Planetary Nebula Of The Week - 9

NGC 6302

THE BUG NEBULA

CONSTELLATION OF Scorpius (The Scorpion)

NGC 6302 adapted from an image by the Anglo-Australian Telescope

The Bug Nebula, so named for the tenticle-like areas of nebulosity extending out from the main body, is elongated, and hence, hardly "planetary" looking, but, in fact, nearly 70 percent of all planetary nebulae are elongated in this fashion. NGC 6302 is one of the most unique planetary nebulae, however. The two distinct areas of gas imply that matter is being ejected in two directions. Furthermore, the high rate of expansion (nearly 400 kilometers per second**) suggests a far more violent beginning than expected of such an object. The high concentration of ionized iron atoms also seems to indicate that the central star has an unusually energetic flux. (EZ Cosmos)
: ** WebMan's note: This value is different than the value I obtained (see 'factinos' below) from the VizirR data (Strasbourg ESO PNe Catalog & Database)

Short & Long Exposures

CCD Image 24" Mt. Wilson Telescope/ST6 Camera. Hylton High School, Woodbridge, Virginia, participating in the TIE program (Teles. In Education)	Digitized Film Image from SkyView Digital Sky Survey

Location Chart 1 From 'MegaStar, Version 4.0'

This chart indicates the location of the planetary within the 'tail' of Scorpius

Location Chart 2 From 'MegaStar, Version 4.0'

This chart shows the locations of other NGC/IC planetaries in this region of sky. There are many many other planetaries in this area which do not have NGC/IC designations.

Basic Data & Characteristics of NGC 6302
Designations	Name	R.A.(J2000.0)	Dec.(J2000.0)	Con.	Size	Mag. (p)	Surface Brightness	Cent. Star Mg	PNe Type
PNG349.5+1.0 PK349+1 1 NGC 6302 Sa 2-180 Wray 16-259 Henize 2-204 RCW 124 ESO 392-5 Gum 60 Sh 1-3, Sh 2-6	Bug Nebula	17h 13m 44s	-37d 06m 14s	Sco	83 x 24 arc-seconds	12.80	9.0	21.1	6

Additional Factinos:

Distance: Estimated to be 2,000 light years from our solar system.
Radial Velocity: 39 km/sec, moving towards our solar system.
Expansion Velocity: Approximately 8 km/sec.
Discovered by M. Fleming, 1896
Uranometria 2000.0 Chart No. 376
NGC/IC description is 'pB, E pf, O (pretty Bright, Extended preceding-following, planetary)'

Two Outstanding CCD Images By Amateur Astronomers

MRGB of the Bug Nebula (NGC6302) taken by Al Kelly on 8/30/97 with CB245 and 17.5" f4.5 Newtonian from Ft.McKavett, Texas. The red, green, and blue exposures were 2.5 minutes, 3.5 minutes, and 4 minutes, respectively.	Visit Michael Purcell's Page & See Many Great Images. This 5 minute image was taken while on an astronomy trip to New Mexico in 1996. The camera used was an ST-7 attached to a f/6.3 10" SCT.

OBSERVATION NOTES

Steve Gottlieb:
N6302 = PK 349+1 1 = Bug nebula
17 13.7 -37 06
13": bright, fairly small, elongated E-W, very high surface brightness.
Subtle structure but the western extension is notably longer, brighter and
cut by a dark lane. The eastern extension bends slightly N just E of
center.

Observing Report From Bruce Bowman (July 5/6, 1996 - Aperture not indicated)
This is a report adapted from the IAAC archives
(Internet Amateur Astronomer's Catalog)
...Back into Scorpius, NGC6302 is a very easy and large planetary
nebula. The "Bug Nebula" is about 1' in size, elongated and clearly
nonstellar; a fine object...

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