NGC 246 (AKA THE SKULL NEBULA)

PLANETARY NEBULA IN CETUS (THE WHALE)

(Image centered at: ra 00 h:47 m / dec - 11º 52')

October - 2024, Home Backyard in Martinez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: PLANETARY NEBULA

APPARENT DIAMETER: 3.8 arc minutes

APPARENT MAGNITUDE (V): 8

DISTANCE: 1,600 light years

IMAGE INFORMATION

INSTRUMENT: 6" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Sky Watcher Coma Corrector (0.9x) working at at f4.5

CAMERA: QHY 183 MONO

MOUNT: VIXEN GDPX, OAG with Starlight Xpress Lodestar

FILTERS: BAADER LRGB Set ANTLIA 0III & HA

SKY CONDITIONS: urban skies - Bortle 8

EXPOSURES: LHAOIIIRGB (45,60,120,45,45,45)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

NGC 246 (also known as the Skull Nebula or Caldwell 56) is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cetus. It is the first known planetary nebula to have a hierarchical triple star system at its center following a recent discovery using the Hubble Space Telescope.  As usual with planetary nebulas, the nebulosity is the result of ejected material of a one sun-like star. The shape of the nebula resembles a skull, therefore its nick name. NGC 246 was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel in 1785 while conducted systematic surveys in search of deep sky or "non stellar" objects. The nebula is roughly 1,600 light-years away with an estimated diameter of 2,3 light years. NGC 246's central star is the 12th magnitude white dwarf HIP 3678 A.