IC 418

IC 418
Nebula
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension 05h 27m 28.2037s[1]
Declination −12° 41 50.265[1]
Distance 3.6 ± 1.0 kly (1100 ± 300 pc)[2] ly
Apparent magnitude (V) 9.6[1]
Apparent dimensions (V) 3.5″x5.5"/11"x14"/150"/220"x250"[3]
Constellation Lepus
Physical characteristics
Radius 0.15 ly ly
Absolute magnitude (V) -
Notable features -
Designations Spirograph Nebula

IC 418, also known as Spirograph Nebula, is a planetary nebula in the Milky Way Galaxy.

The name derives from the intricate pattern of the nebula, which resembles a pattern which can be created using the Spirograph, a toy which produces geometric patterns (specifically, hypotrochoids and epitrochoids) on paper.

History

Only a few million years ago, IC 418 was probably a common red giant star. Since running out of nuclear fuel, though, the outer envelope has begun expanding outward leaving a hot remnant core destined to become a white dwarf star.

IC 418 lies about 1100 light-years away and spans 0.3 light-years across.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for IC 418. Retrieved 2006-12-22.
  2. "Expansion Parallax of the Planetary Nebula IC 418". Paper on IC 418. Retrieved 2013-03-06.
  3. Ramos-Larios, G.; et al. (2012). "Discovery of multiple shells around the planetary nebula IC 418". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 423 (4): 3753–3760. arXiv:1204.5816Freely accessible. Bibcode:2012MNRAS.423.3753R. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2966.2012.21165.x.

External links

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