RA 11.7640° · Dec -11.8719° · openngc
2 more points to reach Epic.
NGC 246 is a rare nebula. It lies about 1,670.8 light-years from Earth, sits in the constellation Cet and shines at apparent magnitude 10.9.
A planetary nebula: the shed outer atmosphere of a dying Sun-like star, lit from within by the naked stellar core left behind.
Look for NGC 246 in the constellation Cet. At apparent magnitude 10.9, a small backyard telescope will bring it into view.
Like any astronomical target, NGC 246 is best seen from a dark site away from city lights, and when it is above the horizon depends on your latitude and the time of year. The visibility panel above works out tonight's viewing window for your saved location.
NGC 246 scores 48 points on Spacedle's rarity scale, which places it in the rare tier. Another 2 points would lift it into a rarer tier.
That score comes from 5 science badges — Nebula, Distant (over 1,000 light-years), Planetary nebula (a dying star's shell), Coming towards us and Its dying star is still visible — each earned for a real, measurable property of the object. Rarity on Spacedle is never random: the more remarkable an object's astrophysics, the more badges it collects, the higher it scores, and the rarer it ranks.