My "cool thing" of the week happened in an unlikely observing session with the 30-inch at Fremont Peak CA on Saturday night (a storm was rolling in). While exercising the digital setting circles, we ended up on NGC 2440 (07H 41.9m, -18 deg. 13') in Puppis, which is apparently an "irregular" planetary nebula.

As it came into view, I called down from the eyepiece that it looks more like a lenticular galaxy, but it was confirmed as a planetary, so I settled in to study it.

There are two bright areas near the middle (NE/SW), with no obvious central star (though a wink now and then had me wondering). Roughly east and west are two "ears" that look very similar to a galactic disc. But after some staring, there also appeared to be a looping structure to the northwest, and a less obvious twin to the southeast (very faint). I haven't seen a picture or visual reference to this object, so I don't know how this observation relates to its real structure, but it is fascinating. I'd love to hear any other observations or comments on this odd planetary...

Conditions were fair; seeing was only slightly soft from the moisture in the air, but the sky was dark and fairly steady.

David North
SJAA