Planetary Nebula Abell 3
History
The planetary nebula Abell 3 (PK 131+2.1) was discovered in 1955 by the American astronomer George Ogden Abell on the photo plates of the Palomar Observatory Sky Survey (POSS). In 1955 he published a first list of 13 globular clusters and the positions of 73 planetary nebulae. The PN had the number 3 (A55 3). In 1966 Abell published a completed list including the size and description of the 86 planetary nebulae discovered on the POSS photo plates. He described the morphological appearance of the PN as «D» (a ring of variable thickness). [331, 332]
The designation PK 131+2.1 comes from the two Czechoslovak astronomers Luboš Perek and Luboš Kohoutek, who in 1967 compiled a catalog of all the planetary nebulae of the Milky Way known at the time. [146]
Physical Properties
| Designations | PN G131.5+02.6: A 3, PK 131+02.1, A55 3, ARO 204, Sh 2-189, VV'12 |
| Right Ascension (J2000.0) | 02h 12m 12s |
| Declination (J2000.0) | +64° 09' 05" |
| Dimensions | 60." (optical) |
| Expansion Velocity | 30. (O-III) 35. (N-II) km/s |
| C-Star Designations | AG82 14 |
| C-Star Magnitude | B: 18.8 |
| Discoverer | ABELL 1955 |
Finder Chart
The planetary nebula Abell 3 is located in the constellation Cassiopeia. On 27 October it is in opposition to the Sun and crosses the meridian at local midnight. The best time to observe is July to January, when it is highest at night.
