"Skull Nebula"
"Cetus Bubble"

J2000
RA: 00h 47m 03,77s
Dec: -11° 52' 21,9"
Mag. 8,00
Surface bright: 10,80
Dim.: 245 "
Central star : 11,96
Constellation: Whale

Discovery: W. Herschel 25 nov. 1785
Distance: 0,65 kpc
Radius: - pc

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NGC 246 is also known as "Skull Nebula" and it's a very interesting PN in the Whale constellation. Its angular size is relatively big, enough to be considered an easy-to-find target. It has an elliptic shape with a bright border, surrounding an irregular nebulosity. This strong homogeneity are probably caused by asymmetrical variation of the strong stellar-wind from its central star, which, according to P-Cigny models, flow more or less at 4000 km/s. A huge value, as the temperature of the genitor star too: 200000 K ! It comes without saying that its gases are highly excited. Central star is probably a phisical-double-star (gravitanionally interacting); this couple is very tight, their separation is 3".


Interesting level: *