C109
NGC 3195
Properties
Position & Identifiers
Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
Survey Image
Loading survey image…
About C109
Description
NGC 3195 is a planetary nebula in Chamaeleon, about 5,500 light-years away. It is the southernmost planetary nebula in the Caldwell catalog and one of the brightest planetary nebulae in the far-southern sky, spanning about 40 arcseconds.
Observing Tips
Visible as a faint, round disk in a 6-inch telescope at medium to high power. An OIII filter helps distinguish it from surrounding stars. Located in the faint constellation Chamaeleon. Best from southern latitudes in autumn and winter.
History
Discovered by John Herschel during his southern sky survey from South Africa in the 1830s. It is one of the few planetary nebulae in the far-southern constellations near the south celestial pole.
Fun Facts
NGC 3195 is one of the most southerly planetary nebulae cataloged, lying at declination -80 degrees. Its relatively simple, round shape contrasts with the complex bipolar structures seen in many other planetary nebulae.
Community Photos (1)
Credit: NASA Hubble. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026