Starry Hill Observatory & Planetarium

Cat's Eye Nebula/C6

❌ Naked Eye
NGC 6543, the Cat’s Eye Nebula, is far too faint and compact to be seen with the naked eye.

⚠️ Binoculars
In binoculars, it may be completely invisible or appear as an indistinct stellar point lost among the background stars.

✅ Small Telescope
Through a small telescope, it appears as a tiny but noticeably non-stellar object—slightly fuzzy and perhaps showing a faint bluish hue.

✅ Medium Telescope
A medium telescope reveals a well-defined, oval-shaped disk with a soft glow, and under good seeing, some internal brightness variation begins to emerge.

✅ Large Telescope
In a large telescope, the Cat’s Eye transforms into a detailed and layered object. Its central star may be visible, and subtle inner structure or multiple shells can sometimes be glimpsed with high magnification and steady skies. The color becomes more vivid, and the nebula takes on the appearance of a miniature cosmic jewel.

Cat's Eye Nebula/C6 - a cosmic kitten’s wink from the heart of Draco

NGC 6543, better known as the Cat’s Eye Nebula, is one of the most visually striking planetary nebulae in the night sky. Nestled in the constellation Draco, this bright, compact object offers a rare combination of brightness, color, and detail that makes it a must-see for any stargazer with a telescope.

Even at low magnification, the Cat’s Eye appears as a sharp, pale blue-green disk—far more than a fuzzy patch. Under higher power and steady skies, its elliptical core and surrounding halo begin to reveal themselves, hinting at the complex, layered shells captured in detailed astrophotos. While you won’t see the full spiral-like structure visually, you can detect its core and sometimes its faint outer glow.

The Cat’s Eye is a stellar ghost in high resolution—a dying star’s last breath, visible across light-years as a glowing, gem-like disk. It’s also bright enough to cut through moderate light pollution, making it a reliable planetary nebula to track down even from suburban skies. Whether you’re chasing color, clarity, or just the thrill of peering into a star’s final stage, NGC 6543 delivers with elegance and intensity.

Cat's Eye Nebula/C6
Rating: 🔵 Stagazer Favorite	Level: 🟡 Challenging	How:	When: May - Oct
🌟 Bright and Compact The Cat’s Eye is fairly bright, making it an good target even from suburban skies. It stands out clearly from the background stars and holds its shape well even at low magnification, offering a satisfying view in small to medium telescopes.		🌟 Color That Pops One of its most alluring features is its blue-green tint. This splash of color adds life to the view and makes it a favorite among planetary nebulae.
🌟 Rich Structure at High Power Though it appears as a tiny disk at first, NGC 6543 reveals more at higher magnifications. Observers with steady skies and larger apertures may see its inner core, subtle elliptical shape, and hints of the layered shells that surround the central region.		🌟 Works Well in Light Pollution Thanks to its small size and strong brightness, the Cat’s Eye performs well under less-than-ideal conditions. It can punch through skyglow better than larger, dimmer nebulae, making it a solid choice for backyard observers in light polluted areas.
🌟 Interesting Central Star At the heart of the nebula lies a hot central white dwarf, the remnant of a dying star. In good seeing conditions, it’s possible to glimpse this faint pinpoint, adding a sense of dimension and helping connect the visual object to its stellar life cycle.		🌟 Northern Sky Favorite Located in Draco, NGC 6543 is circumpolar for many northern observers, meaning it never sets and can be viewed most of the year. Its position makes it a versatile and accessible object across multiple seasons.

Cat's Eye Nebula/C6
Names	Cat's Eye Nebula, NGC 6543, C6	Constellation	Draco	Distance	3,100 ly
RA, Dec	17h 58m 33s, +66° 37' 47"	Angular Size	0.4' x 0.3'	Magnitude	+8.10
Angular Size vs Moon
DSO Type	Planetary nebula: a glowing shell of gas ejected by a dying star, typically surrounding a hot white dwarf at its center.

Cat's Eye Nebula/C6
Find Polaris, the North Star (+2.00) and hop to Kochab (+2.05) and Pherkad (+3.02). These last two stars have a special name: the Guardians of the Pole.

Hop from Kochab to Pherkad and then hop in the same direction to bright Eta Draconis (+2.73. Hop to Aldhibah (+3.18).

Now for the challenging step: using a telescope optical finder, point to Aldhibah and then hop 3° to a pair of magnitude +5 stars, 27 and 28 Draconis. Look for another pair of magnitude +5 stars, 36 and 42 Draconis, about 6° away. Point halfway between these two pairs to the Cat's Eye Nebula. If you are using a red dot finder instead, point directly to the location of the nebula. Using a telescope eyepiece, look for a slightly fuzzy 'star' -- the Cat's Eye Nebula. Increase magnification to confirm.

Cat's Eye Nebula/C6
✅ Use Moderate to High Magnification Start at low power to locate it, then zoom in to 150x or higher. The nebula is small but bright, and higher magnification helps reveal its elliptical shape and brighter core.	✅ Look for Color The Cat’s Eye often shows a pale blue or turquoise hue. This subtle color is best seen when the nebula is high in the sky and your eyes are dark-adapted. Don’t rush—let your vision adjust.
✅ Try Averted Vision To catch more structure or a hint of the central star, use averted vision—look slightly to the side of the nebula. This draws in more light-sensitive parts of your retina and can sharpen contrast.	✅ Observe from a Dark Site Although NGC 6543 handles light pollution fairly well, dark skies will help bring out its faint outer halo and give it more presence in the eyepiece.
✅ Avoid Overpowering Filters An OIII filter can help slightly, but the nebula is so bright and compact that filters may not add much. It’s often best viewed unfiltered to preserve color and clarity.	✅ Watch for the Central Star In steady seeing, especially with larger scopes, you might glimpse the faint white dwarf at the center. It’s a rewarding challenge that adds depth to the view.