Planetary Nebula Abell 2

Abell 2
Abell 2: Planetary Nebula in Cassiopeia; 500 mm Cassegrain 3625 mm f/7.2, SBIG STL11K; 320+120+120+120 min LRGB; Bernese Highlands; © 2015 Radek Chromik [32]

History

The planetary nebula Abell 2 (PK 122-04.1) was discovered in 1955 by the American astronomer George Ogden Abell on the photo plates of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS). [331, 332]

Physical Properties

Most of these 86 PNs discovered by Abell on the POSS photo plates are large and have a low surface brightness, which suggests that their stage of development is advanced. The PN is approximately 3.9 kpc away [145]

«Strasbourg-ESO Catalogue of Galactic Planetary Nebulae» Acker et al., 1992 [141]
Designations PN G122.1-04.9: A 2, PK 122-04.1, A55 2, ARO 202, VV' 6
Right Ascension (J2000.0) 00h 45m 36s
Declination (J2000.0) +57° 57' 24"
Dimensions 36." (optical)
Radial Velocity -41.8 ± 3.1 km/s
Expansion Velocity 34. (O-III) km/s
C-Star Designations AG82 7
C-Star Magnitude B: 20.07
Discoverer ABELL 1955

Finder Chart

The planetary nebula Abell 2 is located in the constellation Cassiopeia, about 1 ° west of the 3.4 mag bright star Achird (η Cassiopeiae). The best observation time is July to January.

Finder Chart Planetary Nebula Abell 2
Planetary Nebula Abell 2 in constellation Cassiopeia. Charts created using SkySafari 6 Pro and STScI Digitized Sky Survey. Limiting magnitudes: Constellation chart ~6.5 mag, DSS2 close-ups ~20 mag. [149, 160]

More Objects Nearby (±15°)

References