These nebulae are formed during the last stages of a star's life when a red giant star casts of its outer layers in a process which leads to the star becoming a white dwarf. The shell of gas expands outwards and is visible for a few thousand years. The remnant of the star that is left is an intensely hot white dwarf with a surface temperature as high as 100 000K.
This is a list of the one hundred brightest planetary nebulae:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
NGC/IC Common Equatorial Galactic Neb Star Angular Distance Con
Number Name Coordinates Coordinates Mag. Mag. Size (ly)
RA (2000) Dec l° b° (") [1] [2] [3]
NGC 40 00 13.0 +72 31 120.0 +9.9 10.5 11.6 36 -- 4600 -- Cep
NGC 246 00 47.1 -11 52 118.9 -74.7 8.5 12.0 225 -- -- 1600 Cet
NGC 650/1 Little Dumbbell (M76) 01 42.3 +51 35 130.9 -10.5 11.0 16.3 120 -- 2100 -- Per
IC 289 03 10.3 +61 19 138.8 +2.8 13.0 15.9 40 -- -- -- Cas
NGC 1360 03 33.2 -25 52 220.4 -53.9 9.5 11.4 380 1700 -- -- For
IC 351 03 47.5 +35 03 159.1 -15.2 12.0 15.8 7 39100 14700 -- Per
IC 2003 03 56.4 +33 53 161.3 -14.9 12.0 15.0 8 -- 11700 31800 Per
NGC 1501 04 07.0 +60 55 144.6 +6.6 12.5 14.4 52 -- -- -- Cam
NGC 1514 04 09.3 +30 47 165.5 -15.3 10.5 9.4 120 -- -- -- Tau
NGC 1535 04 14.3 -12 44 206.5 -40.6 9.5 12.2 18 4900 4200 -- Eri
IC 418 Spirograph nebula 05 27.5 -12 42 215.2 -24.3 10.0 10.2 12 5200 3900 -- Lep
NGC 2022 05 42.1 +09 05 196.7 -10.9 11.5 15.0 20 -- 10400 -- Ori
IC 2149 05 56.4 +46 06 166.2 +10.5 11.0 11.6 9 4600 7200 -- Aur
IC 2165 06 21.7 -12 59 221.3 -12.4 12.0 17.9 8 8200 14000 -- CMa
NGC 2346 07 09.4 -00 48 215.7 +3.6 10.5 11.5 55 -- -- 3000 Mon
NGC 2371/2 07 25.6 +29 29 189.2 +19.9 11.5 14.9 50 -- 8500 -- Gem
NGC 2392 Eskimo nebula 07 29.1 +20 55 197.9 +17.4 9.5 10.5 45 1800 3000 3800 Gem
NGC 2438 07 41.8 -14 44 231.8 +4.1 10.5 17.7 70 -- 3200 -- Pup
NGC 2440 07 41.9 -18 13 234.8 +2.4 10.5 17.7 30 8500 3200 5700 Pup
NGC 2452 07 47.4 -27 20 243.4 -1.0 12.5 17.7 19 -- 15700 10500 Pup
IC 2448 09 07.1 -69 57 285.8 -15.0 11.0 14.2 9 10100 9100 -- Car
NGC 2792 09 12.4 -42 26 265.8 +4.1 12.5 13.8 25 10100 11400 8200 Vel
NGC 2818 09 16.0 -36 38 262.0 +8.6 12.5 19.4 40 -- 8500 -- Pyx
NGC 2867 09 21.4 -58 19 278.2 -5.9 9.5 16.6 15 -- 12400 6200 Car
NGC 2899 09 27.1 -56 06 277.2 -3.8 12.0 15.9 90 -- 6500 -- Vel
IC 2501 09 38.8 -60 06 281.0 -5.7 11.0 14.5 2 19200 -- -- Car
NGC 3132 Eight Burst nebula 10 07.0 -40 26 272.1 +12.4 8.5 10.1 45 -- 2200 2100 Vel
IC 2553 10 09.3 -62 37 285.5 -5.4 11.5 15.5 9 1700 13400 -- Car
NGC 3195 10 09.3 -80 52 296.6 -20.0 11.5 15.3 40 -- -- -- Cha
NGC 3211 10 17.8 -62 40 286.3 -4.9 11.5 18.0 16 12100 5900 9200 Car
NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter 10 24.8 -18 39 261.1 +32.1 9.5 12.3 40 3600 3900 2900 Hya
IC 2621 11 00.3 -65 15 291.6 -4.8 11.5 15.4 5 15300 8200 15500 Car
NGC 3587 Owl nebula (M97) 11 14.8 +55 01 148.5 +57.1 11.0 16.0 190 -- 2200 -- UMa
NGC 3699 11 28.0 -59 57 292.7 +1.3 11.0 ? 45 -- -- -- Cen
