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110000++ PPllaanneettaarryy NNeebbuullaaee VViissiibbllee wwiitthh SSmmaallll

TTeelleessccooppeess && BBiinnooccuullaarrss (Mid-northern latitudes edition)

by Scott N. Harrington (©2020)

For various reasons, I’ve always been fascinated by planetary nebulae (PNe) ever since I started

seeing the brightest in my Bushnell 7x35 binoculars. I pushed those little binoculars to their

utmost limit in my quest to see as many as I could. Then I got a pair of Celestron 8x56 binoculars

and did exactly the same with them; all the while using my vintage Meade 10-inch Schmidt–

Cassegrain telescope (SCT) to get a better look at each one.

But once I had depleted all that I could find visible in my 8x56s, I ran into a problem since I really

enjoyed “discovering” which ones were bright enough for binoculars – my next largest instrument

was the 10-inch SCT! And it’s capable of showing me hundreds of PNe, but I didn’t know which

were the next brightest to view. I solved that problem in the summer of 2017 after I made friends

with amateur astronomer and author Kent Wallace[1] of California. That’s when he sent me his

personal Excel file containing the entire SECGPN[2].

What I was able to do with it is arrange all the 1,143 planetaries that are listed as “true and

probable” by the visual magnitudes he has listed[3]. And that revealed to me a plethora of ones I

didn’t know about that were just beyond the reach of my binoculars. That’s when I decided to try

something unique; I started a survey to find out which ones were visible at 83x* in my 10-inch SCT

stopped down to only 50mm (2-inch) with a mask.

TThhee RReessuullttss I didn’t expect to see more than a couple dozen considering that I had already seen over 30 in my

two binoculars. So I was amazed when I was able to squeeze out sightings of another 76 PNe (plus

some bonus objects[4]) down to Declination -46°! It even helped me “discover” a few that were so

much brighter than their listed magnitudes that I was able to glimpse them in the 8x56s. Turns out

that while I am able to see down to a stellar magnitude of +11.0 in my 8x56s, I could actually reach

down to around +12.6 in my “new” 50mm f/53 telescope operating at 83x.

Contained within the first table are the two PNe that I’ve managed to see naked-eye – which is one

short of the current record. The second and third tables contain the ones that I’ve seen with my

7x35 binoculars and 8x56 binoculars, respectively. And the fourth table lists the 76 PNe I saw with

* Why 83x? When I started the survey, it was my lowest magnification at the time. I’m aware however that it’s a good 40x per inch of aperture,

which is quite a bit for some!

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my telescope stopped down to 50mm in aperture. Added all together, that’s a whopping 114 PNe

visible with an aperture smaller than the top of a drinking glass. Not to mention the fact that

exactly one-third were visible in nothing more than my 8x56 binoculars!

I had to use my NPB filter (a narrowband filter sold by DGM Optics) to confirm sightings of a lot of

the PNe on my list, but I never employed it to rate their visibility. So if it took a nebula filter (either

an O-III or UHC type) to see it, then it was too dim for my list. That being said, there are some PNe

that have high listed magnitudes but are not visible in small telescopes unless a filter is employed.

The best example that I know of is Abell 21 (+10.2), which is barely visible in my 10-inch SCT

without a filter but has been seen in telescopes as small as 70mm with an O-III filter.

UUssiinngg tthhee LLiisstt First of all, I didn’t make this list expecting anyone to try viewing even a single one of these PNe

with an actual 50mm telescope. I made it with the simple hope that more people will feel

comfortable going after the skies brightest (even though many are nearly stellar) above

Declination -50°. I think it’s an important work considering it highlights that one-third of them

don’t carry NGC/IC designations.

Right away you might notice that in each group with the same rating, I arranged all the PNe by

Declination. I decided to do it this way because I believe that it’s a more important factor to us

Northern Hemisphere observers than Right Ascension. I also didn’t list the exact size of each PN

because that’s just not that important to those that view with small apertures.

The primary identity I list each PN by goes like this: If it has a designation from either the NGC or

IC, I use it. If it doesn’t (meaning it was discovered after the second IC’s publication in 1908), I list

the last name of the discoverer(s) followed by a list number and/or object number.

