Changes

| parallax        =2.27±2.28 mas<ref name=simbad/>

| parallax        =2.27±2.28 mas<ref name=simbad/>

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The '''Red rectangle nebula''' (IRAS 06176-1036, binary system designated HD 44179) is a [[protoplanetary nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Monoceros]], the [[unicorn]].<ref name=apod>{{cite web|url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180509.html|title=The Red Rectangle Nebula from Hubble|accessdate=2019-01-24}}</ref> The [[binary star]] at its core was first observed in 1915 by Robert Grant Aitken but it wasn't until 1973 that the surrounding nebula was observed during an [[infrared]] sky survey.<ref name=astronomy.com/> It is noteworthy for seeming to have a rectangular structure in early images, though more recent images taken by the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] have shown it to look more like the letter "X".<ref name=nasa>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2016/hubble-frames-a-unique-red-rectangle|title=Hubble Frames a Unique Red Rectangle|accessdate=2019-01-24}}</ref> Lines of [[gas]] can also be seen in the nebula similar to the rungs of a ladder. It is thought this structure is due to a thick [[torus]] of dust that envelopes the central [[binary star]]. This "pinches" the outflow of material into two [[cones]] pointing in opposite directions instead of a spherically symmetric output. The toriodal dust structure is viewed edge on from [[Earth]], resulting in the cones producing an "X" shape. The color of the nebula has been speculated to be caused by the presence of [[hydrocarbon]]s in the nebula, but is unknown.<ref name=apod/>

The '''Red rectangle nebula''' (IRAS 06176-1036, binary system designated HD 44179) is a [[protoplanetary nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Monoceros]], the [[unicorn]].<ref name=apod>{{cite web|url=https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap180509.html|title=The Red Rectangle Nebula from Hubble|accessdate=2019-01-24}}</ref> The [[binary star]] at its core was first observed in 1915 by Robert Grant Aitken but it wasn't until 1973 that the surrounding nebula was observed during an [[infrared]] sky survey.<ref name=astronomy.com/> It is noteworthy for seeming to have a rectangular structure in early images, though more recent images taken by the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] have shown it to look more like the letter "X".<ref name=nasa>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2016/hubble-frames-a-unique-red-rectangle|title=Hubble Frames a Unique Red Rectangle|accessdate=2019-01-24}}</ref> Lines of [[gas]] can also be seen in the nebula similar to the rungs of a ladder. It is thought this structure is due to a thick [[torus]] of dust that envelopes the central [[binary star]]. This "pinches" the outflow of material into two [[cones]] pointing in opposite directions instead of a spherically symmetric output. The toroidal dust structure is viewed edge on from [[Earth]], resulting in the cones producing an "X" shape. The color of the nebula has been speculated to be caused by the presence of [[hydrocarbon]]s in the nebula, but is unknown.<ref name=apod/>

The nebula is thought to be around 2,772 [[light year]]s from Earth, though some estimates are lower at approximately 2,300&nbsp;ly.<ref name=dist/><ref name=nasa/> It's temperature is estimated to be 264-607 kelvin and its [[luminosity]] at 6,000 times that of the [[Sun]].<ref name=dist/>

The nebula is thought to be around 2,772 [[light year]]s from Earth, though some estimates are lower at approximately 2,300&nbsp;ly.<ref name=dist/><ref name=nasa/> It's temperature is estimated to be 264-607 kelvin and its [[luminosity]] at 6,000 times that of the [[Sun]].<ref name=dist/>