NGC3242 · Ghost of Jupiter
| Chinese name | 木魂星云 |
|---|---|
| Type | Planetary nebula |
| Constellation | Hya |
| RA | 10h25m |
| Dec | −18° |
| Apparent magnitude | 7.7ᵐ |
| Hemisphere | Both hemispheres |
| Best season | Spring |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Focal length | 长焦 1500mm+ |
About
About 4,500 light-years away in Hydra, the Ghost of Jupiter is a planetary nebula ejected by a dying star. It shows a bright blue-green double-shell ellipse roughly the apparent size of Jupiter's disk, hence its name. The central white dwarf is clearly visible, surrounded by a faint outer halo. Small and bright, it needs long focal length and high resolution to show its shells, a spring high-magnification target.