Placed below is a short table of some of the brighter PNe’s that are commonly observed. All are visible in dark skies using just a star atlas and are suitable for small apertures. As your skills develop you may like to search for other fainter or smaller objects.
|
Catalog. Number |
Common Name |
Con |
R.A. hh mm |
Dec. o mm |
Mag | Type | Diameter |
Nearest Star |
| NGC 246 | - | Cet | 00 47.1 | -11 52 | 8.0 | 3b | 4.1' | φ(2) Cet |
| NGC 650-1 | M76/ Little Dumbbell | Per | 01 42.3 | +51 35 | 12.2 | 3+6 | 67.0" | φ Per |
| NGC 1360 | - | For | 03 33.3 | -25 52 | 9.6 | 3 | 6.4' | α For |
| NGC 1514 | - | Tau | 04 09.3 | +30 46 | 10.0 | 3+2 | 1.9' | ζ Aur |
| NGC 1535 | - | Eri | 04 14.3 | -12 44 | 9.6 | 4+2c | 21" | γ Eri |
| NGC 2392 | Eskimo Nebula | Gem | 07 29.2 | +20 55 | 9.9 | 3b+3b | 19.5" | δ gem |
| NGC 2438 | Pup | 07 41.8 | -14 44 | 10.1 | 4+2 | 64" | 2 Pup* | |
| IC 2448 | - | Car | 09 07.1 | -69 57 | 10.5 | 2b | 9.0 | β Car |
| NGC 2867 | Car | 09 21.4 | -58 19 | 9.7 | 4 | 24" | ι Car | |
| NGC 3132 | Eight-Burst Nebula | Vel | 10 07.0 | -40 26 | 8.2 | 4+2 | 47" | q Vel |
| NGC 3195 | “The Grey Nebula” | Cha | 10 19.4 | -80 52 | 11.6 | 3 | 38" | ζ Cha |
| NGC 3242 | Ghost of Jupiter Nebula | Hya | 10 25.8 | -18 38 | 8.6 | 4+3b | 75" | μ Hya |
| NGC 3587 | M97 / Owl Nebula | UMa | 11 14.8 | +55 01 | 12.0 | 3a | 2.8' | β UMa |
| NGC 3918 | The Blue Planetary | Cen | 11 50.3 | -57 11 | 8.4 | 2b | 12" | ο Cru |
| NGC 5189 | The Spiral Planetary | Mus | 13 34.5 | -65 59 | 10.3 | 5 | 180"x120" | η Mus |
| NGC 5307 | Cen | 13 51.1 | -51 12 | 12.1 | 3 | 13" | M Cen | |
| NGC 5315 | - | Cir | 13 54.0 | -66 31 | 9.8 | 2 | 6" | α Cir |
| NGC 6210 | Her | 16 44.5 | +23 49 | 9.3 | 2+3b | >14" | 55 Her | |
| NGC 6302 | Bug Nebula | Sco | 17 13.8 | -37 06 | 12.8 | 6 | 44.5" | λ Sco |
| NGC 6445 | Little Gem Nebula | Sgr | 17 49.3 | -20 00 | 13.2 | 3b+3 | 33" | μ Sgr |
| NGC 6543 | - | Dra | 17 58.6 | +66 38 | 8.8 | 3a+2 | 19.5" | ζ Dra |
| NGC 6572 | Oph | 18 12.1 | +06 51 | 9.0 | 2a | 8" | 71 Oph | |
| NGC 6720 | M57 / Ring Nebula | Lyr | 18 54.6 | -06 26 | 9.7 | 4+3 | 70"x150" | β Lyr |
| NGC 6853 | M27 / Dumbbell Neb | Vul | 19 29.6 | +22 43 | 12.2 | 4+2 | 400" | 14 Vul |
| NGC 6818 | Little Gem Nebula | Sgr | 19 44.0 | -14 09 | 9.9 | 4 | 17" | 55 Sgr |
| NGC 7009 | Saturn Nebula | Aqu | 21 04.2 | -11 22 | 8.3 | 4+6 | 25"x100" | υ Aqr |
| NGC 7293 | Helix Nebula | Aqu | 22 29.7 | -20 48 | 7.5 | 4+3 | 900"x900" | u Aqr |
| NGC 7662 | - | And | 23 25.9 | -42 32 | 9.2 | 4+3 | 17' | ι And |
(NO ADS!)