NGC 246, the Skull Nebula, is a planetary nebula located 1,600 light-years away in the constellation of Cetus.

NGC 246 lies 6 degrees north of second-magnitude Deneb Kaitos (Beta Ceti).

The nebula is 4.1 x 4 arcminutes in size and shines at a total magnitude of 10.9 visually but has relatively low surface brightness because of its size.

The central star shines at magnitude 11.9 today and is actually a double star. The primary is mag 11.9 and the secondary magnitude 14.3 with a separation of 3.8 arcseconds. The central star is fading, having been measured at magnitude 9 in 1930.

NGC 246 was discovered by William Herschel in 1785.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 246 Catalogs: NGC 246, PK 118-74.1 Common Name: Skull Nebula Object Type: Planetary Nebula Magnitude: 10.9v Size: 4.1' x 4' Constellation: Cetus Image Field Centered At: RA: 00h 46m 58s Dec: -11° 52' 16"