History

The planetary nebula K 1-3 was discovered in 1962 by the Czech astronomer Luboš Kohoutek on the photo plates of the «Palomar Observatory Sky Survey» (POSS). He wrote: «On the red print: ring nebula of non-uniform density of the dimensions 94"x90". Two pronounced symmetrical condensations are evidently due to the projection of the space ring into plane. Provided the actual shape of the ring is circular, the following conclusions can be drawn: deviation of the axis of the space ring from the direction of the line of sight 47°, true diameter of the ring 90", thickness of the ring 0.5 times the diameter. A fainter elliptic envelope of 150"x90" is superimposed to the basic shape of the nebula. Amidst the object, suggestion if a central star ~20 mag. On the blue print there is no nebula; suggestion of a central star ~20 mag.» ^[180]

George Ogden Abell listed in 1966 this planetary as number 38 and described it with «f» as «double or multiple rings.» ^[332]

The nebula was later included in the «Catalog of Galactic Planetary Nebulae» (CGPN) compiled by Luboš Perek and Luboš Kohoutek in 1967 and was given the designation PK 346+12.1, derived from the galactic coordinates and the order of PN's discovered in the 1°x1° square. ^[146]