NGC 3918 Blue planetary nebula 11 50.3 -57 11 294.7 +4.7 8.0 ? 16 4900 6800 5000 Cen
NGC 4361 12 24.5 -18 47 294.1 +43.6 10.5 13.2 100 4900 5200 4700 Crv
IC 3568 12 33.1 +82 34 123.7 +34.5 11.5 13.5 15 8200 11400 -- Cam
IC 4191 13 08.8 -67 39 304.6 -4.8 11.5 16.4 14 10800 14400 -- Mus
NGC 5189 13 33.5 -65 58 307.2 -3.4 10.0 14.9 140 -- 4900 4100 Mus
NGC 5307 13 51.1 -51 12 312.4 +10.6 11.5 14.7 13 8500 7200 8100 Cen
NGC 5315 13 54.0 -66 31 309.1 -4.4 11.5 14.4 6 -- 13700 8400 Cir
IC 4406 Retina nebula 14 22.4 -44 09 319.7 +15.7 10.5 17.0 30 -- 3000 -- Lup
NGC 5873 15 12.8 -38 08 331.3 +16.8 12.0 15.5 6 24500 19900 30000 Lup
NGC 5882 15 16.8 -45 39 327.8 +10.1 10.0 13.4 14 6200 8800 -- Lup
NGC 5979 15 47.7 -61 13 322.6 -5.3 12.0 15.3 8 -- -- -- TrA
Sp-1 Fine Ring nebula 15 51.7 -51 31 329.1 +2.0 13.0 14.0 72 -- -- 4700 Nor
NGC 6058 16 04.4 +40 41 64.7 +48.3 13.0 13.9 26 -- 9100 -- Her
IC 4593 White Eyed Pea 16 11.7 +12 04 25.3 +40.8 11.0 11.2 12 -- 6800 -- Her
NGC 6153 16 31.5 -40 15 341.9 +5.4 11.0 16.1 24 5900 6500 5400 Sco
NGC 6210 16 44.5 +23 48 43.1 +37.8 9.0 12.7 16 6200 10100 5300 Her
IC 4634 17 01.6 -21 50 0.4 +12.2 11.0 13.9 7 14400 16000 16000 Oph
NGC 6302 Bug nebula 17 13.7 -37 06 349.5 +1.1 12.0 ? 45 330 1800 -- Sco
NGC 6309 Box nebula 17 14.1 -12 55 9.7 +14.8 11.0 14.4 14 12700 10800 -- Oph
NGC 6326 17 20.8 -51 45 338.2 -8.4 11.5 13.5 12 12700 15700 -- Ara
NGC 6337 Red Spider nebula 17 22.3 -38 29 349.4 -1.1 12.0 14.9 48 4900 -- -- Sco
NGC 6369 Little Ghost nebula 17 29.3 -23 45 2.4 +5.9 11.5 15.9 28 3000 5500 4900 Oph
IC 4663 17 45.5 -44 54 346.3 -8.2 12.5 15.2 14 6500 -- -- Sco
NGC 6445 17 49.3 -20 01 8.1 +3.9 12.0 19.0 33 -- 3300 7300 Sgr
NGC 6543 Cat's Eye nebula 17 58.6 +66 38 96.5 +29.9 8.5 11.1 20 -- 5900 -- Dra
IC 4673 18 03.3 -27 06 3.6 -2.4 13.0 17.6 16 11700 13400 -- Sgr
NGC 6537 18 05.2 -19 51 10.1 +0.7 12.0 18.8 6 -- 4200 6900 Sgr
NGC 6565 18 11.9 -28 11 3.5 -4.6 12.5 18.5 10 6200 5900 -- Sgr
NGC 6563 18 12.0 -33 52 358.5 -7.3 12.5 18.0 45 9500 3100 -- Sgr
NGC 6572 18 12.1 +06 52 34.6 +11.9 8.5 13.6 14 9500 7800 -- Oph
NGC 6567 18 13.8 -19 05 11.7 -0.7 11.5 14.4 9 -- 9100 4200 Sgr
IC 4699 18 18.5 -45 59 348.0 -13.9 12.5 15.1 7 20500 -- -- Tel
NGC 6629 18 25.7 -23 12 9.4 -5.1 11.5 12.9 15 5900 5500 6400 Sgr
NGC 6644 18 32.6 -25 08 8.4 -7.3 11.5 15.6 3 10400 21200 9800 Sgr
IC 4776 18 45.8 -33 21 2.1 -13.4 11.5 14.1 7 20500 -- 24000 Sgr
NGC 6720 Ring nebula (M57) 18 53.6 +33 02 63.2 +14.0 9.0 15.3 70 1500 1500 -- Lyr
NGC 6741 Phantom Streak 19 02.6 -00 27 33.8 -2.7 11.0 14.7 8 2350 16300 4800 Aql
NGC 6751 19 05.9 -06 00 29.2 -5.9 12.0 15.5 21 -- 8200 6400 Aql
IC 4846 19 16.5 -09 03 27.6 -9.7 12.5 15.2 3 31300 24800 -- Aql
IC 1297 19 17.4 -39 37 358.3 -21.6 10.5 14.2 7 -- 7800 -- CrA
NGC 6781 19 18.5 +06 32 41.8 -3.0 12.0 16.8 120 -- 950 5100 Aql
NGC 6790 19 22.9 +01 31 37.9 -6.3 10.5 13.5 5 18600 -- -- Aql
NGC 6803 19 31.3 +10 03 46.4 -4.1 11.5 15.2 6 -- -- 5700 Aql