Since I’m not including any maps or images to help you find and identify the PNe I list, I’d like to

recommend some free PDF resources. The first one is the star atlas I use all the time – Michael

Vlasov’s “Deep Sky Hunter” Star Atlas (2nd release). The second one is Alvin Huey’s very complete

Observing Planetary Nebulae and Supernova Remnants. And the third is Massimo Zecchin’s very

unique The Brightest Planetary Nebulae Observing Atlas (2nd edition), available at

www.webbdeepsky.com/publications/free/ in either white-on-black or black-on-white.

[[11]]KKeenntt WWaallllaaccee The first AmAstro* post I ever read by Kent Wallace was dated July 6, 2017. In it he wrote, “I

finally self published the planetary nebulae book I had been working on since 2006. It is titled

Visual Observations of Planetary Nebulae, Galactic, Magellanic Clouds & Proto, Planetary Nebulae,

with Mimics and is 496 pages in length.” He went on to tell how “In May I had the local Poor

* A Yahoo webgroup for discussing deep-sky objects and observations thereof.

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Richard’s Press crank out 100 copies for me and there are about 50 copies left at this time. When

those last copies are sold, then that is the last of them. I don’t plan on doing another printing.” I

bought a copy a year later and have been extremely happy that I did because of how amazingly

unique a work it is – especially considering he’s seen more PNe than anybody I know of! He

eventually did sell all his copies, but this year the Webb Deep-Sky Society began reprinting it, so it

is now available for purchase again at www.webbdeepsky.com/publications/books/.

On a final note, I’d like to say that Kent has been very generous to me with his time and

information. Thanks to him, I am now more than ever interested in viewing as many PNe as I can. I

have come to consider him my PN guru considering he’s done something very few have – tried to

observe over 1,200 PNe in our Galaxy alone. He’s even done something that makes me truly

jealous – seen PNe in another galaxy! That’s right; Kent has seen 95 different PNe in the Large and

Small Magellanic Clouds. The best I’ve been able to do in another galaxy is see over 60 globular

clusters in Andromeda – so you know what I’ll be looking to view when I go far south one day!

[[22]]SSEECCGGPPNN In 1992 – two years before I was born, in fact – the Strasbourg–ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary

Nebulae (SECGPN) was published. The authors inspected a list of 1,820 objects and classified them

into three categories: “true and probable” (1,143), “possible” (347), and “rejected” (330). It was a

major deal not only because it had been 25 years since Lubos Perek and Lubos Kohoutek

published* their massive Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae (CGPN) but because they had

only placed all their 1,036 objects into one category: “probable and possible”. So you didn’t always

know if what you had just seen was an actual PN or not. To obtain a copy of the same Excel file that

Kent gave me, you can email him at kwwallace@thegrid.net or me at sn4ark@gmail.com.

During my ongoing research into PNe, I learned some interesting facts about their rate of

discovery. First of all, when the New General Catalogue (NGC) was published in 1888, it contained

94 PNe. And the subsequent Index Catalogues of 1895 and 1908 added another 34. But even as late

as 1934, when Boris A. Vorontsov-Velyaminov published his catalog of PNe, it only contained 20

more than the NGC/IC combined. The reason discoveries of them were so much slower than other

deep-sky objects at the time is because of their size – about half of them measure less than 10”

across in the sky. So it took examination of special objective prism survey plates for objects with H-

alpha emission lines but with little or no continuous spectra to find them.

[[33]]VViissuuaall MMaaggnniittuuddeess In Kent’s SECGPN, he writes that, “Magnitudes are visual except when labeled with a "p"

(photographic). Some of the visual magnitudes were calculated by Dr. Jack Marling using

* Kohoutek continued to make updates to the CGPN roughly every 5 years and in 2001 he republished an updated version of the catalog now known

as the CGPN2.

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spectroscopic data. Most of the visual magnitudes were calculated by Owen Brazell using Dr.

Marling's equation and are from Mr. Brazell's "A New Catalogue of Visual Magnitudes for

Planetary Nebulae", Webb Society Quarterly Journal #104, April 1996. Additional magnitudes

were provided by Mr. David Frew.”

It should come as no surprise to avid deep-sky observers that “listed” magnitudes get less and less

accurate as they get fainter. That’s why I decided to not just view each PN but rate their visibility

so that you’d have more to go on when you try for them. Not surprisingly, some of the ones I

looked at were dimmer than there listed magnitudes would suggest while others were much

brighter. So it’s quite possible that of the 127 with a listed magnitude (in Kent’s SECGPN) between

+13.0 - 13.9, there are a couple stellar ones that would’ve been just barely visible to me. But I’m

pretty content with how many I found. I’m actually more interested in seeing how many are going

to visible in my new pair of Oberwerk 12x60 binoculars.

