Post by glactus on Jan 20, 2009 19:44:10 GMT
The Southern Ring nebula
NGC 3132, The Southern Ring Nebula is bright and extensively studied in the constellation Vela. Distance is estimated to be about 2,000 light years from Earth. Magnitude is variable.
The nebula is also known as the "Eight-Burst" Nebula because it appears to be a figure-8 when seen through some telescopes, and visible in the southern hemisphere.
NGC 3132 is nearly half a light year in diameter. Gases are moving away from the dying star at its center at a speed of nine miles per second.
Images of NGC 3132 reveal within the nebulosity two stars close together, one of 10th magnitude, the other 16th. The central planetary nebula nucleus or white dwarf central star is the fainter of these two stars. This hot central star of about 100,000 K has now blown off its layers and is making the nebula fluoresce bright from the emission of its intense ultraviolet radiation.
Credits: Image NASA/The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA/NASA)