NGC 7027 – Proto-Planetary Nebula

PROTO-PLANETARY NEBULA
CYGNUS
DISTANCE: 2600 ly
29/9/2011 20:10 UT
CONDITIONS: CLOUDLESS BUT HAZY. NELM 4.5
OBSERVER: PAUL METTAM
LOCATION: LONG EATON, ENGLAND.
TELESCOPE: 12″ SCT F10
MAGNIFICATION: X 660 !
MEDIA: GRAPHITE PENCIL, WHITE PAPER.

NGC 7027 is classed as a proto-planetary nebula: a star at the very earliest stages of forming a true planetary nebula. At a magnification of X116 this object looks like an out of focus 9th magnitude star elongated NNW-SSE and has a pale blue colour. Despite the dubious seeing conditions I cast caution to the wind and increased the magnificaton to X660 and could begin to see more detail. A dark rift seperated the nebula into two lobes, the lobe to the north appearing slightly larger and brighter. The northwest side of this lobe has a bright patch and other less certain areas of variation could be seen. As the observation progressed I thought i could see a faint outer envelope of nebulosity but this may of been due to the front lens of the telescope misting up!