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.
Credit:
ESO
About the Image
| Id: | eso1338a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 4 September 2013, 15:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1338 |
| Size: | 847 x 790 px |
About the Object
| Name: | NGC 6537 |
| Type: | • Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary • X - Nebulae |
| Constellation: | Sagittarius |
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 |
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
| Optical B |
New Technology Telescope EFOSC |
| Optical V |
New Technology Telescope EFOSC |
| Optical R |
New Technology Telescope EFOSC2 |
| Optical H-alpha |
New Technology Telescope EFOSC |
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