Credits: Keith Turnecliff, Nerja, Spain

The Cat's Eye Nebula is structurally a very complex nebula, and the mechanism or mechanisms that have given rise to its complicated morphology are not well understood. The central bright part of the nebula consists of the inner elongated bubble (inner ellipse) filled with hot gas. It, in turn, is nested into a pair of larger spherical bubbles conjoined together along their waist. The waist is observed as the second larger ellipse lying perpendicular to the bubble with hot gas.

Facts about NGC6543 by Keith Turnecliff

The Cat's Eye Nebula is circumpolar so is visible all year round for nortther latitude observers.

This star chart represents a view from Long Itchington for late July at 10pm.
Credits: Image courtesy of Starry Night Pro Plus 8, researched and implemented by Keith Turnecliff.