NGC 2440

NGC 2440 is a planetary nebula, one of many in our galaxy. Its central star, HD62166,[1] is possibly the hottest known white dwarf. The nebula is situated in the constellation Puppis.

NGC 2440
Emission nebula
Planetary nebula
NGC 2440, as taken by the Hubble Space Telescope
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension07h 41m 54.91s[1]
Declination−18° 12 29.7[1]
Distance4.00 kly (1.23 kpc)[2] ly
Apparent magnitude (V)9.4[3]
Apparent dimensions (V)74" × 42"[3]
ConstellationPuppis
DesignationsESO 560-PN9

It was discovered by William Herschel on March 4, 1790. He described it as "a beautiful planetary nebula of a considerable degree of brightness, not very well defined."[3] The nebula is located about 1.23 kiloparsecs (3.79×1019 m) or about 4,000 light years from the Sun.[2]

HD 62166

HD 62166 has an exceptionally high surface temperature of about 200,000 kelvins[2] and a luminosity 1,100 times that of the Sun.[4] This dense star, with an estimated 0.6 solar mass and 0.028 solar radius,[4] has an apparent magnitude of 17.5.[5]

See also

Notes

  1. (SIMBAD 2007)
  2. (Nemiroff & Bonnell 2007)
  3. (O'Meara 2007)
  4. (James & Marion 2006)
  5. "Observing at Skyhound: NGC 2440".

References


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