The Cat's Eye Nebula
This Hubble Space Telescope image shows one of the most complex planetary nebulae ever seen, NGC 6543, nicknamed the 'Cat's Eye Nebula.' Hubble reveals surprisingly intricate structures including concentric gas shells, jets of high-speed gas and unusual shock-induced knots of gas. Estimated to be 1, 000 years old, the nebula is a visual 'fossil record' of the dynamics and late evolution of a dying star.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
| Name: | Cat's Eye Nebula, NGC 6543 |
|---|---|
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary |
| Distance: | 3000 light years |
| Constellation: | Draco |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 17 58 33.07 |
|---|---|
| Position (Dec): | 66° 37' 58.95" |
| Field of view: | 0.61 x 0.60 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 138.2° right of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Telescope |
|---|---|
| Optical Oi |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical Nii |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical H-alpha |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |