Skull Nebula

Skull Nebula
Image captured at Mount Lemmon Sky Centre’'
Observation Data Epoch: J2000 Right Ascension: 00h 47m 03.338s Declination: -11° 52′ 18.94″ Constellation: Cetus Apparent Dimensions (V): 3.8’ x 3.8’ Apparent Magnitude (V): 8 / 11.8 (central star) Absolute Magnitude (V): {{{absmag_v}}} Characteristics Type: {{{pn_type}}} Radius: 2-3 light-years Astrometry Helio Radial Velocity: -15.70 km/s Redshift: -0.000052 Distance: 1,600 light-years Other Designations NGC 246, Pac-Man Nebula, Caldwell 56

NGC 246, known as the Skull Nebula, is a planetary nebula in the constellation Cetus. The nebula and the stars associated with it are listed in several catalogs, as summarized by the SIMBAD database. It is roughly 1,600 light-years away. The nebula's central star is the 12th magnitude white dwarf HIP 3678.

Among some amateur astronomers, NGC 246 is known as the "Pac-Man Nebula" because of the arrangement of its central stars and the surrounding star field.

External links

• Skull Nebula on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

Template:Nebula-stub