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Created page with "{{Night Sky | image = | designation =NGC 6302 | rightascension =17<sup>h</sup> 13<sup>m</sup> 44.211<sup>s</sup> | declination =-37° 06′ 15.94″ | dist..."
{{Night Sky
| image =
| designation =NGC 6302
| rightascension =17<sup>h</sup> 13<sup>m</sup> 44.211<sup>s</sup>
| declination =-37° 06′ 15.94″
| distance =3,800 ly
| constellation =[[Scorpius]]
| type =[[Planetary nebula]]
| dimensions = 3'
| magnitude =7.1
| redshift =
| radvelocity =
| propmotion =
| parallax =
}}
The '''Butterfly nebula''' (NGC 6302) is a [[planetary nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Scorpius]].<ref name=constellation-guide>[http://www.constellation-guide.com/butterfly-nebula/ Butterfly nebula] from constellation-guide.com</ref> Emanating from the [[star]] at its centre are two enormous lobes of [[gas]] and [[dust]], giving it the appearance of a butterfly. Thought to have formed 1,900 years ago, it is also known as the Bug nebula.
==History==
It is known that Edward Emerson Barnard observed the nebula in 1880, though some sources suggest James Dunlop may have discovered it in 1826.<ref>[https://freestarcharts.com/ngc-6302 NGC 6302] from freestarcharts.com</ref> the first record of observation was in 1907 by Edward Emerson Barnard.
==Properties and Structure==
The nebula is believed to be 2.7 [[light year]]s across and have a mass of around 5 solar masses.<ref>[http://amazingspace.org/resource_page/125/stars_stellar_evolution/type Butterfly nebula] from amazingspace.org</ref><ref name=constellation-guide/> The nebula is called a "bipolar planetary nebula" due to the to large gas/dust lobes that point in opposite directions.<ref name=constellation-guide/> There also may be two smaller lobes. There is a star situated at the centre of the nebula, where the two lobes intersect. However, it has not been detected due to the presence of a large [[dust]] lane, obscuring our view in visible light.
===Lobes===
The two lobes are composed mainly of [[dust]] and [[gas]] and believed to have temperatures of 18,000 k.<ref name=constellation-guide/> Expanding at 270 km/s, the northwestern lobe is believed to have formed 1,900 years ago. It 2013, it was found that the nebula was one of several bipolar planetary nebulae that preferred to align their long axis with the plane of the galaxy.<ref name=constellation-guide/>This only appears to be true for bipolar [[planetary nebulae]]. This is believed to be caused by an external force, such as the strong [[magnetic field]] produced by the bulge at the centre of the [[Milky Way]]. It also suggests that galactic magnetic fields have a larger effect on the galaxy than previously thought. The shape of the lobes comes from the rotation of the system.
===Central Star===
The star located at the centre of the nebula is thought to have a mass of 0.64 solar masses.<ref name=constellation-guide/> It is one of the hottest stars known, with a surface temperature over 200,000 kelvin, 34 times hotter than the [[Sun]]. This high temperature means that most of its light is emitted in the [[ultraviolet]] region of the [[electromagnetic spectrum]], adding to the difficulty in observing it due to dust. The ultraviolet light it emits illuminated the nebula in a similar way to an [[emission nebula]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nebulae}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Nebulae]]
| image =
| designation =NGC 6302
| rightascension =17<sup>h</sup> 13<sup>m</sup> 44.211<sup>s</sup>
| declination =-37° 06′ 15.94″
| distance =3,800 ly
| constellation =[[Scorpius]]
| type =[[Planetary nebula]]
| dimensions = 3'
| magnitude =7.1
| redshift =
| radvelocity =
| propmotion =
| parallax =
}}
The '''Butterfly nebula''' (NGC 6302) is a [[planetary nebula]] in the [[constellation]] of [[Scorpius]].<ref name=constellation-guide>[http://www.constellation-guide.com/butterfly-nebula/ Butterfly nebula] from constellation-guide.com</ref> Emanating from the [[star]] at its centre are two enormous lobes of [[gas]] and [[dust]], giving it the appearance of a butterfly. Thought to have formed 1,900 years ago, it is also known as the Bug nebula.
==History==
It is known that Edward Emerson Barnard observed the nebula in 1880, though some sources suggest James Dunlop may have discovered it in 1826.<ref>[https://freestarcharts.com/ngc-6302 NGC 6302] from freestarcharts.com</ref> the first record of observation was in 1907 by Edward Emerson Barnard.
==Properties and Structure==
The nebula is believed to be 2.7 [[light year]]s across and have a mass of around 5 solar masses.<ref>[http://amazingspace.org/resource_page/125/stars_stellar_evolution/type Butterfly nebula] from amazingspace.org</ref><ref name=constellation-guide/> The nebula is called a "bipolar planetary nebula" due to the to large gas/dust lobes that point in opposite directions.<ref name=constellation-guide/> There also may be two smaller lobes. There is a star situated at the centre of the nebula, where the two lobes intersect. However, it has not been detected due to the presence of a large [[dust]] lane, obscuring our view in visible light.
===Lobes===
The two lobes are composed mainly of [[dust]] and [[gas]] and believed to have temperatures of 18,000 k.<ref name=constellation-guide/> Expanding at 270 km/s, the northwestern lobe is believed to have formed 1,900 years ago. It 2013, it was found that the nebula was one of several bipolar planetary nebulae that preferred to align their long axis with the plane of the galaxy.<ref name=constellation-guide/>This only appears to be true for bipolar [[planetary nebulae]]. This is believed to be caused by an external force, such as the strong [[magnetic field]] produced by the bulge at the centre of the [[Milky Way]]. It also suggests that galactic magnetic fields have a larger effect on the galaxy than previously thought. The shape of the lobes comes from the rotation of the system.
===Central Star===
The star located at the centre of the nebula is thought to have a mass of 0.64 solar masses.<ref name=constellation-guide/> It is one of the hottest stars known, with a surface temperature over 200,000 kelvin, 34 times hotter than the [[Sun]]. This high temperature means that most of its light is emitted in the [[ultraviolet]] region of the [[electromagnetic spectrum]], adding to the difficulty in observing it due to dust. The ultraviolet light it emits illuminated the nebula in a similar way to an [[emission nebula]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Nebulae}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Nebulae]]