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Key Information

Butterfly Nebula

Type Bipolar Planetary Nebula
Diameter 3 light years
Distance About 3,400 light years
Date of Discovery Before 1888
Other Names Bipolar Nebula, Bug Nebula, Caldwell 69, NGC 6302

Learning Point

  • A bipolar planetary nebula, the Butterfly Nebula is one of the most beautiful nebulas we can see through a telescope. It is a complex structure, the result of a massive star ejecting the outer layers of itself into space just before it collapsed into a white dwarf star.

Project

  • Find out what type of nebula the Butterfly Nebula is. How is it formed?
  • Overview
  • Simulation
The Butterfly Nebula
By NASA, ESA and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team – http://www.hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2009/25/image/f/, Public Domain, Link
Simulation of the formation of a Stellar Nebula
CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

Location

Located in Scorpius, in the Milky Way

Fun Facts

  • The nebula has been known since at least 1888, though it was first studied by Edward Barnard in 1907.
  • The central star is among the hottest known stars, and was hard to find because it emits its light in the ultra-violet spectrum, the surrounding dust, as well as the bright background.
  • The temperature of the star is calculated at over 450,000 °F.

Past Lessons

63 September 25, 2023 (North America)
No Past Lessons

Upcoming Lessons

No Upcoming Lessons