I would like to note that my using about 40x per inch of aperture gave me a great advantage when

it came to seeing the more stellar of the PNe but a disadvantage with the more diffuse. NGC 7008

is probably the best example of the latter and how with the use of much less magnification it

would be more visible. In fact, even though I rated it as “barely visible with direct vision”, I’ve

found it’s not very difficult in my 12x60 binoculars!

[[44]]BBoonnuuss OObbjjeeccttss Since it took me two years to make all the observations for this list, I did plenty of observing of

other objects during that time. And if I happened to view an object that was unique and especially

bright, I had fun trying for it with my 50mm mask. I hope you take a look at them too because

several of them surprised the heck out of me with their brightness. They really do demonstrate

just how much is visible to a small telescope owner if they try hard enough!

I’ve included two extragalactic H-II regions (NGC 604, Mrk 71), two symbiotic stars (V1016 Cyg,

HM Sge), two proto-planetary nebulae (CRL 2688, Minkowski 1-92), and three white dwarfs*

(WD 0955+337, WD 2032+248, WD 1620-391). You might be wondering what a “symbiotic

star” is and what’s so neat about them. They’re interacting binaries with the longest known orbital

periods and consist of an evolved cool giant star transferring high-temperature streams of gas to a

hot, luminous companion (usually a white dwarf) surrounded by a dense ionized nebula. This can

sometimes create O III emission lines that show up with the help of a nebula filter. The two I’ve

included do just that, and that makes them super-cool to me because they mimic the same

enhancement shown by most PNe.

* WD 0955+337 also goes by FBS 0995+337, WD 2032+248 also goes by HD 340611 or W 1346, and WD 1620-391 also goes by CD-38 10980.

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22 PPllaanneettaarryy NNeebbuullaaee VViissiibbllee NNaakkeedd--EEyyee

Primary ID PK # PN G # Const Rating Listed Mag

Size RA Dec Nickname

Messier 27 PK 060-03.1 PN G 060.8-03.6 Vul 9.5 7.1 - 19h 59.6m +22° 43’ Dumbbell

NGC 7293 PK 036-57.1 PN G 036.1-57.1 Aqr 10 7.6 + 22h 29.6m -20° 50’ Helix

Primary ID = Except for the ones with a Messier or NGC/IC designation, the name of the discoverer is listed.

PK # = From Perek and Kohoutek’s 1967 Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

PN G # = From the 1992 Strasbourg–ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

Const = Constellation that the planetary nebula can be found in.

Rating = Goes from 0 (brightest) down to 10 (faintest).

Listed Mag = All magnitudes are visual[3]

Size = A “+” means a disk is visible while a “-” means it appeared stellar.

RA = Right Ascension (2000.0)

Dec = Declination (2000.0)

Nickname = A nickname I knew of and liked or created myself

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2222 PPllaanneettaarryy NNeebbuullaaee VViissiibbllee wwiitthh 77xx3355 BBiinnooccuullaarrss

Primary ID PK # PN G # Const Bino

Rating Listed Mag

Size RA Dec Nickname

NGC 3242 PK 261+32.1 PN G 261.0+32.0 Hya 1.5 7.3 - 10h 24.8m -18° 39’ Ghost of Jupiter

NGC 6543 PK 096+29.1 PN G 096.4+29.9 Dra 2.5 8.1 - 17h 58.6m +66° 38’ Cat’s Eye

NGC 7009 PK 037-34.1 PN G 037.7-34.5 Aqr 3.5 7.8 - 21h 04.2m -11° 22’ Saturn

NGC 6572 PK 034+11.1 PN G 034.6+11.8 Oph 4.0 8.0 - 18h 12.1m +06° 51’ Blue

Racquetball

NGC 7662 PK 106-17.1 PN G 106.5-17.6 And 5.0 8.3 - 23h 25.9m +42° 32’ Light Blue Snowball

