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NGC 1501

Planetary Nebula
aka PN G144.5+06.5, PK 144+06.1
RA: 04h06m59.4s, Dec: +60°55'14" (2000) in Cam
Integrated Visual Magnitude: 13.3?
Apparent Diameter: 52"

Magnitude of central star: 14.4

Mean Surface Brightness: 21.6 mag/arc-sec2

Distance: 3600 ly

Minimum requirements to detect: 4-inch under dark skies

Walter Scott Houston claimed that this planetary nebula was "easy and bright even in small telescopes."   So don't be fooled by the magnitude of 13.3 typically listed.  In fact it is perhaps as bright as 11th magnitude.  The central star is a Wolf-Rayet variable and can be glimpsed in an 8-inch scope.

A UHC or OIII filter can enhance the view, although they are not necessary.  In moderate apertures this nebula appears like a rounder version of the famous ring nebula.

I observed NGC 1501 in November 1999 with my 18-inch.  I noted that at 94x the nebula was obviously non-stellar.  At 166x hints of a darker center appeared along with the central star.  The best view was at 430x where I logged; "Very nice.  Bright central star surrounded by round bubble."  

 

The field as seen in six inch at 50x. North is down and east is to the right.
Millennium Star Atlas Vol I Chart 43
Sky Atlas 2000 Chart 1
Uranometria 2000 Vol I Chart 39
Herald-Bobroff Astroatlas B-01 C-04