NGC-2818 – Planetary Nebula in Pyxis

RA 09h16m01.5s Dec -36deg 37’37”

Size 93.0”x55.0” Vmag 11.9

This month’s challenge object is another off-the-beaten-path object in the southern skies.  NGC 2818 was discovered by James Dunlop in 1828.  It is a planetary nebula nestled within an open cluster, much like the more famous example of M46 and NGC 2438.  Interestingly, the cluster is not listed in the NGC as a separate object, but simply mentioned in the description of the nebula (“in a large cluster”).  Many atlases list both objects as NGC 2818, or one of them as NGC 2818A, but this is not technically correct.  Oddly, when I observed this object myself I made no note of the cluster at all; this may be because I was using the HAS observatory C14 so I may have been at sufficiently high magnification not to even notice the surrounding cluster as a cluster.  The nebula itself is of the two-lobed type like the Dumbbell Nebula M27, though much more “flattened” in shape.  My log is as follows:

4/2/2016 11:22 pm – 14” f/11 SCT 150x

Somewhat faint but still easily visible with direct vision; larger in size; elongated N-S; looks like two long streaks with a dark bar across the middle.  Strong response to both UHC and OIII filters; no central star visible.

NGC 2818 is in a bit of a dead area of sky, devoid of many particularly bright stars.  The nearest particularly bright star is ζ Puppis, which is quite some distance away.  However, the nearer stars β Pyxidis, ε Antliae and ψ Velorum are easily visible naked eye from the HAS Dark Site and should provide good starting points for star hopping using a good chart. 

The HAS VSIG would love to hear about your own visual observations of NGC 2818.  Send them to the VSIG list server.  To get on the VSIG email list server, contact me at stephenj@astronomyhouston.org.