NGC 6210 PK 043+37.1 PN G 043.1+37.7 Her 5.0 8.8 - 16h 44.5m +23° 48’ Turtle

IC 418 PK 215-24.1 PN G 215.2-24.2 Lep 5.0 9.3 - 05h 27.5m -12° 42’ Raspberry

Ring

NGC 6826 PK 083+12.1 PN G 083.5+12.7 Cyg 6.5 8.9 - 19h 44.8m +50° 32’ Blinking

NGC 7027 PK 084-03.1 PN G 084.9-03.4 Cyg 6.5 8.5 - 21h 07.0m +42° 14’ Pink Pillow

Messier 57 PK 063+13.1 PN G 063.1+13.9 Lyr 7.5 8.8 - 18h 53.6m +33° 02’ Ring

Messier 97 PK 148+57.1 PN G 148.4+57.0 UMa 8.5 9.8 + 11h 14.8m +55° 01’ Owl

NGC 2392 PK 197+17.1 PN G 197.8+17.3 Gem 8.5 9.2 - 07h 29.2m +20° 55’ Eskimo

NGC 1535 PK 206-40.1 PN G 206.4-40.5 Eri 8.5 9.4 - 04h 14.3m -12° 44’ Cleopatra’s

Eye

IC 4997 PK 058-10.1 PN G 058.3-10.9 Sge 9.0 10.8 - 20h 20.1m +16° 44’ Distant Denizen

IC 4593 PK 025+40.1 PN G 025.3+40.8 Her 9.0 10.8 - 16h 11.7m +12° 04’ White-Eyed

Pea

NGC 6818 PK 025-17.1 PN G 025.8-17.9 Sgr 9.0 9.4 - 19h 44.0m -14° 09’ Little Gem

NGC 1360 PK 220-53.1 PN G 220.3-53.9 For 9.0 9.6 + 03h 33.2m -25° 52’ Robin’s Egg

IC 3568 PK 123+34.1 PN G 123.6+34.5 Cam 9.5 10.6 - 12h 33.1m +82° 34’ Sliced Lime

Messier 76 PK 130-10.1 PN G 130.9-10.5 Per 9.5 10.1 - 01h 42.3m +51° 35’ Little Dumbbell

NGC 2440 PK 234+02.1 PN G 234.8+02.4 Pup 9.5 9.3 - 07h 41.9m -18° 13’ Albino Butterfly

NGC 3132 PK 272+12.1 PN G 272.1+12.3 Vel 9.5 9.7 - 10h 07.0m -40° 26’ Southern Ring

BD +30°3639

PK 064+05.1 PN G 064.7+05.0 Cyg 10.0 11.4 - 19h 34.8m +30° 31’ Campbell’s Hydrogen

Envelope Star*

NGC 6302 PK 349+01.1 PN G 349.5+01.0 Sco 10.0 9.7 - 17h 13.7m -37° 06’ Bug

Primary ID = Except for the ones with a Messier or NGC/IC designation, the name of the discoverer is listed.

PK # = From Perek and Kohoutek’s 1967 Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

PN G # = From the 1992 Strasbourg–ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

Const = Constellation that the planetary nebula can be found in.

Rating = Goes from 0 (brightest) down to 10 (faintest), sometimes at half increments.

Listed Mag = All magnitudes are visual[3]

Size = A “+” means a disk is visible while a “-” means it appeared stellar.

RA = Right Ascension (2000.0)

Dec = Declination (2000.0)

Nickname = A nickname I knew of and liked or created myself

* Technically all I’m seeing of BD +30°3639 (Campbell’s Hydrogen Envelope Star) is its magnitude +10.0 central star.

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1144 PPllaanneettaarryy NNeebbuullaaee VViissiibbllee wwiitthh 88xx5566 BBiinnooccuullaarrss

Primary ID PK # PN G # Const Bino

Rating Listed Mag

Size RA Dec Nickname

IC 2149 PK 166+10.1 PN G 166.1+10.4 Aur 2 10.6 <30” 05h 56.4m +46° 06’

NGC 4361 PK 294+43.1 PN G 294.1+43.6 Crv 2 11.0 >30” 12h 24.5m -18° 47’ Raven’s Eye

IC 4634 PK 000+12.1 PN G 000.3+12.2 Oph 2 10.9 <30” 17h 01.6m -21° 50’ Rose

NGC 40 PK 120+09.1 PN G 120.0+09.8 Cep 3 10.6 >30” 00h 13.0m +72° 31’ Bowtie

NGC 6891 PK 054-12.1 PN G 054.1-12.1 Del 3 10.4 <30” 20h 15.1m +12° 42’

