Nebula
Eskimo Nebula
Planetary nebula · C39 · NGC 2392
Planetary nebula in Gemini
Photo: NASA, ESA, Andrew Fruchter (STScI), and the ERO team (STScI + ST-ECF) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
The Eskimo Nebula is a bipolar, double-shell planetary nebula (PN) in the northern constellation of Gemini. Alternatively, it is known as NGC 2392, Clown Face Nebula, Lion Nebula, or Caldwell 39. This feature was discovered by German-British astronomer William Herschel in 1787. NGC 2392 lies about 6,500 light-years away, and is visible with a small telescope. The formation resembles a person's head surrounded by a parka hood. It is surrounded by gas that composed the ejected outer layers of a Sun-like star. The visible inner filaments are ejected by a strong wind of particles from the central stellar remnant. The outer disk contains unusual, light-year-long filaments.
Description from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
In your sky
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Key facts
Distance
~4,000 light-years
Apparent mag.
+10
Apparent size
0.9′
Best seen with
Telescope
Catalogue
C39 · NGC 2392
Did you know
- Listed as Caldwell 39 in the Caldwell catalogue, also known as NGC 2392.
- Found in the constellation Gemini.
- Needs a telescope to see clearly.
