This image shows an example of a bipolar planetary nebula known as PN Hb 12 – also known as Hubble 12 – in the constellation of Cassiopeia. The striking shape of this nebula, reminiscent of a butterfly or an hourglass, was formed as a Sun-like star approached the end of its life and puffed its outer layers into the surrounding space. For bipolar nebulae, this material is funneled towards the poles of the aging star, creating the distinctive double-lobed structure.
Observations using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and the New Technology Telescope have found that bipolar planetary nebulae located towards the central bulge of our Milky Way appear to be strangely aligned in the sky – a surprising result given their varied and chaotic formation.
PN Hb 12 was not part of the new study. A version of this image was entered into the Hubble's Hidden Treasures image processing competition by contestant Josh Barrington.
Credits
Credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Zijlstra (The University of Manchester)Acknowledgment: J. Barrington (Hubble's Hidden Treasures Competition)
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | PN Hb 12, Hubble 12 |
| R.A. Position | 23h 26m 14.81s |
| Dec. Position | 58° 10' 54.65" |
| About The Object | |
|---|---|
| Object Name | A name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object. |
| Object Description | The type of astronomical object. |
| R.A. Position | Right ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position. |
| Dec. Position | Declination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position. |
| Constellation | One of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears. |
| Distance | The physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs. |
| Dimensions | The physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky. |
| About The Data | |
| Data Description |
|
| Instrument | The science instrument used to produce the data. |
| Exposure Dates | The date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time. |
| Filters | The camera filters that were used in the science observations. |
| About The Image | |
| Image Credit | The primary individuals and institutions responsible for the content. |
| Publication Date | The date and time the release content became public. |
| Color Info | A brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented. |
| Orientation | The rotation of the image on the sky with respect to the north pole of the celestial sphere. |