NGC 6804 19 31.6 +09 14 45.8 -4.6 12.0 14.4 35 -- 4900 5000 Aql
NGC 6818 Little Gem nebula 19 44.0 -14 09 25.9 -17.9 10.0 16.9 18 -- 8200 7300 Sgr
NGC 6826 Blinking nebula 19 44.8 +50 32 83.6 +12.8 9.5 10.4 25 3900 5200 -- Cyg
NGC 6842 19 55.0 +29 17 65.9 +0.6 13.0 16.0 48 -- -- -- Vul
NGC 6853 Dumbbell nebula (M27) 19 59.6 +22 43 60.8 -3.7 7.5 13.9 330 910 1100 -- Vul
NGC 6852 20 00.7 +01 44 42.6 -14.5 13.0 17.9 28 -- -- -- Aql
NGC 6884 20 10.4 +46 28 82.1 +7.1 12.5 15.6 6 17600 12700 -- Cyg
NGC 6879 20 10.4 +16 55 57.2 -8.9 13.0 14.8 5 -- 20500 -- Sge
NGC 6886 20 12.7 +19 59 60.1 -7.7 12.0 15.7 8 23500 22200 -- Sge
NGC 6891 20 15.1 +12 42 54.2 -12.1 11.0 12.4 12 8500 8500 -- Del
IC 4997 20 20.1 +16 44 58.3 -11.0 11.5 14.4 2 23500 24500 -- Sge
NGC 6905 Blue Flash nebula 20 22.4 +20 06 61.5 -9.6 11.5 15.7 45 -- -- -- Del
NGC 7008 21 00.5 +54 33 93.4 +5.5 12.0 13.2 85 -- -- 2900 Cyg
NGC 7009 Saturn nebula 21 04.2 -11 22 37.8 -34.6 8.0 12.8 28 3100 5200 3500 Aqr
NGC 7026 21 06.3 +47 51 89.0 +0.4 12.0 14.2 12 -- 7200 -- Cyg
NGC 7027 21 07.0 +42 14 84.9 -3.5 9.0 16.3 14 -- 3200 3400 Cyg
NGC 7048 21 14.3 +46 17 88.8 -1.7 11.5 19.1 60 -- -- 5600 Cyg
IC 5117 21 32.5 +44 36 89.9 -5.1 12.5 16.7 2 -- 19200 -- Cyg
IC 5148/50 21 59.6 -39 23 2.7 -52.4 12.0 16.5 120 -- -- -- Gru
IC 5217 22 23.9 +50 58 100.6 -5.4 12.0 15.5 7 19600 14700 -- Lac
NGC 7293 Helix nebula 22 29.6 -20 50 36.2 -57.1 7.0 13.5 900 520 590 700 Aqr
NGC 7354 22 40.3 +61 17 107.8 +2.3 12.5 16.2 20 6800 -- -- Cep
NGC 7662 Blue Snowball nebula 23 25.9 +42 32 106.6 -17.6 9.0 13.2 20 5200 5500 -- And
Column 1: NGC or IC catalogue number.
Column 2: Common name of the planetary nebula.
Column 3: Right Ascension in hours and minutes for epoch 2000.
Column 4: Declination in degrees and minutes for epoch 2000.
Column 5: Galactic longitude of the planetary nebula.
Column 6: Galactic latitude of the planetary nebula.
Column 7: Approximate visual magnitude of the planetary nebula.
Column 8: Magnitude of the central star of the planetary nebula.
Column 9: Maximum angular diameter of the planetary nebula in arcseconds.
Column 10: Distance to the planetary nebula in light years according to the
three references listed below.
Column 11: Constellation the planetary nebula is in.
References:
[1] Zhang C, (1995), A statistical distance scale for galactic planetary nebulae,
Astrophys J Suppl, 98, 659.
[2] Mal'kov Yu.F, (1997), Distances and physical parameters of PNe, Astron. Zh. 74, 853.
[3] Bensby T, Lundström I, (2001), The Distance Scale of Planetary Nebulae,
Astron and Astrophys, 374, 599.
It is very hard to accurately measure the distance to planetary nebulae. Different techniques tend to produce wildly varying estimates. Some nearby nebulae such as the Helix nebula and the Dumbell nebula have crude parallaxes available for them, but otherwise only indirect methods can be used which are usually very inaccurate and errors are often ±50% or more.
