Cat's Eye Nebula
Also known as NGC 6543
Cat's Eye Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Draco, about 5,240 light-years from Earth.
Complex planetary nebula in Draco
Facts
| Type | Planetary nebula (spectral type [WC]) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Draco |
| Position (J2000) | 17h 58m 33s, +66° 37′ |
| Distance | 5,240 light-years (its light set off about 5,240 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 11.28 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 0.6′ × 0.5′ (the full Moon is about 31′) |
| Filter | OIII filter (Planetary nebulae and supernova remnants shine mostly in the green light of doubly ionised oxygen: an OIII filter passes it and darkens the sky around it.) |
| Studied in | 1,207 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Cat's Eye Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 43° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 73°. To see it you need a small telescope.
Heights are worked out for India and for 50° N. Set your location in Settings to see them for where you are.
For tonight's best time from your own town, the darkness and the Moon, open it on the map and see its "Tonight from your location" card.
More in Draco
Everything in Draco · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits