Abell 63
is a planetary nebula with an eclipsing binary central star system in the northern constellation of Sagitta
Abell 63 is a planetary nebula with an eclipsing binary central star system in the northern constellation of Sagitta. Based on parallax measurements of the central star, it is located at a distance of approximately 8,810 light years from the Sun. The systemic radial velocity of the nebula is +41±2 km/s. The nuclear star system is the progenitor of the nebula and it has a combined apparent visual magnitude of 14.67. During mid eclipse the magnitude drops to 19.24.
The star H.V. 5452 was found to be a candidate eclipsing binary system in 1932 by Dorrit Hoffleit, and it was given the variable star designation UU Sagittae (UU Sge). In 1955, George O. Abell discovered a nebula in the same region of the sky from photographic plates taken by the National Geographic Society – Palomar Observatory Sky Survey. The identifier 'Abell 63' comes from a follow-up publication by Abell in 1966, which identified the nebula as a homogeneous disk 40″ in diameter with a central star of magnitude 14.67. In 1976, Howard E. Bond noted that the positions of the variable star and the center of the nebula coincide. That same year, J. S. Miller and associates confirmed that UU Sge is an eclipsing binary, finding a period of 11h 09.6m with an eclipse duration of 70 minutes.
The public source identifies “Abell 63” as is a planetary nebula with an eclipsing binary central star system in the northern constellation of Sagitta. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Abell, planetary and nebula.
Why this record matters
A short description can identify a subject without explaining its stakes. For “Abell 63”, the useful work is to connect “is a planetary nebula with an eclipsing binary central star system in the northern constellation of Sagitta” to the records capable of establishing context and consequence.
The citation trail is more important than the brevity of the summary: it shows where individual claims can be examined in context. The source revision retrieved here is dated Aug 4, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q88578809. None of the 0 selected statements returned an explicit reference. The first chronological checks are 1932, 1955, 1966 and 1976.
Overview language is designed for orientation and should not be treated as a substitute for the evidence cited beneath it. The source lead contains qualifying language; that uncertainty should survive quotation, summary and reuse. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Use the entry as an orientation point, then follow its citations and revision history. Names, dates and institutional relationships should be checked against the original record.
- Subject orientation
- Search vocabulary
- Locating named sources
The closest primary source, responsible institution and strongest cited specialist reference.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Abell 63”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Abell 63 primary sources, Abell 63 archive and Abell research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Abell 63”?
- What terminology or title could unlock a more precise catalogue search?
- Which institution is responsible for the underlying evidence?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Abell 63” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.