When to photograph NGC 2867
NGC 2867 is a planetary nebula in Carina, 0′ across at magnitude 9.7. Also listed as C 90.
When to photograph it
From 45° N it never rises.
From 35° S the best months are February to April, with up to 8.0 hours of astronomical darkness above 30° in March. It reaches 67° at its highest. It never sets from this latitude, so some imaging is possible all year.
Framing
At 0′ 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 2867's altitude through tonight, its transit time and its distance from the moon. For sub length, use the exposure calculator.
Nearby targets
- IC 2391 Omicron Velorum Cluster 7.8° away
- NGC 2516 10.8° away
- NGC 3372 Carina Nebula 10.8° away
- IC 2602 Southern Pleiades 11.4° away
- NGC 3532 Wishing Well Cluster 13.5° away
- NGC 3576 Statue of Liberty Nebula 14.1° away
Gear that suits NGC 2867
NGC 2867 is only 0.2′ 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 1% 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
Retailer links are affiliate links. If you buy through one, the site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Details