This object is a wonderful tiny planetary nebula, less than 6 light years across, located in the southern constellation of Pyxis at a declination of -37 degrees. Our view of it is less than 1 minute across from our perspective 10,000 light years away. The nebula appears in the same field of view as a small open star cluster (Melotte 96).

I love the unique color pattern and shape of this nebula, and that it appears in the same field of view as the colorful cluster. Studies have shown that the nebula and cluster are not related and that their location is just a chance superimposed alignment. In fact, I was surprised to learn that there has yet been a single established case of a planetary nebula that is part of (and not just superimposed on) an open cluster.

The interesting structure of the nebula is hard to understand.  It looks multipolar to me. Other PNs are football shaped like this (Helix Nebula & NGC 6905, for example), but they don't have the same internal structure as this one. A comparison with the Hubble image is shown in the mouseover.

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Thank you to all of you who inquired about my Texas eclipse experience with my family yesterday.  It was quite an adventure.

It started by getting pulled over for speeding 1 mile from my house.  I guess I was excited to get to the eclipse area.  The kind policeman only gave me a warning.  The day ended by driving through a severe thunderstorm on the way home and skirting a tornado.  In between, I used 4 different apps to try to find a clear sky window in a sea of clouds.  In the end, I guessed right on the overall location for clearer skies (near Silver City in central Texas, amidst wind turbines, cows and dogs but no people or cars), but we had to speed the last 5 miles (fortunately not another policeman, or anyone else, around) to get to a clear spot just in time.

Very thankful to have finally experienced a total eclipse.  I didn't want to wait until the next one, 1000 miles away, in 2044.  Some quick reflections on the experience:

On the "down" side:
- Not nearly as dark during totality as I had anticipated
- No strange animal behavior observed (except for an increase in dog barking)
- No odd shadows observed rippling across the countryside
- Saw planets but no comet
- No images of the event.  Because of my obsessive nature,  I decided not to try to take images, and I think that was the right decision for me.  I would love to have them, but the day was stressful enough as is for my family.
- Not quite the "life changing" experience I have heard so often.  I don't really feel too much different this morning in that respect.

On the "up" side:
- Dynamic brightness changes from just before to just after totality were enthralling.  Final diamond ring appearance seemed like an explosion of light.
- Solar prominences much larger than anticipated.  I didn't think I would see orange flares around the moon with the naked eye.
- Corona was just incredible.  Faint and delicate, yet so powerful up there extending around the dark moon in a cool, asymmetric pattern
- Timed the "glasses off" and "glasses on" well, I think.  None of us seem to have retinal damage yet anyway.  
- Fun to see the clouds dissipate in the hour before and during totality.
- Temperature change was noticeable and added to the excitement
- No heavy traffic.  Total of 7 hours from door to door, including stopping for lunch, which suited the family schedules well. 

Overall, we had a blast, nobody got hurt, and we had a truly unique experience none of us will ever forget.  A total solar eclipse is one of those rare events that feels magical in person.  I have seen many totality images and videos, but I think because of the tremendous brightness changes of the event, as well its position overhead in the center of the dark blue sky, nothing prepared me for seeing it first hand.