The VLT images a "rectangular" planetary nebula

IC 4406 is a planetary nebula with an unusual, almost "rectangular" shape. It is located in the southern constellation Lupus (the Wolf). The distance is somewhat uncertain, possibly around 5,000 light-years. Like the Butterfly Nebula (cf. VLT UT1 First Light Photo No. 4), IC 4406 belongs to the class of bipolar nebulae. However, the dark and dusty central band (the "disc-like structure") is less pronounced in this object and the internal structure is more uniform. The different colours correspond to regions of different composition and physical properties.

This is a combination of two 5-min B (blue) exposures (seeing 0.95 arcsec), two 5-min V (green-yellow) exposures (0.90 arcsec), and one 5-min and two 2-min R (red) exposures (0.70 to 0.90 arcsec) with the VLT Test Camera. Individual frames were flat-fielded and cleaned for cosmics before colour combination; there was no further image processing. The field measures 1.5 x 1.5 arcmin. North is to the upper right; East is to the upper left.

Kilde:

ESO

Om billedet

Id:eso9827a
Type:Observation
Udgivelsesdato:23. juni 1998
Relaterede pressemeddelelser:eso9827
Størrelse:2340 x 2557 px

Om objektet

Navn:IC 4406
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Afstand:5000 lysår
Constellation:Lupus
Kategori:Nebulae

Billedformater

Stor JPEG
446,2 KB
Skrærm JPEG
63,9 KB

Baggrundsbilleder

1024x768
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1280x1024
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1600x1200
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1920x1200
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2048x1536
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Koordinater

Position (RA):14 22 26.29
Position (Dec):-44° 9' 5.34"
Field of view:1.43 x 1.51 arcminutes
Orientering:Nord er 44.8° droite fra lodret

Farver & filtre

BåndTeleskop
Optisk
B
Very Large Telescope
Optisk
V
Very Large Telescope
Optisk
R
Very Large Telescope