Ghost of Jupiter
Also known as NGC 3242
Ghost of Jupiter is a planetary nebula in the constellation Hydra, about 3,610 light-years from Earth.
Planetary nebula in Hydra
Facts
| Type | Planetary nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Hydra |
| Position (J2000) | 10h 24m 46s, −18° 38′ |
| Distance | 3,610 light-years (its light set off about 3,610 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 12.15 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 0.1′ × 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 | 843 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Ghost of Jupiter is highest in the sky at midnight in February. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 51° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 21°. To see it you need a large telescope or long-exposure photos.
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 Hydra
- Alphard
- Ashlesha
- GJ 357
- GJ 433
- M48 (NGC 2548)
- M68 (NGC 4590)
- Southern Pinwheel Galaxy (M83)
- Spiderweb Galaxy
Everything in Hydra · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits