel.  What makes this object peculiar is the perfect round shaped and spherical outer halo. A good target from many astrophotographers...unfortunately for the southern enthusiasts Abell 39 is rather low, just 28 degrees above the horizon when is crossing the meridian.

Also in the year 1966 George Abell arranged a list of 86 planetary nebulas, which he had discovered on the photographic plates of the large 48" Schmidt Telescope on Mount Palomar