User:RenaCrispin/sandbox

While editing the article called "veil Nebula," I have come across a question I can't answer. It will help lay people understand this article better if this question can be answered:

The third paragraph states "Even though the nebula has a relatively bright integrated magnitude of 7, it is spread over so large an area that the surface brightness is quite low, so the nebula is notorious among astronomers as being difficult to see. However, an observer can see the nebula clearly in a telescope using an O-III astronomical filter isolating the wavelength of light from doubly ionized oxygen), as almost all light from this nebula is emitted at this wavelength. An 8-inch (200 mm) telescope equipped with an O-III filter shows the delicate lacework apparent in photographs. Smaller telescopes with an O-III filter can show the nebula as well, and some[who?] argue that it can be seen without any optical aid except an O-III filter held up to the eye."

From this article, I understand that some people have seen the nebula with an O-III filter held up to the eye, but that most agree a telescope is needed. There is no argument that you need something, even if it's just a filter, to see the nebula.

Based on that, when I read the fourth paragraph, I'm confused. Here it is: "The brighter segments of the nebula have the New General Catalogue designations NGC 6960, 6974, 6979, 6992, and 6995. The easiest segment to find is 6960, which runs behind 52 Cygni, a star that can be seen with the naked eye. NGC 6992/5 are objects on the eastern side of the loop which are also relatively easy to see. NGC 6974 and NGC 6979 are visible as knots in an area of nebulosity along the northern rim. Pickering's Triangle is much fainter, and has no NGC number (though 6979 is occasionally used to refer to it). It was discovered photographically in 1904 by Williamina Fleming (after the New General Catalogue was published), but credit went to Edward Charles Pickering, the director of her observatory, as was the custom of the day."

My question is about the objects described, NGC 6992/5 which is described as relatively easy to see, and NGC 6974 and NGC 6979, which are described as visible, and Pickering's Triangle, which is described as fainter.

By the internal logic of this article, Cygni is the only object that can be seen with the naked eye. Everything else requires something placed between your eye and the nebula to see it. Mention of Cygni, specifying it "can be seen with the naked eye," then in the same paragraph, in the next two sentences describing objects as "also relatively easy to see," "visible," and "much fainter," is confusing. I think, but don't know, and can't find any research to support me, that the visibility of those other objects means "with a telescope or filter."

I suggest the following edit and would appreciate your educated comments. Here's my suggestion:

"The brighter segments of the nebula have the New General Catalogue designations NGC 6960, 6974, 6979, 6992, and 6995. The easiest segment to find is 6960, which runs behind 52 Cygni, a star that can be seen with the naked eye. Other objects that can be seen relatively easily with a telescope include NGC 6992/5 on the eastern side of the loop; NGC 6974 and NGC 6979, knots in an area of nebulosity along the northern rim, and Pickering's Triangle, which is much fainter and has no NGC number (though 6979 is occasionally used to refer to it). It was discovered photographically in 1904 by Williamina Fleming (after the New General Catalogue was published), but credit went to Edward Charles Pickering, the director of her observatory, as was the custom of the day."