🌌 NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
NGC 3242: The 'Ghost of Jupiter' Planetary Nebula Credit:
Date: 1997-03-31

Explanation:
It's a weed,
it's Jupiter, no it's - actually planetary
nebula NGC 3242. After a star like our Sun
completes fusion in its core, it throws off its outer layers it
a striking display called a planetary nebula. NGC 3242
is such a planetary nebula, with the stellar remnant white dwarf star
visible at the center. This nebula is sometimes called "The
Ghost of Jupiter" for its similar appearance to the familiar
planet. NGC 3242 is much farther away however, than the measly
40 light-minutes distance to Jupiter.
In fact, by comparing the apparent expansion rate with the actual
rate determined from Doppler
studies, astronomers have estimated
the distance to NGC 3242 to be about 1400 light-years away. The
red FLIERs
visible near the edges of the nebula remain mysterious.







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