NGC 3132 (also known as the Eight-Burst Nebula,[2] the Southern Ring Nebula,[2] or Caldwell 74) is a bright and extensively studied planetary nebula in the constellation Vela. Its distance from Earth is estimated at about 613 pc. or 2,000 light-years.[2]
Emission nebula | |
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Planetary nebula | |
![]() View in near-infrared by NIRCam | |
Observation data: J2000.0 epoch | |
Right ascension | 10h 07m 01.7640s[1] |
Declination | −40° 26′ 11.060″[1] |
Distance | 2,000[2] ly |
Apparent magnitude (V) | 9.87[1] |
Apparent dimensions (V) | 62″ × 43″[3] |
Constellation | Vela |
Physical characteristics | |
Radius | 0.4 ly[2] ly |
Designations | Eight-Burst Nebula,[2] Southern Ring Nebula,[2] Caldwell 74 |
See also: Lists of nebulae |
The Southern Ring Nebula was selected as one of the five cosmic objects observed by the James Webb Space Telescope as part of the release of its first official science images on July 12, 2022.[4]
Images of NGC 3132 reveal two stars close together within the nebulosity, one of 10th magnitude, the other 16th. The central star of the planetary nebula is a white dwarf, and is the fainter of the two stars. This hot central star of about 100,000 K has now blown off its outer layers and is making the nebula fluoresce brightly from the emission of its intense ultraviolet radiation.[5]
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New General Catalogue 3000 to 3499 | |
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Constellation of Vela | |||||||||||
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