Little Ghost Nebula
Also known as NGC 6369
Little Ghost Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Ophiuchus, about 3,590 light-years from Earth.
Planetary nebula in Ophiuchus, a faint ring around a dying star
Facts
| Type | Planetary nebula (spectral type [WC4]) |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Ophiuchus |
| Position (J2000) | 17h 29m 20s, −23° 45′ |
| Distance | 3,590 light-years (its light set off about 3,590 years ago) |
| Brightness | magnitude 12 (smaller is brighter; the faintest stars the eye sees are about 6) |
| Size on the sky | 0.6′ × 0.6′ (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 | 338 scientific papers (SIMBAD) |
When and how to see it
Little Ghost Nebula is highest in the sky at midnight in June. From India (about 20° N) it climbs to about 46° above the horizon; from 50° N, to about 16°. 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 Ophiuchus
- Kepler's Supernova
- M9 (NGC 6333)
- M10 (NGC 6254)
- M12 (NGC 6218)
- M14 (NGC 6402)
- M19 (NGC 6273)
- M62 (NGC 6266)
- M107 (NGC 6171)
Everything in Ophiuchus · All 88 constellations · All sky objects
Data: SIMBAD (CDS, Strasbourg; the site's weekly copy) · OpenNGC · Data sources & credits