The Section has had a programme for a while to monitor the behaviour of variable nebulae and I am keen to continue this. The erratic behaviour of these objects is not totally understood and a series of regular images is needed. Even if visual observers see nothing, that is still a valuable piece of information provided full details of telescope / observing conditions etc are noted.

There are now 5 recognised variable nebulae, Hubble's, Hind's, Gyulbudaghian's, NGC 6729 and, since Jan 2004, McNeil's. Imagers are likely to be more successful than visual observers on Hind's and Gyulbudaghian's, but Hubble's is an easy object in an 8-inch telescope and the summer placed variable NGC 6729 in Corona Australis was very easy from the top of La Palma in my 6-inch reflector. The Section receives observations of Hubble's Variable Nebula relatively regularly - but please keep them coming. It is Hind's and Gyulbudaghian's nebulae that get forgotten these days, so do send me any images you obtain.