Object of the Season (Winter 2019)

Planetary Nebula NGC 6309 in Ophiuchus

In 1876 Wilhelm Tempel discovered the small planetary with a 11-inch refractor. Due to its form, it is known a “Box Nebula”. The hot central star shines at 14.4 magnitude.

NGC 6309 in Ophiuchus - Credit Hubble Space Telescope (HST)
This image was supplied by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST).
Name
NGC 6309
Position (2000)
17 14 04.3 -12 54 37 (Oph)
Type
planetary nebula
Visual Magnitude
11.5
Size
20" × 10"
Distance
6500 ly
Other Designations
GC 5851, PK 9+14.1

Results of the observations of NGC 6309 will be published in DSO 185.

Wolfgang Steinicke - Nebulae and Clusters Section Director