Object of the Season (Summer 2021)

Planetary Nebula NGC 6826 in Cygnus

NGC 6826 is a bright planetary nebula in Cygnus with a distance of 2,200 light-years. The central star is one of the brightest known stars in a planetary nebula. The object was discovered on September 6, 1793 by the German-British astronomer Wilhelm Herschel. NGC 6826 is known as the Blinking Planetary Nebula, due to a remarkable visual effect.

Planetary Nebula NGC 6826 in Cygnus - Credit: Bruce Balick (University of Washington), Jason Alexander (University of Washington), Arsen Hajian (U.S. Naval Observatory), Yervant Terzian (Cornell University), Mario Perinotto (University of Florence, Italy), Patrizio Patriarchi (Arcetri Observatory, Italy) and NASA/ESA
This image of Planetary Nebula NGC 6826 in Cygnus provided by Bruce Balick (University of Washington), Jason Alexander (University of Washington), Arsen Hajian (U.S. Naval Observatory), Yervant Terzian (Cornell University), Mario Perinotto (University of Florence, Italy), Patrizio Patriarchi (Arcetri Observatory, Italy) and NASA/ESA.
Name
NGC 6826
Position (2000)
19 44 48.1 +50 31 30 (Cyg)
Type
PN
Visual Magnitude
8.8
Central Star Magnitude
10.4
Size
36" (0.2 ly)
Distance
2200 ly
Other Designations
IV 73, h 2050, GC 4514, PK 83+12.1, C 15

Results of the observations of NGC 6826 will be published in DSO 189.

Wolfgang Steinicke - Nebulae and Clusters Section Director