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NGC6826 · Blinking Planetary

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Blinking Planetary
Credit NASA · Public domain
Chinese name闪视行星状星云
TypePlanetary nebula
ConstellationCyg
RA19h45m
Dec+50°
Apparent magnitude8.8ᵐ
HemisphereNorthern
Best seasonSummer
DifficultyModerate
Focal length长焦 1500mm+

About

The Blinking Planetary lies about 2,200 light-years away in Cygnus, a bright, compact planetary nebula. Its central star is so bright that the nebula seems to flicker on and off as an observer switches between direct and averted vision, hence its name. Its body is a teal disk formed from gas shed by a dying star. Hubble imaging revealed a pair of red Fast Low-Ionization Emission Regions (FLIERs) flanking it, shooting outward at supersonic speeds. At magnitude 8.8 it is a refined and photogenic long-focal-length target in Cygnus.