Is NGC 2242 a New Planetary Nebula?

Abstract

An interesting object was found on the IIIaJ objective prism plate SP1270, taken on Jan. 12.6 UT, 1983 with the Beijing Observatory 60/90-cm Schmidt telescope plus 5°.3 objective prism with a dispersion of 580 A/mm at Hγ. The emission lines [O III]λλ4959+5007 and Hβ were extremely strong. The lines Hγ—Hδ and [O II]λ3727, all in emission, were broad and conspicuous. Two prominent emissions were tentatively identified as He II λ4686 and He II λ4542. Of all these lines none showed any noticeable redshift. It belongs to the Galaxy. The overall spectrum looked like that of a planetary nebula. But on the POSS overlay this object was designated as RNGC 2242 and ZWG 204.005. It was listed as a galaxy either in ZWG, or in A Master List of Nonstellar Optical Astronomical Objects, but it was absent from any previous catalogues of the planetary nebula.