RCW 44

HaOIIIRGB 480 480 68 68 68 min.
ASA RC 16“ f/8
ASA DDM 100

RCW 44 is a little-known and little-studied planetary nebula (PN) in the RCW catalog (Rodgers, Campbell & Whiteoak). In addition to RCW 44, it is also designated G277.7-03.5 and PK 277-03.2. Located in the constellation Vela, this PN is about 1,200 light-years away and has a diameter of 0.7 light-years. Embedded in the surrounding sea of stars, RCW 44 appears as a small, round, symmetrical ball with subtle structures and filaments. According to the findings of a Mexican research group, the visual magnitude of the object is just under 18 mag. (specifically 17.94 mag.). The material in the nebula has a nearly spherical dust distribution, interspersed with elongated filaments (mostly running along a single axis). Delicate halo structures are also visible, though extremely faint.