Planetary Nebula Abell 53
History
The planetary nebula Abell 53 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 was then listed as number 41 (A55 41). In 1966 Abell published a completed list including the size and description of the 86 planetary nebulae discovered on the POSS photo plates. The PN was then listed as nebula 53 (A66 53). He described it with «B» as «a homogeneous ring» [331, 332]
The designation PK 40-0.1 originates 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]
The lesser known designation ARO 183 originates from 1971 survey of microwave radiation from planetary nebulae conducted by Canadian radioastronomer Lloyd A. Higgs using the 46-metre Algonquin Radio Observatory in Ontario, Canada. [136, 137]
Physical Properties
| Designations | PN G040.3-00.4: A 53, PK 40-00.1, A55 41, ARO 183, VV' 478 |
| Right Ascension (J2000.0) | 19h 06m 46s |
| Declination (J2000.0) | +06° 23' 56" |
| Dimensions | 31." (optical) |
| C-Star Designations | AG82 345 |
| C-Star Magnitude | B: 20.9 |
| Discoverer | ABELL 1955 |
Finder Chart
The planetary nebula Abell 53 is located in the constellation Aquila. It is best observed from July to September.
