Planetary Nebula · Andromeda

C22 Copeland's Blue Snowball

Magnitude
8.3
Season
Autumn
Difficulty
Hard
Planner
Star-hop chart
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10.0° vertical field
RA 23h 25m 53sDec +42.53°0° · N/E orientation
Imaging reference
Copeland's Blue Snowball (C22) Planetary Nebula

Observer's guide

About Copeland's Blue Snowball

Copeland's Blue Snowball (C22) is catalogued as a planetary nebula in Andromeda. Its J2000 position is RA 23:25:53, Dec +42:32:06, corresponding to 351.4743 degrees RA and 42.535 degrees Dec. The local catalogue places it about 3,200 light-years away. Its referenced angular extent is approximately 0.38 by 0.38 arcminutes.

Observing tips

This is rated as a hard target at magnitude 8.3. It is associated with autumn observing, with midnight placement typically strongest around September. From 52 degrees north its theoretical meridian altitude is about 80.5 degrees; local horizons and the live altitude chart determine the practical window.

A small telescope under reasonably dark skies is a good starting point; use the live altitude chart to choose its highest point.

What to expect

The SIMBAD classification for the matched source is PN. A published radial velocity value is -12.2 km/s. The SIMBAD record currently connects it to 942 bibliographic references.

At roughly 0.4 arcminutes across, it benefits from a narrower field and adequate image scale. Use the listed 0.38 by 0.38 arcminute extent to check framing, and treat catalogue magnitude as integrated brightness rather than a direct measure of visual contrast.

Sourced catalogue data

Scientific record

Coordinates (J2000/ICRS)
RA 351.474299° · Dec 42.534954°
SIMBAD classification
PN
Angular extent
0.38′ × 0.38′
Position angle
60°
Surface brightness
14.83 mag/arcsec²
Radial velocity
-12.2 km/s
Redshift
-0.00004069
Linked bibliography
942 references
Best midnight placement
September
Observable latitude range
-47.5° to 90°

Source: SIMBAD ↗

24-hour altitude profile

Photographic sky survey