What is an example of a planetary nebula?
A classic planetary nebula, the Cat’s Eye (NGC 6543) represents a final, brief yet glorious phase in the life of a sun-like star. This nebula’s dying central star may have produced the simple, outer pattern of dusty concentric shells by shrugging off outer layers in a series of regular convulsions.
What is the largest planetary nebula?
the Helix Nebula
One of the largest-known planetary nebulae, the Helix Nebula (NGC 7293) in the constellation Aquarius, subtends an angle of about 20 minutes of arc—two-thirds the angular size of the Moon.
What is the brightest planetary nebula?
Next, head south to Scorpius for the Butterfly Nebula (NGC 6302). You’ll find this magnitude 9.6 object 3.9° west of Shaula (Lambda [λ] Scorpii). It’s named for its insectlike shape and is one of the brightest and most massive planetary nebulae known.
Why is it called a planetary nebula?
NGC 1514: When William Herschel saw the bright star in the heart of this planetary nebula, he realized that he wasn’t looking at clusters but through gas and dust. As a result, he coined the name “planetary nebula,” because they shared the coloration of the recently discovered Uranus.
What is a planetary nebula made of?
A planetary nebula is an astronomical object consisting of a glowing shell of gas and plasma formed by certain types of stars at the end of their lives. They are in fact unrelated to planets; the name originates from a supposed similarity in appearance to giant planets.
Where are planetary nebulae found?
About 3000 planetary nebulae are now known to exist in our galaxy, out of 200 billion stars. Their very short lifetime compared to total stellar lifetime accounts for their rarity. They are found mostly near the plane of the Milky Way, with the greatest concentration near the galactic center.
Can nebula be bigger than Galaxy?
Simply put, the main difference between galaxies and nebulae are an extreme difference in size, as well as their basic structure. A nebula is a cloud of dust and gas, usually tens to hundreds of light years across. A galaxy is much larger — usually thousands to hundreds of thousands of light years across.
What is the closest planetary nebula to Earth?
The closest known nebula to Earth is called the Helix Nebula. It is the remnant of a dying star—possibly one like the Sun. It is approximately 700 light-years away from Earth.
What do planetary nebulae do?
Planetary nebulae are important objects in astronomy because they play a crucial role in the chemical evolution of the galaxy, returning material to the interstellar medium which has been enriched in heavy elements and other products of nucleosynthesis (such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and calcium).
How old is the star that makes a planetary nebula?
Theoretical models predict that planetary nebulae can form from main-sequence stars of between one and eight solar masses, which puts the progenitor star’s age at greater than 40 million years. Although there are a few hundred known open clusters within that age range, a variety of reasons limit the chances of finding a planetary nebula within.
Where are planetary nebulae most likely to be found?
Planetary nebulae are observed in more distant galaxies, yielding useful information about their chemical abundances. Starting from the 1990s, Hubble Space Telescope images revealed that many planetary nebulae have extremely complex and varied morphologies.
How did the shape of a Nebula come about?
Because planetary nebula shapes resemble these winds’ shapes, the researchers conclude that these same forces influence a nebula’s final shape, long before the nebula itself is created.
Who was the first person to discover the planetary nebula?
To early observers with low-resolution telescopes, M27 and subsequently discovered planetary nebulae resembled the giant planets like Uranus. William Herschel, discoverer of Uranus, perhaps coined the term “planetary nebula”.