Kohoutek 2-1 (K2-1): The "Little Jellyfish" Nebula
Taken by Tom Wildoner on January 22, 2026 @
Weatherly, PA, USA
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Camera Used: Unavailable Unavailable
Exposure Time: Unavailable
Aperture: Unavailable
ISO: Unavailable
Date Taken: 2026:02:06 14:15:30
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Details:
Kohoutek 2-1 (commonly abbreviated as K2-1) is an enigmatic and extremely faint planetary nebula located approximately 3,700 light-years away in the constellation Auriga. Discovered in 1962 by Czech astronomer Dr. Luboš Kohoutek, the nebula has a long history of astronomical misclassification, having been variously cataloged as a reflection nebula (LBN 809), an H-II region, and even a distant galaxy (PGC 16765). Modern narrow-band imaging has confirmed its status as a genuine planetary nebula, revealing a structure dominated by ionized oxygen (OIII) with a weaker hydrogen-alpha (Hα) signal that some observers suggest resembles a "Little Jellyfish". At its center lies an extremely faint, blue 18th-magnitude star, believed to be the hot white dwarf progenitor that illuminates the surrounding shell of gas.
🔭 Technical Details:
Telescope: Meade 12” LX-90 SCT with Antares Focal Reducer
Camera: ZWO ASI2600MC (cooled to -20°F)
Mount: Celestron CGX-L pier mounted
Capture: 5h total exposure (60s subs) via ASIAir Pro
Location: The Dark Side Observatory (W59), Weatherly, PA (Bortle 4)
Processing: PixInsight & DeepSkyStacker
Image Date: January 22, 2026.
Photographer's website:
https://www.thedarksideobservatory.com
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