Post by glactus on Oct 26, 2008 17:12:53 GMT
Menzel 3 is a young bipolar planetary nebula about 3,000 light years distant in the constellation of Norma, It is composed of a bright core and four distinct high-velocity outflows. These nebulosities are described as: two spherical bipolar lobes, two outer large filamentary hour-glass shaped columns, two cone shaped rays, and a planar radially expanding, elliptically shaped chakram. Magnitude is 13,8
Mz 3 is perhaps one of the most stunning bipolar planetary nbulars known. Its lobes all share the same axis of symmetry but each have very different morphologies and opening angles. It is an unusual nebula in that it is believed, by some researchers, to contain a symbiotic binary at its center.
Study suggests that the dense nebular gas at its center may have originated from a source different than that of its extended lobes. The working model to explain this hypothesizes that this nebula is composed of a giant companion that caused a central dense gas region to form, and a white dwarf that provides ionizing photons for the nebula.
Mz 3 is often referred to as the Ant Nebula because it resembles the head and thorax of a garden-variety ant.
Credits: This is a NASA image