NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 7048. There are several stars and faint knots "in" the interior of this planetary. Most of the stars are only optical companions along our line of sight to the nebula. One, however -- clearly seen on the DSS2B image and no other -- is the central star. I've adopted the position of this star for that of the nebula itself. Just east of this on the DSS2R image is a tight group of faint knots; the star has disappeared from this R-band image.

===== NGC 7048 48" (10/27/16): at 375x (unfiiltered); bright, fairly large, nearly round, irregular surface brightness. The rim is slightly brighter along the west and northwest side in a thin strip and very weakly enhanced on the east edge. A bright mag 10.5 star is just off the SSE edge and a mag 15.7 star is very near the NNW edge (180¡ opposite the bright star). There is one brighter interior star on the northwest side [17" from center]. In addition a couple of very faint stars are superimposed. 24" (8/30/16): at 376x unfiltered; fairly bright, moderately large, very slightly elongated N-S, seen full size at ~60" diameter. The rim is slightly brighter along and the western side and very weakly enhanced on the eastern edge. On the northwest side is a brighter, circular region with a faint (interior) star embedded. Overall the planetary has a very weak annular appearance. A mag 8.3 star is 3.3' WSW, a mag 10.5 star is off the SSE edge [42" from center] and a faint star is barely off the NE edge [30" from center]. 18" (9/10/07): at 280x unfiltered appears as a moderately bright disc that is slightly elongated ~N-S, ~65"x60". A mag 10.5 star lies just off the south end (42" from center) and a mag 13 star is off the north end (60" from center). Appears slightly brighter along the west edge and to a lesser extent along the east edge, giving a weak annular appearance. A faint star is right at the northeast edge of the rim and an interior star is on the northwest side. Also, an extremely faint star is sometimes visible at the north-northwest edge of the rim. Located 3.3' ENE of mag 8.3 SAO 50601. 17.5" (8/7/91): bright, fairly large, slightly elongated N-S. Extends between a mag 10.5 star just off the south end (46" from the center) and a mag 13 star off the north end (1.0' from center). Extremely faint stars are superimposed at the west and NNE edge. Appears slightly brighter along the west and east side of the disc and the planetary has a slightly darker center (weakly annular). No central star was visible. Located 3.3' ENE of mag 8 SAO 50601.