Planetary nebula · Hydra

NGC 3242 Ghost of Jupiter Nebula

Also known as: C59

mag 7.724″ across

About

NGC 3242, the Ghost of Jupiter Nebula, is a planetary nebula of magnitude 7.7 in Hydra, about 24″ across.

NGC 3242 is in the constellation Hydra.
Best evenings: around mid-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 61° 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 3242, C59, PN G261.0+32.0
Type	Planetary nebula
Magnitude	7.7The smaller the number, the brighter.
Apparent size	24″the full Moon is 31′ across
Surface brightness	≈ 14.3 mag/arcsec²Estimate from the magnitude and size, per square arcsecond.
Constellation	Hydra
Right ascension (J2000)	10h 24m 46.1s
Declination (J2000)	−18° 38′ 32″