Hubble image archive
NGC 2346
NGC 2346, in contrast to the first two young objects, is a so-called "planetary nebula," which is ejected from Sun-like stars which are near the ends of their lives. NGC 2346 is remarkable because its central star is known to be actually a very close pair of stars, orbiting each...
- Date
- Jan 1, 1999
- Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope
- Archive ID
- hubblesite-images-1999-35-906-image
NGC 2346, in contrast to the first two young objects, is a so-called "planetary nebula," which is ejected from Sun-like stars which are near the ends of their lives. NGC 2346 is remarkable because its central star is known to be actually a very close pair of stars, orbiting each other every 16 days. It is believed that the binary star was originally more widely separated. However, when one component of the binary evolved, expanded in size, and became a red-giant star, it literally swallowed its companion star. The companion star then spiralled downwards inside the red giant, and in the process spewed out gas into a ring around the binary system. Later on, when the hot core of the red giant was exposed, it developed a faster stellar wind, which emerged perpendicularly to the ring and inflated two huge "bubbles." This two-stage process is believed to have resulted in the butterfly-like shape of the nebula. NGC 2346 lies about 2,000 light-years away from us, and is about one-third of a light-year in size.
Credits
NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI).Image Details
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | NGC 2346 |
| Object Description | Planetary Nebula in the Milky Way Galaxy |
| R.A. Position | 07h 9m 22.52s |
| Dec. Position | 00° 48' 23.59" |
| Constellation | Monoceros |
| Distance | 3,900 light-years (1,200 pc) |
| Dimensions | The image is 2.8 arcminutes on the vertical side. |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description | Principal Astronomers: M.Stiavelli and I. Heyer (STScI) and collaborators |
| Instrument | HST>WFPC2 |
| Exposure Dates | March 6, 1997, Exposure Time: 24 minutes |
| Filters | F502N [O III], F656N (H-alpha), and F658N [N II] |
| About The Image | |
| Color Info | Blue: F502N [O III] Green: F656N (H-alpha) Red: F658N [N II] |
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Source
Image and source material are credited to the official mission archive linked below.
View on NASA.gov