Bipolar planetary nebula NGC 6537

This image shows an example of a bipolar planetary nebula known as NGC 6537 taken with the New Technology Telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. The shape, reminiscent of a butterfly or an hourglass, was formed as a Sun-like star approached the end of its life and puffed its outer layers into the surrounding space. For bipolar nebulae, this material is funnelled towards the poles of the ageing star, creating the distinctive double-lobed structure.

Observations using the NTT and Hubble have found that bipolar planetary nebulae located towards the central bulge of our Milky Way appear to be strangely aligned in the sky  — a surprising result given their varied and chaotic formation.

NGC 6537, which lies much closer to the Earth, was not part of the new study.

Crédit:

ESO

À propos de l'image

Identification:eso1338a
Type:Observation
Date de publication:4 septembre 2013 15:00
Communiqués de presse en rapport:eso1338
Taille:847 x 790 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:NGC 6537
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Constellation:Sagittarius
Catégorie:Nebulae

Image Formats

Grand JPEG
313,0 Kio
JPEG taille écran
261,1 Kio

Zoomable


Fonds d'écran

1024x768
307,9 Kio
1280x1024
472,4 Kio
1600x1200
639,6 Kio
1920x1200
719,1 Kio
2048x1536
935,9 Kio

Coordinates

Position (RA):18 5 13.12
Position (Dec):-19° 50' 34.68"
Field of view:3.39 x 3.16 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.3° right of vertical

Couleurs & filtres

DomaineTélescope
Visible
B
New Technology Telescope
EFOSC
Visible
V
New Technology Telescope
EFOSC
Visible
H-alpha
New Technology Telescope
EFOSC
Visible
R
New Technology Telescope
EFOSC2