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Eskimo Nebula
The Eskimo Nebula, also known as NGC 2392 and the Clownface Nebula, is a bipolar double-shell planetary nebula. It was discovered in 1787 by William Herschel. It gets its name because it looks ike a head surrounded by a parka hood. This nebula is more than 2,870 light years from Earth in the Gemini constellation. You can see it with a small telescope at right ascension 07h29m10.7669s and declination +20°54?42.488?.
There is a series of visible inner filaments that are by the strong stellar wind from the central star. The outer disk contains unusual orange filaments that are several light years in length. The nebula is surrounded by gas that is made up of the outer layers of the central star.
This is a planetary nebula, so it is an emission nebula that consists of an expanding glowing shell of ionized gas that was ejected during the giant phase of certain types of stars near the end of their lives. They are a short-lived phenomenon. They will only last a few tens of thousands of years instead of the billions of years we use to discuss celestial phenomena. What takes place is that at the end of the star’s life(the red giant phase) the outer layers of the star are expelled by pulsations and strong stellar winds. Without these layers, the hot, luminous core emits ultraviolet radiation that ionizes the outer layers. The Eskimo Nebula is a bipolar planetary nebula, which means that it radiates in two symmetrical lobes.
Despite the fact that it was discovered more than 200 years ago, there is little information to be had about the Eskimo Nebula. Hopefully, you will want to research more on planetary nebula and bipolar nebula.
We have written many articles about the Eskimo Nebula for Universe Today. Here’s an article about the Gemini constellation, and here’s an article about Comet Lulin approaching Eskimo Nebula and M44.
If you’d like more info on Eskimo Nebula, check out NASA’s Photo Gallery of Nebulae, and here’s a link to the Hubblesite Homepage for recent stories and images.
We’ve also recorded an episode of Astronomy Cast about the nebula. Listen here, Wikipedia, NASA
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