NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 6337 18" (7/16/07): at 220x and UHC filter the "Cheerio Nebula" is a gorgeous annular planetary, ~45" diameter with a large, dark circular hole of 25"-30" diameter. The rim is uneven in surface brightness and perhaps brighter on the northeast side. A mag 12.5 star is inside the northeast rim and a similar mag star is off the southwest side, along with a mag 13.5 companion. An extremely faint star is on the SSW edge of rim. At 323x, the striking rim appears brighter in a 50-60¡ arc centered on the brighter star on the NE side. The amount of structure was surprising given the low altitude at -38.4¡ declination. 17.5" (6/30/00): very pretty annular planetary at 280x, ~45" and set in a rich star field. A mag 12 star is superimposed on the inner edge of the NE rim and an extremely faint star is symmetrically placed at the SW edge. The darker hole is 20"-25" diameter and perfectly circular. The outer rim appears irregularly lit. 13.1" (5/30/87): at 166x with a UHC filter appears fairly faint, fairly small, roundish. Slightly darker center (annular) with averted vision although the contrast with the rim is low due to the elevation. No central star seen. 13.1" (7/5/83): at 144x-166x appears fairly small, faint but fairly easy, darker center (annular), somewhat like a smaller and dimmer version of M57.