| Red Spider Nebula | |
|---|---|
A Hubble Space Telescope image of NGC 6537 Credit: NASA/STScI/ESA |
|
| Observation data (Epoch J2000.0) |
|
| Right ascension | 18h 05m 13.1s |
| Declination | -19° 50′ 34.9″ |
| Distance | ~1900 ly[1] |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | 13 |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 1.5 arcmin |
| Constellation | Sagittarius |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | ?? ly |
| Absolute magnitude (V) | - |
| Notable features | hot white dwarf |
| Other designations | NGC 6537 |
| See also: Planetary nebula, Lists of nebulae | |
The Red Spider Nebula is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Sagittarius.
The central white dwarf, the remaining compact core of the original star, produces a powerful and hot (≈10,000 K) wind blowing with a speed of 300 kilometers per second, which has generated waves 100 billion kilometres high. These winds are what give this nebula its unique 'spider' shape and also contribute to the expansion of the neubula.[2]
With an estimated temperature of at least half a million degrees, it would be one of the hottest stars known.
Huge waves are sculpted in this two-lobed nebula some 3000 light-years away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
The Red Spider Nebula lies toward the constellation of Sagittarius. Its distance is not well known but estimated by some to be about 4000 light-years.