Caldwell 109 — Planetary Nebula in Chamaeleon
NGC 3195
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.
Observe
1Properties
Position & Identifiers
2How easy to spot?
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Hard | V. hard+ | V. hard |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Hard+ | Hard | Hard |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Hard+ | Hard+ | Hard |
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
With O-III filter
| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Hard+ | Hard+ | Hard |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Medium | Medium | Medium |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Medium | Medium | Medium |
3Visibility
Set a location in User Settings to see visibility data.
4
Filter Response Guide
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Eyepiece View
6
Best Magnification
Explore
7
Central Star
8
Surface Brightness
Discover
9
Light Travel Time Machine
10
Relativistic Travel
Community Photos (1)
Credit: NASA Hubble. License: CC BY 2.0. (Wikimedia Commons)
Skybred Mar 2, 2026
Nearby in the Sky
Other targets within a few degrees — pan your scope a little and keep exploring.
Visibility scores assume a 150 mm Newton at Bortle 4.
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