NGC 3242 (the Ghost of Jupiter)
Constellation: Hya
Object Type: Planetary Nebula
RA: 10h 24m 46s
Dec: -18° 38' 33"
Magnitude: 8.6
Recommended minimum aperture: 100mm
Charts for 100mm Binocular (2.5° aperture circle). Click on a chart to print it.
Location:
Place the 4th magnitude μ Hya at the N of the field and NGC 3242 should appear about halfway to the edge on the opposite side. If you have trouble identifying it, flash a UHC or O-III filter across an eyepiece, when it will not "blink out" with the surrounding stars.
What You Should See:
The Ghost of Jupiter appears stellar in smaller binoculars, but is distinctly non-stellar with my 37×100, although I have not been able to detect the oblateness that gives it its common name in these. It is about half the apparent size of Jupiter.
