SuWt 2

SuWt 2 is a planetary nebula viewed almost edge-on[2] in the constellation of Centaurus. It is believed that high UV radiation from an undiscovered white dwarf ionizes this nebula. Currently, there is a binary system consisting of two A-type main-sequence stars whose radiation is not sufficient to photo-ionize the surrounding nebula.[3] The nebula is easily obscured by the brighter star, HD 121228.

SuWt 2
Emission nebula
Planetary nebula
Image of SuWt 2 taken from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.
Observation data: J2000 epoch
Right ascension13h 55m 43.23s
Declination−59° 22 40.03[1]
Distance6,500 ly
Apparent magnitude (V)11.52[1]
ConstellationCentaurus
DesignationsPN G311.0+02.4, DENIS J135543.2-592239, GSC 08676-01161, 2MASS J13554323-5922398, PK 311+02 2[1]

It has been suggested that it has a triple stellar system. One of them, which is more massive than other two A-type main-sequence stars, evolved rapidly and became a red giant, swallowing the other two stars, and produced the planetary nebula.[2]

References

  1. "PN SuWt 2". SIMBAD. Centre de données astronomiques de Strasbourg. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  2. "White Dwarf Lost in Planetary Nebula". HubbleSite. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
  3. Danehkar, A.; Parker, Q. A.; Ercolano, B. (2013). "Observations and three-dimensional ionization structure of the planetary nebula SuWt 2". Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 434 (2): 1513–1530. arXiv:1307.2974. Bibcode:2013MNRAS.434.1513D. doi:10.1093/mnras/stt1116.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.