(IAAC) Obj: Abell 26 - Inst: 18" f/4.5 Dob

**anonymous@sedna.atmob.org**

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Observation Poster: John Tatarchuk <tatarjj@auburn.edu>

Observer: John Tatarchuk
Your skills: Advanced (many years)
Date/time of observation: 12/16/06
Location of site: 10 miles west of Fort Davis, TX (Lat , Elev 6000')
Site classification: Rural
Sky darkness: 10 <1-10 Scale (10 best)>
Seeing: 5 <10-1 Seeing Scale (1 best)>
Moon presence: None - moon not in sky
Instrument: 18" f/4.5 Dob
Magnification: 230X
Filter(s): OIII
Object(s): Abell 26
Category: Planetary nebula.
Class: 
Constellation: Puppis
Data: mag 18.1p  size 40"
Position: RA 8h:9.0m  DEC -32:40.5'
Description:
This is another one of the tougher Abells. It comes in at 40”x40” across and
magnitude 18.1p. I had previously recorded this object as “probable” from the
Conecuh National Forest on 11/23/06, but the darker and higher altitude skies
of the Davis Mountains proved the advantage I needed. I took a crack at it on
12/16. At low power, I first matched the Aladin previewer finder chart to the
Puppis star field. The match was fairly easy due to a wide triangle of three
magnitude ~10 stars 5’-10’ west of the nebula. Increasing magnification to
230X and adding the OIII filter revealed a very weak disk at the nebula’s
position. The object was able to be reacquired fairly easily and even held for
a fleeting moment or two in adverted vision before it would pop out of
visibility. A relative lack of stars at near the nebula’s location increased
the ease with which the nebula was separated from the background sky glow. 

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