NGC 6543

Combination of 5, 3 minute exposures, SBIG ST-8E CCD.
18" f/10.5 cassegrain at prime focus.

NGC 6543 is a small but bright planetary nebula in Draco, about 10 degrees east of the 3rd magnitude star, zeta draconis. It is easily visible in an 8" telescope as a small haze of light surrounding a bright central star. In the telescope, the light from the star dominates unless an OIII filter is used.

Combination of 10, 3 minute exposures unfiltered
and 5, 3 minute exposures using red green and blue filters.
SBIG ST-9E CCD.
16" f/10 schmidt-cassegrain with an f/6.3 focal reducer.

The faint patch to the west (right) of NGC 6543 is the 15.7 magnitude galaxy, IC 4677.

The planetary shows considerable structure in a large telescope. The image below is the same as that above, however it has been processed differently to show the structure within the nebula. The bright central star is clearly seen as are the two extensions beyond the main nebula. These are easily visible in a 10" telescope.

Combination of 5, 3 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.

Combination of 5, 3 minute images unfiltered.
SBIG STL-1001E CCD. 20" f/6.8 Dall-Kirkham cassegrain telescope at prime focus.