In order, their catalog designations are NGC 1535, NGC 3242 (Ghost of Jupiter), NGC 6543 (Cat's Eye), NGC 7009 (Saturn Nebula), NGC 2438, NGC 6772, Abell 39, NGC 7139, NGC 6781, and M97 (Owl Nebula). Observed telescopically, they have a relatively round compact appearance rather than the chaotic patchy shapes of other nebulae—hence their name, which was … Many distances are …

Many of these have nice names, not just "boring" catalogue numbers. Northern Hemisphere. Please see the article of the nebula in question for data references. Image Name Messier Catalogue NGC Other designation Date discovered Distance ... Name Messier Catalogue NGC Other designation Date discovered ... Spiral Planetary Nebula: NGC 5189: 1835 2.6 (approx.) William Herschel eventually invented the name "Planetary Nebula" for these objects in his classification of nebulae in 1784 or 1785, because he found them to resemble the planet newly discovered by him, Uranus. Two names for a planetary nebula are NGC 246 and NGC 7078. Planetary nebula, any of a class of bright nebulae that are expanding shells of luminous gas expelled by dying stars. Ten different planetary nebula images are presented, each registered on the central star. Stingray Nebula (Hen-1357): The youngest known planetary nebula, Hen-1357 is as large as 130 solar systems. There's the "Owl Nebula", for example (also known as NGC 3587). The following is an incomplete list of known planetary nebulae.