Right ascension 17 29 20.443 Distance 2,000 - 5,000 ly Designations NGC 6369, PK 002+05 1 Constellation Ophiuchus | Declination −23° 45′ 34.22″ Apparent dimensions (V) 28 arc sec Magnitude 12.9 Apparent magnitude (V) 12.9 | |
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Similar Ghost Nebula, NGC 6210, NGC 3242, NGC 6309, NGC 2440 | ||
Elite dangerous little ghost nebula
Little Ghost Nebula is a planetary nebula in the constellation Ophiuchus. It was discovered by William Herschel.
Round and planet-shaped, the nebula is also relatively faint. Planetary nebulae are not related to planets at all, but instead are created at the end of a sun-like star's life as its outer layers expand into space while the star's core shrinks to become a white dwarf. The transformed white dwarf star, seen near the center, radiates strongly at ultraviolet wavelengths and powers the expanding nebula's glow. The nebula's main ring structure is about a light-year across and the glow from ionized oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen atoms are colored blue, green, and red respectively.
The Little Ghost Nebula should not be confused with the Ghost Nebula (Sh2-136) or the Ghost Head Nebula (NGC 2080).