Exposed Cranium Nebula

Spitzer_sig13-013_1024

spitzer_sig13-013 October 28th, 2013

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)

The brain-like orb called PMR 1 has been nicknamed the "Exposed Cranium" nebula by Spitzer scientists. This planetary nebula, located roughly 5,000 light-years away in the Vela constellation, is host to a hot, massive dying star that is rapidly disintegrating, losing its mass. The nebula's insides, which appear mushy and red in this view, are made up primarily of ionized gas, while the outer green shell is cooler, consisting of glowing hydrogen molecules.

In this image, infrared light at wavelengths of 3.6 microns is rendered in blue, 4.5 microns in green, and 8.0 microns in red.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/5687-sig13-013-Exposed-Cranium-Nebula

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy

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Image Details Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
PMR1 • PN G272.8+01.0 • Exposed Cranium Nebula
Subject - Milky Way
Nebula > Type > Planetary

Distance Details Distance

Universescale1
5,000 light years
Spitzer_sig13-013_128
 

Position Details Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 9h 28m 40.9s
DEC = -49° 36’ 26.6”
Orientation
North is 62.4° CW
Field of View
5.5 x 5.5 arcminutes
Constellation
Vela

Color Mapping Details Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Blue Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 3.6 µm
Green Spitzer (IRAC) Infrared (Near-IR) 4.5 µm
Red Spitzer (MIPS) Infrared (Mid-IR) 8.0 µm
Spectrum_base
Blue
Green
Red
Spitzer_sig13-013_1280
×
ID
sig13-013
Subject Category
B.4.1.3  
Subject Name
PMR1, PN G272.8+01.0, Exposed Cranium Nebula
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/J. Hora (Harvard-Smithsonian CfA)
Release Date
2013-10-28
Lightyears
5,000
Redshift
5,000
Reference Url
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/5687-sig13-013-Exposed-Cranium-Nebula
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Spitzer, Spitzer, Spitzer
Instrument
IRAC, IRAC, MIPS
Color Assignment
Blue, Green, Red
Band
Infrared, Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
Near-IR, Near-IR, Mid-IR
Central Wavelength
3600, 4500, 8000
Start Time
2008-05-08T07:27, 2008-05-08T07:27, 2008-05-08T07:27
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
Reference Value
142.170546, -49.6074
Reference Dimension
550, 550
Reference Pixel
307.5, 277.5
Scale
-1.66667000000000e-04, 1.66667000000000e-04
Rotation
-62.44512
Coordinate System Projection:
TAN
Quality
Full
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/info/18-Image-Use-Policy
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
sig13-013.tif
Resource URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/uploaded_files/images/0009/7163/sig13-013.tif
Related Resources
Metadata Date
2013-10-29
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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Universescalefull
5,000 light years

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