Planetary nebula
The Cat's Eye Nebula
Also NGC 6543 · Caldwell 6
An intricate planetary nebula of shells and jets around a dying star, near the north pole of the ecliptic.
Measured
- Distance
- about 3,300 light-years (published estimates 2,400–4,200)
- Size
- about 0.4 light-years across (approximate)
- Constellation
- Draco
- Position (J2000)
- RA 17h 58m 34s, Dec +66.63°
How far, from the Sun
About 3,300 light-years. To cross it:
- Light3,300 years
- Voyager 1's speed58.6 million years
- Driving at 100 km/h35.6 billion years
Voyager 1 at the speed it moved outward over the year to 2026-10-25 (JPL Horizons). Driving: nonstop, never refuelling.
Facts
- In 1864 William Huggins took its spectrum, the first of a planetary nebula, proving such objects are gas.
- Hubble images show at least eleven rings, puffs of gas shed roughly every 1,500 years.
How it was found
- William Herschel discovered it in 1786.
Where this comes from
- Reed et al. 1999, expansion parallax (1.0 ± 0.3 kpc)
Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.