Spirograph Nebula.

[Liz]

We had our observing night last Saturday, which was beautiful and clear, alas the air was LADEN with moisture, but still a fun night with lots seen.

Dave (Strawb on IIS) was looking for the Spirograph Nebula at one stage, and i had never neard of it. Seems it is a PN (IC 418) mag 9.8, in the constellation of Lepus.

Looks pretty stunning in images.
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEM0ETYV1SD_index_0.html

Have many of you observed this one?

[jjjnettie]

I've only ever seen photographs of this one Liz.
Not sure what it would look like at the eyepiece.

[Paddy]

I find this PN very interesting to view. It has a lovely reddish purple maroony sort of colour. It tends to look stellar with direct vision and the halo really only pops up with averted vision, so it can be easy to miss. Well worth a look.

[Liz]

Thanks for that Paddy ... good to know that it is doable, and the look of it sounds mighty pretty. Will give it a burl.

Ta jjj, it sure comes up well in images.

[astroron]

Liz,It takes magnification well and as Paddy said it hasa nice red halo depending how good you night colour perception is :question:
It is a good object in the 16" and the colour is quite pronounced in my scope but other people have told me they cannot see any colour:shrug:
Averted vision may be the go if you cannot see colour straight on.
The PN is not big but is quite noticable :thumbsup:
Cheers

[pgc hunter]

I only ever see this PNe as a whitish disk. Haven't ever seen the red but it takes magnification well so you can get up to several hundred x on it if seeing is good.

[barx1963]

I observed this first on 14/1/10. Noted bluish "Neptune like" appearence, certainly didn't see red. No central star, needed at least 115x to see well.

Malcolm

[Liz]

Thanks guys. :thumbsup:

Tried last night, but time I got myself organised and scope working properly, Lepus was getting low, but now know where to look. :)