NGC 3132 (PN)
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10h 07m 02.5s | -40° 26′ 27.5″ | 1.0′ | 10.0 | 7.6 | -- | PN | -- | -- |
Background
NGC 3132 is the “Eight-Burst” or “Southern Ring” Nebula — a planetary nebula 2,000 light-years away in Vela. Famous for its complex multiple shells revealed by HST and (in 2022) JWST. The central star is a binary system, with a white dwarf companion providing most of the ionising radiation.
My Observing Notes
44-cm (Club 17.5-inch f/5) — Friday: Despite being certain I had the right stars in the finderscope to match the chart, the planetary eluded me. Sometimes you just have to give up and come back with a bigger telescope.
55-cm (Club 22-inch Lord Sidious) — Saturday: Punched in NGC 3132 on the ServoCAT — given its brightness, shocking that I couldn't find it the night before. A beauty of a planetary nebula with a soft bluish-grey tinge and 10th-magnitude central star immediately apparent. The central star is itself a binary, with the companion providing the energy to illuminate the nebula. This binary pair may explain the unique shape.(10–11 April 2026)
References
Charts