NGC 6790 PK 037-06.1 PN G 037.8-06.3 Aql 3 10.7 <30” 19h 22.9m +01° 31’ Eye of the

Eagle

IC 2165 PK 221-12.1 PN G 221.3-12.3 CMa 3 10.6 <30” 06h 21.7m -12° 59’

NGC 1501 PK 144+06.1 PN G 144.5+06.5 Cam 4 11.9 >30” 04h 07.0m +60° 55’ Blue Oyster

NGC 6884 PK 082+07.1 PN G 082.1+07.0 Cyg 4 11.0 <30” 20h 10.4m +46° 28’

Jonckheere 900

PK 194+02.1 PN G 194.2+02.5 Gem 4 11.8 <30” 06h 26.0m +17° 47’

IRAS 09371+1212

-- -- Leo 4 10.5 <30” 09h 39.9m +11° 59’ Frosty Leo*

NGC 5882 PK 327+10.1 PN G 327.8+10.0 Lup 4 9.5 <30” 15h 16.8m -45° 39’ The Wolf’s Orb

Humason 2-1

PK 051+09.1 PN G 051.4+09.6 Her 5 11.4 <30” 18h 49.8m +20° 51’

IC 4776 PK 002-13.1 PN G 002.0-13.4 Sgr 5 10.9 <30” 18h 45.8m -33° 21’

IC 4406 PK 319+15.1 PN G 319.6+15.7 Lup 5 10.2 >30” 14h 22.4m -44° 09’ Retina

Primary ID = Except for the ones with an NGC/IC designation, the name of the discoverer is listed.

PK # = From Perek and Kohoutek’s 1967 Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

PN G # = From the 1992 Strasbourg–ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

Const = Constellation that the planetary nebula can be found in.

Rating = Goes from 1 (brightest) down to 5 (faintest).

Listed Mag = All magnitudes are visual[3]

Size = The PNe are grouped into two sets – smaller than 30” (<30”) and larger than 30” (>30”).

RA = Right Ascension (2000.0)

Dec = Declination (2000.0)

Nickname = A nickname I knew of and liked or created myself

* IRAS 09371+1212 (Frosty Leo) is technically a proto-planetary nebula.

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7766 PPllaanneettaarryy NNeebbuullaaee VViissiibbllee wwiitthh aa 5500mmmm AAppeerrttuurree aanndd 8833xx^̂

Primary ID PK # PN G # Const Rating Listed Mag

Size RA Dec Nickname

NGC 6886 PK 060-07.2 PN G 060.1-07.7 Sge 1 11.4 <15” 20h 12.7m +19° 59’ Little Saturn

NGC 6803 PK 046-04.1 PN G 046.4-04.1 Aql 1 11.5 <15” 19h 31.3m +10° 03’

V1016 Cyg PK 075+05.1 -- Cyg 2 11.0 <15” 19h 57.1m +39° 50’

CRL 2688 PK 080-06.1* -- Cyg 2 12.0 <15” 21h 02.3m +36° 42’ Cygnus Egg

IC 2003 PK 161-14.1 PN G 161.2-14.8 Per 2 11.6 <15” 03h 56.4m +33° 53’

NGC 6309 PK 009+14.1 PN G 009.6+14.8 Oph 2 11.5 <45” 17h 14.1m -12° 55’ Box

IC 1297 PK 358-21.1 PN G 358.3-21.6 CrA 2 10.7 <15” 19h 17.4m -39° 37’

IC 1747 PK 130+01.1 PN G 130.2+01.3 Cas 3 12.0 <45” 01h 57.6m +63° 19’

Hubble 12 PK 111-02.1 PN G 111.8-02.8 Cas 3 11.8 <15” 23h 26.2m +58° 11’

IC 5217 PK 100-05.1 PN G 100.6-05.4 Lac 3 11.3 <15” 22h 23.9m +50° 58’

Humason 1-2

PK 086-08.1 PN G 086.5-08.8 Cyg 3 11.8 <15” 21h 33.1m +39° 38’ Baby Dumbbell

WD 0955+337

-- -- LMi 11.7 <15” 09h 58.3m +33° 28’

WD 2032+248

-- -- Vul 3 11.5 <15” 20h 34.4m +25° 04’

