A "COOL" OBJECT for SUMMER!!
Dietmar. Love the image of the Eskimo Nebula - though being Summer is probably the last thing to think of, don't you think?
I have attached an observational description of NGC 2392 for you and IIS bloggers, which might be of some interest.
NGC 2392 / Eskimo Nebula / Sa2-5 / M 1-10/ PK 197+17.1 / PNG 197.8+17.3 (07h 29.2m+20 deg 53') is a bright PNe in Gemini discovered by William Herschel in 1787, who called it "remarkable phenomenon" - and still is! It is far more spectacular than Gemini’s other bright PNe which is some 8 degrees further north. Known as the Eskimo Nebula because of its obvious facial characteristic, it is likely in the Top 10 of all the planetaries in the sky. NGC 2392 lies very near the ecliptic by about 2.2 degrees South, and therefore can be occulted by the Moon (though I have never heard of someone see this!!) or have planets and asteroids near its position.
The PNe is also easy to find - some 2.3 degrees ESE from yellow 3.5 magnitude Delta Geminorum / 55 Gem / Wasat (07201+2159). At 9.1v (9.9p) magnitude is a surprisingly bright, and subtends the diameter of 19.5 arcsec. Classification is given as a equally double "3b+3b". Unusually, the central star is very bright at 10.5 magnitude - especially unusual among their kind. few objects surround this PNe.
AOST2 describes NGC 2392 as;
“A fine pale blue planetary nebula about 30" across with a conspicuous central star of magnitude 10.5 in a good contrasting field. The single elliptical prism image with central star streak is very clear, even in 7.5cm... ...called the Eskimo nebula, after its resemblance to a hooded face on photographs.”
This is a nice PNe whatever hemisphere you are in!
Regards,
Andrew
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