NGC/IC Project Restoration Effort

===== NGC 7662 48" (10/24/14): superb view of the double-shell structure at 610x and 813x. The inner shell is elongated ~3:2 SW-NE, ~18"x12", and contains a remarkable, bright thin rim, so it appears like a racetrack with a dark interior. This delicate but high surface brightness ring is brightest along a 90¡ arc around the northeast end and nearly as bright in a matching 90¡ arc on the southwest end. The rim is noticeably weaker on the west and east sides. The elongated darker hole spans a large percentage of the inner shell and is punctuated by a faint, but steadily visible central star. The outer shell is twice the size (~35"x25"), slightly less elongated as well as slightly offset in its major axis (SSW-NNE). The outer rim also has two brighter arcs or strips, but only 25¡-30¡ in length. The more prominent arc is on the southeast side, with a weaker strip symmetrically placed on the northwest edge. These strips are 90¡ offset from the much brighter inner arcs. The outer shell appears irregular in surface brightness with an impressions of striations. Surrounding the outer shell there appears to be a very low surface brightness outer halo. 18" (9/10/07): viewed this gorgeous double-shelled planetary at 807x in good seeing. The outer envelope is a sharply defined 35"x25" oval, oriented SSW-NNE. Roughly halfway to the center is a remarkable, thin oval ring oriented SW-NE (slightly offset in orientation compared to the outer shell) of very high surface brightness. This annular ring is brightest along a 90¡ arc on the south side and is also enhanced along a shorter arc along the northern part of the ring. The ring fades and appears broken with a gap along the west to WNW edge. Inside the ring is a darker oval hole that is weakly luminous. 18" (10/19/06): In steady seeing, the double-shell structure was remarkable at 807x (7mm Pentax + 2.5x Powermate). The outer envelope is noticeably oval SW-NE, ~35"x25". Embedded within this envelope is a fairly thin, very bright inner ring with a sharply defined outline. The ring was irregular in surface brightness but clearly brightest at the SW and NE ends of the ring (ends of the major axis). The ring fades on the NW side and there was a small, distinct gap in the ring at the NW end. The surface brightness of the inner ring was high enough to give a glowing "electric" quality with an impression of a rope-like or twisted structure. The center of the ring was much darker than the ring and formed a substantial dark oval at this magnification, but was still clearly luminous. 17.5" (10/13/01): at 500x, this blue high surface brightness planetary has a beautiful double-shell structure with a small, dark center. The bright inner structure has a delicate, embedded thinner ring of very high surface brightness, though weaker at the following end. In the center of this ring is a small, darker hole. The fainter, outer envelope is elongated SW-NE, ~35"x25", giving an asymmetric appearance with the outline of the inner ring. 17.5" (10/12/85): extremely bright, very high surface brightness, fairly small, easily takes very high power. At 410x, the planetary appears weakly annular with a slightly darker center. There is a second outer shell, which exhibits subtle structure due to an irregular surface structure, blue-green color is evident. Central star not seen. 13" (9/11/82): darker center, faint outer shell. 8" (9/25/81) : slightly darker center at 300-400x, irregular surface brightness.