Merrill 1-1 PK 052-02.2 PN G 052.5-02.9 Aql 3 12.1 <15” 19h 39.2m +15° 57’

Jonckheere 320

PK 190-17.1 PN G 190.3-17.7 Ori 3 11.8 <15” 05h 05.6m +10° 42’

NGC 6804 PK 045-04.1 PN G 045.7-04.5 Aql 3 12.2 >45” 19h 31.6m +09° 14’

NGC 2022 PK 196-10.1 PN G 196.6-10.9 Ori 3 11.7 <45” 05h 42.1m +09° 05’

NGC 6778 PK 034-06.1 PN G 034.5-06.7 Aql 3 12.1 <45” 19h 18.4m -01° 36’

NGC 6751 PK 029-05.1 PN G 029.2-05.9 Aql 3 11.5 <45” 19h 05.9m -06° 00’

IC 4846 PK 027-09.1 PN G 027.6-09.6 Aql 3 11.9 <15” 19h 16.5m -09° 03’

NGC 6629 PK 009-05.1 PN G 009.4-05.0 Sgr 3 11.2 <15” 18h 25.7m -23° 12’

NGC 6369 PK 002+05.1 PN G 002.4+05.8 Oph 3 11.5 <45” 17h 29.3m -23° 46’ Little Ghost

NGC 6644 PK 008-07.2 PN G 008.3-07.3 Sgr 3 10.8 <15” 18h 32.6m -25° 08’

NGC 6565 PK 003-04.5 PN G 003.5-04.6 Sgr 3 11.4 <15” 18h 11.9m -28° 11’

Minkowski 3-6

PK 254+05.1 PN G 253.9+05.7 Pyx 3 10.8 <15” 08h 40.7m -32° 22’

NGC 5873 PK 331+16.1 PN G 331.3+16.8 Lup 3 11.2 <15” 15h 12.8m -38° 08’

WD 1620-391

-- -- Sco 3 11.0 <15” 16h 23.6m -39° 14’

NGC 6153 PK 341+05.1 PN G 341.8+05.4 Sco 3 10.6 <45” 16h 31.5m -40° 15’

NGC 7354 PK 107+02.1 PN G 107.8+02.3 Cep 4 12.2 <45” 22h 40.3m +61° 17’

Humason 1-1

PK 119-06.1 PN G 119.6-06.7 Cas 4 12.4 <15” 00h 28.3m +55° 58’

NGC 7008 PK 093+05.2 PN G 093.4+05.4 Cyg 4** 11.0 >45” 21h 00.5m +54° 33’ Fetus

IC 351 PK 159-15.1 PN G 159.0-15.1 Per 4 11.9 <15” 03h 47.5m +35° 03’

Minkowski 1-92

-- -- Cyg 4 11.7 <15” 19h 36.3m +29° 33’ Minkowski’s

Footprint Vyssotsky

2-2 PK 045-02.1 PN G 045.4-02.7 Aql 4 12.7 <15” 19h 24.4m +09° 54’

Minkowski 3-34

PK 031-10.1 PN G 031.0-10.8 Aql 4 12.6 <15” 19h 27.0m -06° 35’

NGC 6567 PK 011-00.2 PN G 011.7-00.6 Sgr 4 10.9 <15” 18h 13.8m -19° 05’

Merrill 2-1 PK 342+27.1 PN G 342.1+27.5 Lib 4 11.6 <15” 15h 22.3m -23° 38’

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Primary ID PK # PN G # Const Rating Listed Mag

Size RA Dec Nickname

Hubble 7 PK 003-14.1 PN G 003.9-14.9 Sgr 4 11.9 <15” 18h 55.6m -32° 16’

NGC 6833 PK 082+11.1 PN G 082.5+11.3 Cyg 5 12.1 <15” 19h 49.8m +48° 58’

Merrill 2-2 PK 100-08.1 PN G 100.0-08.7 Lac 5 11.5 <15” 22h 31.7m +47° 48’

IC 5117 PK 089-05.1 PN G 089.8-05.1 Cyg 5 11.5 <15” 21h 32.5m +44° 36’

Minkowski 1-61

PK 019-05.1 PN G 019.4-05.3 Scu 5 12.3 <15” 18h 45.9m -14° 28’

