NGC 6153 (PN)
Planetary Nebula in Scorpius
| R.A. | Dec. | Size | Mag | SB | Cnt.St | Type | Distance | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16h 31m 32.1s | -40° 15′ 11.0″ | 44′′ | 10.9 | 9.7 | -- | PN | -- | -- |
Source: POSS-2 UK Schmidt Red (STScI) | Field: 10′ × 10′
Background
NGC 6153 is a small ( 25”), bright planetary nebula 4,000 light-years away in Scorpius. Notable scientifically for its unusually high abundance of heavy elements (CNO, neon) — among the most chemically enriched planetaries known.
My Observing Notes
44-cm (Club 17.5-inch f/5): A uniform circular disk slightly bloated (20”) compared to the surrounding stars. Forms a cross with three other bright stars in the FOV, plus a pair of stars pointing to the cross — a miniature “Crux and Pointers”.(Saturday, September 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)