The Twin Jet Nebula
The Twin Jet Nebula, or PN M2-9, is a striking example of a bipolar planetary nebula. Bipolar planetary nebulae are formed when the central object is not a single star, but a binary system, Studies have shown that the nebula’s size increases with time, and measurements of this rate of increase suggest that the stellar outburst that formed the lobes occurred just 1200 years ago.
Credit:ESA/Hubble & NASA
Acknowledgement: Judy Schmidt
About the Image
| Id: | heic1518a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 26 August 2015, 15:00 |
| Related releases: | heic1518 |
| Size: | 988 x 826 px |
About the Object
| Name: | M2-9, Twin Jet Nebula |
| Type: | Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary |
| Distance: | 4000 light years |
| Constellation: | Ophiuchus |
| Category: | Nebulae |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 17 5 37.94 |
| Position (Dec): | -10° 8' 32.57" |
| Field of view: | 0.82 x 0.69 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 92.9° left of vertical |
View in ESASky:
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical OIII | 502 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
| Optical V | 575 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
STIS |
| Optical SII | 673 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |