| Abell 43 / Planetary nebula, type IIc |
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| R.A. | 17h 53m 32.2s (2000.0) |
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| Dec. | +10°37' 25" (2000.0) |
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| Apparent Size | 78.0×72.0" |
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| Real Size | N/A |
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| Magnitude | 14.7 |
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| Distance | N/A |
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| Other IDs | PK 36+17.1 |
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Abell 43 is a faint planetary nebula located 5 degrees ESE of α Ophiuchi (Rasalhague).
It has an apparent diameter of just over 70 arcseconds and a brightness of 14th magnitude.
When captured with a large telescope, the nebula's interior appears uneven, with a mottled pattern, earning it the nickname "Galactic football."
The central star of Abell 43 is a 14th-magnitude white dwarf, known as one of "Hybrid PG 1159*"-type stars.
This is a rare type of star with an extremely high temperature and an unusual surface composition that is hydrogen-deficient.
It is a subject of study from the perspective of stellar evolution.
* It originates from the prototype star "PG1159-035," discovered in the 1980s through the Palomar-Green survey targeting hot stars.
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