Planetary Nebula Hen 2-428

Colour composite of some of the first astronomical exposures obtained by YEPUN . The object is the planetary nebula Hen 2-428 that is located at a distance of 6,000-8,000 light-years and seen in a dense sky field, only 2° from the main plane of the Milky Way. As other planetary nebulae, it is caused by a dying star (the bluish object at the centre) that shreds its outer layers. The image is based on exposures through three optical filtres: B(lue) (10 min exposure, seeing 0.9 arcsec; here rendered as blue), V(isual) (5 min; 0.9 arcsec; green) and R(ed) (3 min; 0.9 arcsec; red). The field measures 88 x 78 arcsec 2 (1 pixel = 0.09 arcsec). North is to the lower right and East is to the lower left. The 5-day old Moon was about 90° away in the sky that was accordingly bright. The zenith angle was 44°.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0028a
Type:Observation
Release date:4 September 2000
Related releases:eso0028
Size:978 x 864 px

About the Object

Name:Hen 2-428
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Distance:7000 light years
Constellation:Aquila
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
348.6 KB
Screensize JPEG
292.5 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
321.9 KB
1280x1024
494.1 KB
1600x1200
647.7 KB
1920x1200
699.8 KB
2048x1536
915.9 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):19 13 5.24
Position (Dec):15° 46' 40.13"

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical
B
Very Large Telescope
Optical
V
Very Large Telescope
Optical
R
Very Large Telescope