NGC 3195

NGC 3195
A Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of NGC 3195. Credit: HST/NASA/ESA.
Observation data (Epoch J2000)
Right ascension	10h 09m 20.9s
Declination	−80° 51′ 30.7″
Distance	5 500 ly
Apparent magnitude (V)	11.6
Apparent dimensions (V)	40×35"
Constellation	Chamaeleon
Physical characteristics
Other designations	He2-44/ Hen 2-44 / Sa2-57 / PK 296-20.1 / PN G296.6-20.0 / Caldwell 109 ESO 19-2

NGC 3195 is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Chamaeleon. It is the most southern of all the bright sizable planetary nebula in the sky, and remains invisible to all northern observers. Discovered by Sir John Herschel in 1835, this 11.6 apparent magnitude planetary nebula is slightly oval in shape, with dimensions of 40×35 arc seconds, and can be seen visually in telescopic apertures of 10.5 centimetres (4.1 in) at low magnifications.

Spectroscopy reveals that NGC 3195 is approaching Earth at 17 kilometres per second (11 mi/s), while the nebulosity is expanding at around 40 kilometres per second (25 mi/s). The central star is listed as >15.3V or 16.1B magnitude. Stephen James O'Meara has seen it visually with a 20-inch telescope, but he is unaware of anyone else doing so. Distance is estimated at about 1.7 kpc.

External links

• The Hubble European Space Agency Information Centre Hubble picture and information on NGC 3195