NGC 6302: Big Bright Bug Nebula
Explanation:
The bright clusters and nebulae of planet Earth's night sky are
often named for
flowers or
insects, and
NGC 6302 is no exception.
With an estimated surface temperature of about 250,000 degrees C,
the central star of this particular
planetary nebula is exceptionally
hot though -- shinning brightly in ultraviolet light but hidden from
direct view by a dense torus of dust.
Above is a
dramatically
detailed close-up of the
dying
star's nebula
recorded by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Cutting across a bright cavity of ionized gas,
the dust torus surrounding the central star is in the upper
left corner of this view, nearly edge-on to the line-of-sight.
Surprisingly, minerals including water ice, along with
complex hydrocarbon molecules
have been detected
in this hot star's dusty cosmic shroud.
NGC 6302 lies about 4,000 light-years away in the
entomologically correct constellation
Scorpius.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
