Right ascension 05 27 28.2037 Apparent magnitude (V) 9.6 | Declination −12° 41′ 50.265″ Constellation Lepus | |
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Distance 3.6 ± 1.0 kly (1100 ± 300 pc) ly Apparent dimensions (V) 3.5″x5.5"/11"x14"/150"/220"x250" | ||
IC 418, also known as Spirograph Nebula, is a planetary nebula in the Milky Way Galaxy.
The name derives from the intricate pattern of the nebula, which resembles a pattern which can be created using the Spirograph, a toy which produces geometric patterns (specifically, hypotrochoids and epitrochoids) on paper.
History
Only a few million years ago, IC 418 was probably a common red giant star. Since running out of nuclear fuel, though, the outer envelope has begun expanding outward leaving a hot remnant core destined to become a white dwarf star.
IC 418 lies about 1100 light-years away and spans 0.3 light-years across.
References
IC 418 Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA