NGC 6826, the Blinking Planetary, is a planetary nebula in the constellation of Cygnus.

The nebula gets its name because the faint planetary nebula blinks out of view when the central star is observed with direct vision, and the blinks back into view when observed with averted vision. This is because the central star, at magnitude 10.4 is bright enough to overwhelm the faint nebulosity when viewed directly. This same effect can be observed in other planetary nebula with bright central stars.

The nebula subtends an apparent angle of 40 arcseconds and shines at magnitude 8.8.

At a distance of 2,000 light-years its true size would be 0.387 of a light-year in space.

NGC 6826 was discovered by William Herschel in 1793.

North is to the top in the above image.

NGC 6826 Catalogs: NGC 6826, PK 83+12.1 Common Name: Blinking Planetary Object Type: Planetary Nebula Magnitude: 8.8v Size: 40" Constellation: Cygnus Image Field Centered At: RA: 19h 45m 12s Dec: +50° 32' 00"