When to photograph NGC 246 (Skull Nebula)
NGC 246, the Skull Nebula, is a planetary nebula in Cetus, 4′ across at magnitude 10.9. Also listed as C 56.
When to photograph it
From 45° N the best months are September to December, with up to 3.0 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in October. It reaches 33° at its highest.
From 35° S the best months are August to October, with up to 7.7 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in October. It reaches 67° at its highest.
Framing
At 4′ it is small. Even 4000 mm of focal length leaves it filling less than a third of an APS-C frame, so it suits long focal lengths, small pixels and good seeing.
Filters and the moon
Planetary nebulae are bright in OIII and H-alpha and small, so narrowband works and the moon matters less. Short subs help with the bright core. The dark sky calendar shows which nights this month are moon-free where you are.
Plan it for tonight
Dates and times depend on your exact location. The imaging planner shows NGC 246's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
Gear that suits NGC 246
NGC 246 is only 4.1′ across, so it stays small in any amateur telescope. The longest focal length gives it the most pixels. It shines in H-alpha and OIII, so a dual-band filter on a color camera cuts through light pollution and moonlight.
- Celestron C8 OTA 2032 mm f/10: fills 16% of an APS-C frame's short side View at High Point Scientific
- Optolong L-Ultimate 3 nm 3 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific
- Antlia ALP-T 5 nm 5 nm dual-band, Ha, OIII, for color cameras View at High Point Scientific
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