💫 C56 (Skull Nebula)
Object data
| Type | Planetary nebula |
|---|---|
| Constellation | Cetus |
| Right ascension | 0h47m03.1s (11.7630°) |
| Declination | -11°53'00" (-11.8833°) |
| Magnitude | mag 8 |
| Apparent size | 3.8′ |
| Other designations | NGC 246 |
A planetary nebula in Cetus, called the Skull Nebula for its skull-like appearance.
Midnight transit date (best season to observe and image)
Location: Tokyo (change)
The date it transits around midnight (transit altitude about 42°)
This date has already passed this year. Next year (2027) it will be around Sep 29.
For about 2–3 weeks either side of this date, the object stays high from evening to dawn — its observing season.
Best time to observe tonight
Tonight (Oct 11 evening – Oct 12 dawn) · Location: Tokyo (full darkness = end of astronomical dusk to start of dawn, altitude ≥ 15°)
Moon tonight: New moon (age 29.2 days, 0% illuminated) — Little moonlight — a good time for faint objects
Hours of full darkness (end of astronomical dusk to start of dawn) when it is above 15° — the darkest sky, mostly clear of buildings and trees.
Sunset 17:11 → Dusk 18:36 → Dawn 4:19 → Sunrise 5:44