| Object Data |
| Description |
The Cat's Eye Nebula is a beautiful remnant
from an ordinary star that has just recently gone through its red giant
phases, casting off most of it outer layers of matter, and is now a
degenerate white dwarf. The extreme ultraviolet from the hot young
stellar corpse is providing the energy to light up the nebula.
|
| Constellation |
Draco the Dragon |
| Right Ascension |
17h 58m 33s |
| Declination |
+66° 37' 59" |
| Magnitude |
8.8 |
| Angular size |
18 arcseconds |
| Distance |
890 parsecs (2,900 light years) |
| Radial Velocity |
-66 kilometers per second (approaching) |
| Image Data |
| Photographer |
Fred Lehman |
| Main Scope |
Meade 14" LX200GPS @ f/10 (3556mm) |
| Guide Scope |
Celestron 5" SCT @ f/7.5 (950mm) |
| Guide Camera |
SBIG STV |
| Imaging Camera |
Starlight Xpress MX7C |
| Resolution |
780 x 580 @ 0.5 arcseconds per pixel |
| Exposure |
Twenty exposures of thirty seconds each. Aligned,
stacked, and processed with AstroArt. |
| Date |
April 16, 2004 |
| Location |
Area 51 in Big Cypress National Preserve in central
South Florida. |
