- Red Spider Nebula
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Red Spider Nebula 
A Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 6537
Credit: NASA/STScI/ESAObservation data
(Epoch J2000.0)Right ascension 18h 05m 13.1s Declination -19° 50′ 34.9″ Distance ~1900 ly[1] Apparent magnitude (V) 13 Apparent dimensions (V) 1.5 arcmin Constellation Sagittarius Physical characteristics Radius ?? ly Absolute magnitude (V) - Notable features hot white dwarf Other designations NGC 6537 See also: Planetary nebula, Lists of nebulae The Red Spider Nebula is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Sagittarius.
The central white dwarf, the remaining compact core of the original star, produces a powerful and hot (≈10,000 K) wind blowing with a speed of 300 kilometers per second, which has generated waves 100 billion kilometres high. These winds are what give this nebula its unique 'spider' shape and also contribute to the expansion of the neubula.[2]
With an estimated temperature of at least half a million degrees, it would be one of the hottest stars known.
Huge waves are sculpted in this two-lobed nebula some 3000 light-years away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
The Red Spider Nebula lies toward the constellation of Sagittarius. Its distance is not well known but estimated by some to be about 4000 light-years.
References
- ^ http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/html/heic0109a.html
- ^ "Red Spider Nebula (NGC 6537)". Encyclopedia of Science. http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/R/Red_Spider_Nebula.html. Retrieved 2009-08-12.
External links
- Red Spider Nebula at ESA/Hubble
- White dwarf sends ripples through Red Spider Nebula at Space.com
- NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Categories:- NGC objects
- Planetary nebulae
- Sagittarius constellation
- Nebula stubs
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