Kronberger 61 and Planetary Nebulae

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In summary, amateur astronomer Matthias Kronberger discovered the soccer-ball nebula, Kronberger 61, in January 2011 after analyzing photos of sky surveys from the 1980s. The Gemini Observatory then captured a new, color-composite image of the nebula, which is located 13,000 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation and stands out for its nearly perfect round shape. The discovery has sparked interest in the formation of planetary nebulae among astrophysicists.
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http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/07/110726-soccer-ball-nebula-space-science-stars/
Amateur astronomer Matthias Kronberger discovered the soccer-ball nebula, called Kronberger 61, in January 2011 after poring over digitized photos of sky surveys from the 1980s. After he alerted professional astronomers, the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii zoomed in on the region to create the new, color-composite image.

Kronberger 61 lies roughly 13,000 light-years away in the Cygnus constellation and is almost perfectly round—an oddity when compared with the other 3,000 or so planetary nebulae already discovered.

. . . .
Apparently the formation of planetary nebulae is a hot topic in astrophysics.

See also - http://www.gemini.edu/node/11656
 
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:biggrin: That is cool.
 

1. What is Kronberger 61 and where is it located?

Kronberger 61 is a planetary nebula located in the constellation Cygnus, approximately 5,000 light-years away from Earth. It is named after its discoverer, Austrian amateur astronomer Matthias Kronberger.

2. How was Kronberger 61 formed?

Kronberger 61 was formed when a star, similar in size to our own Sun, reached the end of its life and expelled its outer layers of gas into space. The hot, dense core of the star is what we see as the bright central star of the nebula, surrounded by the expanding cloud of gas and dust.

3. What makes Kronberger 61 unique among planetary nebulae?

Kronberger 61 is unique because it has a distinct greenish-blue color, which is caused by the presence of oxygen in the nebula. This is rare for planetary nebulae, as most of them exhibit shades of red, orange, and yellow due to the presence of hydrogen and helium.

4. Can we see Kronberger 61 with the naked eye?

No, Kronberger 61 is not visible to the naked eye. It can only be seen with a telescope or binoculars.

5. What can studying Kronberger 61 tell us about the life cycle of stars?

Studying Kronberger 61 and other planetary nebulae can tell us about the later stages of a star's life, when it runs out of fuel and begins to die. It also gives us insight into the role of planetary nebulae in enriching the interstellar medium with heavy elements, which will eventually form new stars and planets.

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