NGC 2438 PK 231+04.2 PN G 231.8+04.1 Pup 5 11.5 >45” 07h 41.8m -14° 44’ M46’s Buddy

Hubble 5 PK 359-00.1 PN G 359.3-00.9 Sgr 5 11.8 <45” 17h 47.9m -30° 30’ Double Bubble

Vyssotsky 1-1

PK 118-08.1 PN G 118.0-08.6 Cas 6 12.6 <15” 00h 18.7m +53° 52’

NGC 7026 PK 089+00.1 PN G 089.0+00.3 Cyg 6 10.9 <45” 21h 06.3m +47° 51’ Cheese Burger

NGC 6905 PK 061-09.1 PN G 061.4-09.5 Del 6 10.9 <45” 20h 22.4m +20° 06’ Blue Flash

HM Sge -- -- Sge 6 12.0 <15” 19h 42.0m +16° 45’

NGC 6807 PK 042-06.1 PN G 042.9-06.9 Aql 6 12.2 <15” 19h 34.6m +05° 41’

Shane 1 PK 013+32.1 PN G 013.3+32.7 Ser 6 12.9 <15” 16h 21.1m -00° 16’

NGC 6741 PK 033-02.1 PN G 033.8-02.6 Aql 6 11.4 <15” 19h 02.6m -00° 27’ Phantom Streak

NGC 6439 PK 011+05.1 PN G 011.0+05.8 Sgr 6 12.7 <15” 17h 48.3m -16° 28’

NGC 6445 PK 008+03.1 PN G 008.0+03.9 Sgr 6 10.9 <45” 17h 49.3m -20° 01’ Dead Tinny

NGC 2452 PK 243-01.1 PN G 243.3-01.0 Pup 6 11.9 <45” 07h 47.4m -27° 20’

Swings & Struve 1

PK 001-06.2 PN G 001.5-06.7 Sgr 6 11.9 <15” 18h 16.2m -30° 52’

Minkowski 3-1

PK 242-11.1 PN G 242.6-11.6 CMa 6 12.0 <15” 07h 02.8m -31° 36’

NGC 6072 PK 342+10.1 PN G 342.1+10.8 Sco 6 11.3 >45” 16h 13.0m -36° 14’

Minkowski 3-21

PK 355-06.1 PN G 355.1-06.9 Sgr 6 11.7 <15” 18h 02.5m -36° 39’

Fleming 3 PK 352-07.1 PN G 352.9-07.5 CrA 6 11.7 <15” 18h 00.2m -38° 50’

NGC 7048 PK 088-01.1 PN G 088.7-01.6 Cyg 7 12.1 >45” 21h 14.3m +46° 17’

NGC 604 -- -- Tri 7 -- >45” 01h 34.5m +30° 47’ M33’s Flame

NGC 2371/2372

PK 189+19.1 PN G 189.1+19.8 Gem 7 11.2 >45” 07h 25.6m +29° 29’ Candy

Wrapper Vyssotsky

1-2 PK 053+24.1 PN G 053.3+24.0 Her 7 12.3 <15” 17h 54.4m +28° 00’

NGC 6879 PK 057-08.1 PN G 057.2-08.9 Sge 7 12.7 <15” 20h 10.4m +16° 55’

NGC 6781 PK 041-02.1 PN G 041.8-02.9 Aql 7 11.6 >45” 19h 18.5m +06° 32’ Snowglobe

IC 4732 PK 010-06.1 PN G 010.7-06.4 Sgr 7 12.1 <15” 18h 33.9m -22° 39’

Vyssotsky 2-1

PK 007-06.2 PN G 007.0-06.8 Sgr 7 12.9 <15” 18h 28.0m -26° 07’

Minkowski 2-23

PK 002-02.4 PN G 002.2-02.7 Sgr 7 12.5 <15” 18h 01.7m -28° 26’

Cannon 1-5 PK 002-09.1 PN G 002.2-09.4 Sgr 7 11.9 <15” 18h 29.2m -31° 30’

Cannon & Mayall 11 (H1-50)

PK 358-05.3 PN G 358.7-05.2 Sgr 7 11.1 <15” 18h 03.9m -32° 42’

NGC 6563 PK 358-07.1 PN G 358.5-07.3 Sgr 7 10.8 <45” 18h 12.0m -33° 52’

