NGC 2867
Properties
Position & Identifiers
Visibility
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Eyepiece View
NGC 2867 · 0.2′ · N up, E left
Filter Response Guide
Central Star
Surface Brightness & Observing Difficulty
Survey Image
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About NGC 2867
Description
NGC 2867 is a small, bright planetary nebula in Carina, about 7,300 light-years away. Its disk spans about 12 arcseconds and shines at magnitude 9.7, with a hot central star of the Wolf-Rayet type.
Observing Tips
Appears stellar at low power. At 200x+ in a 6-inch telescope, it shows a tiny blue-green disk that can be distinguished from surrounding stars. An OIII filter helps confirm its nature. Best from southern locations in late winter and spring.
History
Discovered by John Herschel in the 1830s during his survey of the southern sky from South Africa. Its Wolf-Rayet central star makes it one of the more energetic planetary nebulae.
Fun Facts
The central star of NGC 2867 is a carbon-rich Wolf-Rayet star ([WC5] type) with a temperature of about 141,000 K, making it one of the hottest known planetary nebula central stars.