NGC 3699

 PLANETARUY NEBULA IN CENTARUS  

(Image centered at: ra 11 h:28 m / dec - 60º 05')

May 2022, Home Backyard in Martínez, Buenos Aires, Argentina

DATA

TYPE: Planetary nebula

APPARENT DIAMETER: 2 arc minutes

APPARENT MAGNITUDE (V): 11,3 (mag)

DISTANCE: not found  

IMAGE INFORMATION

INSTRUMENT: 8" ORION OPTICS UK (Ultra Grade Optics) w/Televue Paracorr working at at f5,75

CAMERA: QSI 583 WS

MOUNT: SKY WATCHER NEQ6, OAG with Starligh Xpress Lodestar

FILTERS: Baader LRGB Set, Astronomik Ha 6nm; Astronomik OIII 12 nm

SKY CONDITIONS: urban skies - Bortle 8

EXPOSURES: LHAOIIIRGB (60,60,80,30,30,30)

OBJECT DESCRIPTION AND IMAGE SESSION

NGC 3699 is another gem of the Southern Sky located in the constellation of Centaurus close to the border limits with the Constellation of Carina. It has an irregular shape crossed by a dark fissure in the middle. Ha and OIII narrow bands filters reveals an outer structure. For a long time it was believed that NGC 3699 was an emission nebula but in 1978 it was shown that actually is an oddly shaped planetary nebula. Its central star is a white dwarf and it is very hot indicating a relative young planetary. The irregular shape is the result o multiple stages of mass ejection. Since the distance is unknown, it physical size is also unknown.