NGC 2438 (PN)
Planetary Nebula in Puppis
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07h 41m 50.2s | -14° 44′ 18.9″ | 1.2′ | 10.8 | 10.2 | -- | PN | -- | -- |
Source: POSS-2 UK Schmidt Red (STScI) | Field: 10′ × 10′
Background
NGC 2438 is a planetary nebula apparently embedded inside the open cluster M46 — a chance line-of-sight superposition rather than a physical association (NGC 2438 is in the foreground at 2,900 ly, M46 lies at 5,400 ly). The greyish disk and tinge of structure make it a satisfying visual target.
My Observing Notes
25-cm (Meade 10-inch LX200, The Coffee Grinder): A ghostly greyish disk floating amongst the stars of M46 — the juxtaposition is what makes this field one of my Puppis favourites.(Friday, April 2025)
References
Charts
Ultra-wide view (~25° field)
Wide-field view with Telrad rings (4°, 2°, 0.5°)
Finderscope view (9×50 RACI, ~4.4° TFOV)
Eyepiece view — 35 mm Panoptic on 12-inch f/5 (1.6° TFOV)