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Planetary nebula

NGC 7027

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A young, dense planetary nebula in Cygnus.

Measured

Distance
about 3,196 light-years (published estimates 2,870–3,522)
Size
about 0.194 light-years across (approximate)
Constellation
Cygnus
Position (J2000)
RA 21h 07m 02s, Dec +42.24°

How far, from the Sun

About 3,200 light-years. To cross it:

  • Light3,200 years
  • Voyager 1's speed56.8 million years
  • Driving at 100 km/h34.5 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 2019 astronomers reported the first detection in space of the helium hydride ion, which formed the Universe's first molecular bond, here.
  • Its distance, about 3,200 light-years, is measured from the nebula's own expansion over 25 years of radio monitoring. Gaia's parallax of its central star is unreliable here: the bright, compact nebula spoils it.

Where this comes from

  • Expansion distance 980 ± 100 pc, Zijlstra, van Hoof & Perley 2008, ApJ (doi 10.1086/588778)
  • This research has made use of the SIMBAD database, CDS, Strasbourg, France (Wenger et al. 2000, A&AS 143, 9).
  • This research has made use of the VizieR catalogue access tool, CDS, Strasbourg, France (DOI: 10.26093/cds/vizier).

Every catalogue Ouranos draws is credited on the credits page.