Celestial hemisphere:  Northern  ·  Constellation: Hercules (Her)  ·  Contains:  PK047+42.1
Abell 39 O3LRGB, Sergiy_Vakulenko
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Abell 39 O3LRGB

Abell 39 O3LRGB, Sergiy_Vakulenko
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Abell 39 O3LRGB

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Description

Abell 39 is a low surface brightness planetary nebula in the constellation of Hercules. It is estimated to be about 6,800 light-years from earth. It is almost perfectly spherical and also one of the largest known spheres with a radius of about 2.5 light-years.

Its central star is slightly west of center by about 2″ or 0.1 light-years. This offset does not appear to be due to interaction with the interstellar medium, but instead, it is hypothesized that a small asymmetric mass ejection has accelerated the central star. The mass of the central star is estimated to be about 0.61 M☉ with the material in the planetary nebula comprising an additional 0.6 M☉. The central star is classified as a subdwarf O star.

This planetary nebula has a nearly uniform spherical shell. However, the eastern limb of the nebula is 50% more luminous than the western limb. Additionally, irregularities in the surface brightness are seen across the face of the shell. The source of the east-west asymmetry is not known but it could be related to the offset of the central star.

This planetary nebula has been expanding for an estimated 22,100 (+1700−1500) years, based on an assumed expansion velocity between 32 and 37 km/s and a 0.78 parsec radius.

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    Abell 39 O3LRGB, Sergiy_Vakulenko
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    Abell 39 O3LRGB, Sergiy_Vakulenko
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B

Description: Pure OIII

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Abell 39 O3LRGB, Sergiy_Vakulenko