Kronberger 61 facts for kids
| Emission nebula | |
|---|---|
| Planetary nebula | |
Image of the Kronberger 61 nebula taken by the Gemini Observatory
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| Observation data: J2000 epoch | |
| Right ascension | 19h 21m 38.936s |
| Declination | +38° 18′ 57.2420″ |
| Constellation | Cygnus |
| Designations | Kronberger 61, Soccer Ball Nebula |
Kronberger 61, also known as the "soccer ball", is a Nebula discovered by an amateur astronomer in January, 2011, with the newer images having been taken by the Gemini Observatory. The nebula is named for Austrian Mattias Kronberger, who is a member of the amateur group Deep Sky Hunters.
The object is estimated to lie 13,000 light-years away. They discovered the nebula while searching near the northern constellation of Cygnus. It is hoped that the discovery will help resolve a decades-old debate, regarding the role of stellar companions in the formation and structure of planetary nebulae.
The nebula is within a relatively small area, which is currently being monitored by NASA's Kepler planet finding mission and the light of the nebula is primarily due to the emissions from doubly ionized oxygen.
The Gemini Observatory is an astronomical observatory consisting of two 8.1-metre (26.6 ft) telescopes, Gemini North and Gemini South, which are located at two separate sites in Hawaii and Chile. The twin Gemini telescopes provide almost complete coverage of both the northern and southern skies.
See also
In Spanish: Kronberger 61 para niños
