Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Delphinus (Del)  ·  Contains:  Blue Flash Nebula  ·  NGC 6905  ·  PK061-09.1
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NGC 6905, Gary Imm
NGC 6905, Gary Imm

NGC 6905

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NGC 6905, Gary Imm
NGC 6905, Gary Imm

NGC 6905

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Description

This object is a planetary nebula located about 5500 light years away in the constellation of Delphinus at a declination of +20 degrees. This PN spans 1.5 arc-minutes in our apparent view, which corresponds to a diameter of 2 light years. Ignore the superimposed bright star at the bottom of the nebula – it is not associated with it.

The structure of this nebula is fascinating to me. I have not found an explanation for its unusual shape. I have imaged about 150 PN and this is the only one with this shape. I see a faint ansae at the very top of the nebula, and I assume a similar exists at the bottom, hiding behind the bright star. The central star is visible. It looks like this star may have a strong bi-polar flow which is stretching the nebula in the 1 o’clock to 7 o’clock axis. In time this flow may burst through the bi-polar lobes. I like the tendril of gas flow which is extending to the ansae at the top of the nebula. An opposing fainter tendril also appears to extend to the bottom.

The nebula is nicknamed the Blue Flash Nebula because, viewed in the eyepiece, the nebula appears to flash in and out of view as the eye alternates in focus between the bright stars and the dim nebula.

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