NGC 2346
Butterfly in the sky.....but why? It is thought that this intriguing shape was formed by two different processes. First of all there are two stars that play the "starring" role. This pair used to orbit one another at a casual distance, but then one of them evolved into a red giant star and enveloped the other one. This means the swallowed star orbited inside of the red giant! This process both caused the two to move close together and eject a ring of gas in the process. Then strong winds from the stars blew gas perpendicular to the ring to form the wings of the "butterfly." Currently these two stars are so close they orbit each other in a period of 16 days. NGC 2346 is between 2000-3000 light years away (and perhaps 1/2 light year in extent).
This image was taken as part of Advanced Observing Program (AOP) program at Kitt Peak Visitor Center during 2014.
Credit:KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Doug Matthews and Charles Betts/Adam Block
About the Image
| Id: | noao-n2346matthews |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | June 19, 2014, 2:27 p.m. |
| Size: | 1336 x 921 px |
About the Object
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 7 9 28.32 |
| Position (Dec): | 0° 51' 38.43" |
| Field of view: | 11.40 x 7.88 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 89.7° right of vertical |
Colors & filters
| Band | Wave-length | Tele-scope |
|---|---|---|
| Optical B | 438 nm | Visitor Center 0.5-meter Telescope Other CCD |
| Optical G | 475 nm | Visitor Center 0.5-meter Telescope Other CCD |
| Optical R | 625 nm | Visitor Center 0.5-meter Telescope Other CCD |
| Optical Broad Band | 555 nm | Visitor Center 0.5-meter Telescope Other CCD |