NGC 7048 is a planetary nebula in Cygnus that is about 60 x 62 arc-seconds in diameter and slightly elongated in the north-south direction. The bright star to the lower left of the nebula is a magnitude 10.5 star just off of the south end of the planetary nebula and located 46 arc-seconds from the center of the nebula. The nebula is slightly brighter along the west and east sides. All but one of the stars are merely optical companions along our line of sight to the nebula. However, the central star is visible as a faint blue star in this image at the center of the nebula. There are several stars and faint knots visible in the interior of the nebula. This planetary nebula is rated at magnitude 12.1. NGC 7048 was discovered by Jean Marie Edouard Stephan in 1878 using a 31.5-inch reflector.
This image was taken from Mt. Bigelow, Arizona, at an altitude of 8230 feet. The image was taken during an astronomy camp sponsored by the University of Arizona. Available to teenagers and adults, these astronomy camps emphasize hands-on learning experiences in the fascinating field of astronomy. The camp was run by Dr. Don McCarthy, an astronomer with Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona, and he did an excellent job making the camps fun and educational. Astronomy camps like this are scheduled several times a year, and you can obtain more information and register for one of the camps by going to their web site. In addition, Adam Block is now conducting an observing program at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter for the University of Arizona with a large 32-invh RCOS telescope.
This image was designated by Astronomy Magazine as the "Picture of the Day" for March 22, 2008 and was published in the March 21, 2008 issue of the Astronomy Magazine Newsletter.
This is an RGB composite CCD image taken with an SBIG ST-8XE CCD on the Steward Observatory 61-inch Kuiper Telescope. This telescope was built in the early 1960's to survey the Moon in preparation for the upcoming lunar spacecraft missions. Most of the image processing was performed by Adam Block.
NGC 7048
Constellation: Cygnus
RA: 21h 14m 15s Dec: +46d 17' 21" (Equatorial
2000)
May 27, 2006
Image by Sid Leach and Adam Block
Scottsdale, Arizona
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