NGC 2818 PK 261+08.1 PN G 261.9+08.5 Pyx 7 11.5 >45” 09h 16.0m -36° 38’ Pyxis Pair

IC 4637 PK 345+00.1 PN G 345.4+00.1 Sco 7 11.7 <45” 17h 05.2m -40° 53’

NGC 2792 PK 265+04.1 PN G 265.7+04.1 Vel 7 11.8 <45” 09h 12.4m -42° 26’

Markarian 71

-- -- Cam 8 -- <45” 07h 28.7m +69° 11’

11

Primary ID PK # PN G # Const Rating Listed Mag

Size RA Dec Nickname

Minkowski 1-74

PK 052-04.1 PN G 052.2-04.0 Aql 8 12.9 <15” 19h 42.3m +15° 09’

Nassau 1 PK 018+20.1 PN G 018.0+20.1 Oph 8 13.1 <15” 17h 12.9m -03° 16’

Minkowski 1-54

PK 016-04.1 PN G 016.0-04.3 Sgr 8 12.5 <15” 18h 36.1m -17° 00’

Minkowski 1-13

PK 232-01.1 PN G 232.4-01.8 CMa 8 12.9 <15” 07h 21.2m -18° 09’

NGC 6537 PK 010+00.1 PN G 010.1+00.7 Sgr 8 11.9 <45” 18h 05.2m -19° 51’ Red Spider

Minkowski 2-36

PK 003-06.1 PN G 003.2-06.2 Sgr 8 11.8 <15” 18h 17.7m -29° 08’

Mayall & Cannon 26

PK 353+08.1 PN G 353.0+08.3 Oph 8 12.8 <15” 16h 55.8m -29° 50’

Cannon & Mayall 9 (H 1-42)

PK 357-04.1 PN G 357.2-04.5 Sco 8 12.6 <15” 17h 57.4m -33° 36’

Cannon 2-1 PK 356-04.1 PN G 356.2-04.4 Sco 8 12.2 <15” 17h 54.6m -34° 22’

Cannon 1-3 PK 345-04.1 PN G 345.0-04.9 Sco 8 11.9 <15” 17h 26.2m -44° 11’

Primary ID = Except for the ones with an NGC/IC designation (and the Bonus Objects), the name of the

discoverer(s) is listed. In the case of both CnMy 9 and CnMy 11, they were discovered by Annie Cannon and

Margaret Mayall but it was Guillermo Haro who later first identified them as PNe. That’s why in most catalogs they

are called H 1-42 and H 1-50, respectively.

PK # = From Perek and Kohoutek’s 1967 Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

PN G # = From the 1992 Strasbourg–ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae. The numbers represent

galactic coordinates.

Const = Constellation that the planetary nebula can be found in.

Rating = [1] At the edge of being 8x56 visible, [2] Could hold easily with direct vision, [3] Could hold with direct

vision, [4] Barely visible with direct vision, [5] Could only glimpse with direct vision, [6] Took averted vision, [7]

Took full averted vision, [8] Could only glimpse with averted vision.

Listed Mag = All magnitudes are visual[3]

Size = The PNe are grouped into three sets – smaller than 15” (<15”), between 15” and 45” (<45”), and larger

than 45” (>45”).

RA = Right Ascension (2000.0)

Dec = Declination (2000.0)

Nickname = A nickname I knew of and liked or created myself

^ A multi-page Excel spreadsheet containing all 100+ PNe and bonus objects can be downloaded here.

* Even though many people use it as an identifier, this is actually an unauthorized PK number.

** NGC 7008 was the largest PN that I successfully observed with my setup, and because of its large size, it’s

actually much easier to see with less magnification.

12

AAcckknnoowwlleeddggmmeennttss I first need to thank Brian A. Skiff (Lowell Observatory) for encouraging me to become a member

of the online group AmAstro back in 2016. If it wasn’t for him, I don’t believe I would’ve become

acquainted with Kent Wallace – let alone acquire a copy of his excellent book. So as you might

expect, my deepest gratitude goes out to the aforementioned Kent Wallace of Atascadero,

California for dedicating the bulk of his observing energy to visually observing planetary nebulae

and publishing his results for the rest of us. He is the model of what an amateur astronomer can

achieve if they are dedicated enough. I’d also like to thank Steve Gottlieb and Mark Wagner for

generously hosting this and several other observing projects of mine on their website Adventures

in Deep Space.