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Abell Planetary Nebulae
When George Abell compiled his catalog of 86 planetary nebulae discovered on the POSS plates in 1966, he surely had no idea of the fascination they would one day hold for visual observers. Most of these stellar shells are extended and glow with very low surface brightness. Some barely stand out from the background sky even under the best high-altitude observing conditions, some are characterized by remarkable detail, others exhibit a wide range of intensity. This enormous diversity of appearances is perhaps the source of the particular appeal of pushing the boundaries of equipment and observational techniques.
For visual observation, a large telescope isn't the crucial factor; far more important are a dark, clear sky, accurate maps, and an OIII filter. Don't be discouraged by the low photographic brightness and often pale images in POSS; the eye is very sensitive to green, and the filter will, in most cases, dramatically improve contrast.
On the following pages, I have put together all the Abells I have observed so far. I would be glad to hear about visual and photographic observations from other amateur astronomers.
- Copyright von Stathis
Kafalis
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When George Abell compiled his catalog of 86 planetary nebulae discovered on the POSS plates in 1966, he surely had no idea of the fascination they would one day hold for visual observers. Most of these stellar shells are extended and glow with very low surface brightness. Some barely stand out from the background sky even under the best high-altitude observing conditions, some are characterized by remarkable detail, others exhibit a wide range of intensity. This enormous diversity of appearances is perhaps the source of the particular appeal of pushing the boundaries of equipment and observational techniques.