Planetary Nebula Abell 3

Abell 3
Abell 3: Section of the DSS2. Here could be your picture. [147]

History

The planetary nebula Abell 3 (PK 131+2.1) was discovered in 1955 by the American astronomer George Ogden Abell on the photo plates of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS). In 1955 he published a first list of 13 globular clusters and the positions of 73 planetary nebulae. The PN had the number 3 (A55 3). In 1966 Abell published a completed list including the size and description of the 86 planetary nebulae discovered on the POSS photo plates. He described the morphological appearance of the PN as «D» (a ring of variable thickness). [331, 332]

The designation PK 131+2.1 comes from the two Czechoslovak astronomers Luboš Perek and Luboš Kohoutek, who in 1967 compiled a catalog of all the planetary nebulae of the Milky Way known at the time. [146]

Physical Properties

«Strasbourg-ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae» Acker et al., 1992 [141]
Designations PN G131.5+02.6: A 3, PK 131+02.1, A55 3, ARO 204, Sh 2-189, VV'12
Right Ascension (J2000.0) 02h 12m 12s
Declination (J2000.0) +64° 09' 05"
Dimensions 60." (optical)
Expansion Velocity 30. (O-III) 35. (N-II) km/s
C-Star Designations AG82 14
C-Star Magnitude B: 18.8
Discoverer ABELL 1955

Finder Chart

The planetary nebula Abell 3 is located in the constellation Cassiopeia. The best time to observe is July to January, when it is highest at night.

Finder Chart Planetary Nebula Abell 3
Planetary Nebula Abell 3 in constellation Cassiopeia. Charts created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. Limiting magnitudes: Constellation chart ~6.5 mag, DSS2 close-ups ~20 mag. [149, 160]

Objects Within a Radius of 10°

References