Hubble image archive
NGC 2440
NGC 2440 is another planetary nebula ejected by a dying star, but it has a much more chaotic structure than NGC 2346. The central star of NGC 2440 is one of the hottest known, with a surface temperature near 200,000 degrees Celsius. The complex structure of the surrounding nebula...
- Date
- Jan 1, 1999
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-1999-35-903-image
NGC 2440 is another planetary nebula ejected by a dying star, but it has a much more chaotic structure than NGC 2346. The central star of NGC 2440 is one of the hottest known, with a surface temperature near 200,000 degrees Celsius. The complex structure of the surrounding nebula suggests to some astronomers that there have been periodic oppositely directed outflows from the central star, somewhat similar to that in NGC 2346, but in the case of NGC 2440 these outflows have been episodic, and in different directions during each episode. The nebula is also rich in clouds of dust, some of which form long, dark streaks pointing away from the central star. In addition to the bright nebula, which glows because of fluorescence due to ultraviolet radiation from the hot star, NGC 2440 is surrounded by a much larger cloud of cooler gas which is invisible in ordinary light but can be detected with infrared telescopes. NGC 2440 lies about 4,000 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Puppis.
The Hubble Heritage team made this image from observations of NGC 2440 acquired by Howard Bond (STScI) and Robin Ciardullo (Penn State).
Credits
NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI).Image Details
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | NGC 2440 |
| Object Description | Planetary Nebula in the Milky Way Galaxy |
| R.A. Position | 07h 41m 55.39s |
| Dec. Position | -18° 12' 33.0" |
| Constellation | Puppis |
| Distance | 3,600 light-years (1,100 pc) |
| Dimensions | The image is 37 arcseconds on the vertical side. |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description | Principal Astronomers: H. Bond (STScI) and R.Ciardullo (PSU) |
| Instrument | HST>WFPC2 |
| Exposure Dates | November 18, 1995, Exposure Time: 19 minutes |
| Filters | F555W (V) and F814W (I) |
| About The Image | |
| Color Info | Blue: F555W (V) Green: F555W (V) + F814W (I) Red: F814W (I) |
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Source
Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
View on NASA.gov