Planetary nebula · Vela

NGC 3132 Southern Ring Nebula

Also known as: C74

mag 8.230″ across

About

NGC 3132, the Southern Ring Nebula, is a planetary nebula of magnitude 8.2 in Vela, about 30″ across.

NGC 3132 is in the constellation Vela.
Best evenings: around early April it is highest at about 9 pm (10 pm in summer time); a month earlier, two hours later.
Where on Earth: it is seen well, at least 10° up, from south of 40° N.

When it rises and sets tonight, how high it climbs and how much the Moon gets in the way are worked out in your browser for your place.

EyesNot visible to the naked eye.
Binoculars (10×50)Looks like a faint star.
Telescope (6–8 inch)A small disc or ring of grey-green light; an OIII or UHC filter helps.

For a dark country sky with no Moon. From a city, faint galaxies and nebulae can disappear completely.

Designations	NGC 3132, C74, PN G272.1+12.3
Type	Planetary nebula
Magnitude	8.2The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	30″the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	≈ 15.3 mag/arcsec²Estimate from the magnitude and size, per square arcsecond.
Constellation	Vela
Right ascension (J2000)	10h 07m 01.7s
Declination (J2000)	−40° 26′ 12″