IC 4406

IC 4406

HST view of IC 4406
Observation data
(Epoch J2000)
Right ascension 14h 22m 26.278s[1]
Declination -44° 09′ 04.35″[1]
Distance 2.0 kly (600 pc)[2]
Apparent dimensions (V) 30″
Constellation Lupus
Physical characteristics
Radius 0.13 × 0.45 ly
Absolute magnitude (V) -0.3
Notable features -
Other designations Retina Nebula[3]
See also: Planetary nebula, Lists of nebulae

IC 4406 is a planetary nebula near the western border of the constellation Lupus, the Wolf. It has dust clouds and has the shape of a torus. Despite this, it looks somewhat rectangular because it is seen from its side as viewed from Earth, almost in the plane[2] of its equator.

Structure

IC 4406 is bipolar and appears to be a prolate spheroid with strong concentrations of material in its equator.[3] This kind of structure is a natural product of a bipolar model.[3] The knots of IC 4406 have a "lacy" appearance and have no ordered symmetry towards the central star.[2] The knots have no tails.[2] None of the features have bright edges.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b "SIMBAD Astronomical Database". Results for IC 4406. http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad. Retrieved 2006-12-19. 
  2. ^ a b c d e O'dell, C. R.; Balick, B.; Hajian, A. R.; Henney, W. J.; Burkert, A.; Balick; Hajian; Henney; Burkert (2003). "Knots in Planetary Nebulae". Winds, Bubbles, and Explosions: a conference to honor John Dyson, Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, México, September 9-13, 2002 (Eds. S. J. Arthur & W. J. Henney) Revista Mexicana de Astronomía y Astrofísica (Serie de Conferencias) (http://www.astroscu.unam.mx/~rmaa/) 15: 29–33. Bibcode 2003RMxAC..15...29O. 
  3. ^ a b c O'Dell, C. R.; Balick, B.; Hajian, A. R.; Henney, W. J.; Burkert, A. (2002). "Knots in Nearby Planetary Nebulae". The Astronomical Journal 123 (6): 3329–3347. Bibcode 2002AJ....123.3329O. doi:10.1086/340726.