NGC 246

NGC 246, a planetary nebula in the constellation of Cetus is about 1600 light-years from Earth. NGC 246 is also known as the Skull Nebula. The progenitor is the white dwarf seen at the center of the nebula. At a distance of 1900 AU it is orbited by another star. In 2014 using ESO’s VLT a dim red dwarf was discovered to be orbiting the white dwarf at a distance of 500 AU. This makes NGC 246 the first known planetary nebula with a triplet system at its center.

For further information see:

https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2019/

https://www.gemini.edu/node/181

 

Image data: HIIOIII-RGB (360-200-100-120-100 min) total 14,7 h,

80cm f/7 Astrooptik Keller Cassegrain, FLI PL-16803, Astrodon gen2 filters, Prompt 7 CTIO Chile

Processing: Konstantin Buchhold

The first image shows a close-up of NGC 246, the second shows a comparison of the Chart32 image with images obtained by the ESO VLT and Gemini Telescopes and the third the slightly cropped entire field of view.

 

Image of NGC 246 in Cetus

 

 

NGC 246 Planetary Nebula in Cetus

 

 

NGC 246 Planetary nebula in Cetus

 

 

 

 

Last modified on Tuesday, 26 January 2021 19:17

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