NGC 3132

NGC 3132
Observation data (Epoch J2000.0)
Right ascension	10h 07m 01.7640s[1]
Declination	-40° 26′ 11.060″[1]
Distance	2,000 ly[2]
Apparent magnitude (V)	9.87[1]
Apparent dimensions (V)	62″ × 43″[3]
Constellation	Vela
Physical characteristics
Radius	0.4 ly[2]
Other designations	Eight-Burst Nebula,[2] Southern Ring Nebula,[2] Caldwell 74
See also: Planetary nebula, Lists of nebulae

NGC 3132 (also known as the Eight-Burst Nebula,^[2] the Southern Ring Nebula,^[2], or Caldwell 74) is a bright and extensively studied planetary nebula in the constellation Vela. Its distance from Earth is estimated at about 550 kpc. or 2,000 light-years.^[2]

Planetary nebula nucleus (PNN)

Images of NGC 3132 reveal two stars close together within the nebulosity, one of 10th magnitude, the other 16th. The central planetary nebula nucleus (PNN) or white dwarf central star is the fainter of these two stars. This hot central star of about 100,000 K has now blown off its layers and is making the nebula fluoresce brightly from the emission of its intense ultraviolet radiation.

See also

• List of NGC objects
• List of planetary nebulae

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for NGC 3132. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad. Retrieved 2007-01-03. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g} "Fast Facts – Planetary Nebula NGC 3132". Hubble Heritage Project. Space Telescope Science Institute. http://heritage.stsci.edu/1998/39/fast_facts.html. Retrieved 2007-10-06. 
3. ^ "Results for NGC 3132". NGC/IC Project Database. http://www.ngcicproject.org/ngcicdb.asp. Retrieved 2011-01-09. 

External links

• Hubble Heritage release – A Glowing Pool of Light
• Hubble Heritage Project – Image of NGC 3132
• NGC 3132 on WikiSky: DSS2, SDSS, GALEX, IRAS, Hydrogen α, X-Ray, Astrophoto, Sky Map, Articles and images

Coordinates: 10^h 07^m 01.76^s, −40° 26′ 11″