| Emission nebula | |
|---|---|
| Planetary nebula | |
 As seen from theVery Large Telescope | |
| Observation data:J2000epoch | |
| Right ascension | 13h 40m 41.34369s[1][2] |
| Declination | −19° 52′ 55.3200″[1][2] |
| Distance | 780ly (240pc)[3][4] ly |
| Apparent magnitude (V) | Integrated: 12.2–14.3;[5] Central star: 15.4[2] |
| Apparent dimensions (V) | 6.117′ × 6.117′[1][2] |
| Constellation | Virgo |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Radius | 1.5 ly (0.46 pc)[3] ly |
| Notable features | A unique and detailed PN |
| Designations | PK 318+41.1, PN G 318.4+41.4 |
| See also:Lists of nebulae | |
Abell 36 is a faint barrel shapedplanetary nebula[6] located 780 light years fromEarth in theconstellation ofVirgo.[3][5][7] It was discovered by the American astronomerGeorge Ogden Abell in 1955.[8]
Thenebula surrounds a dying sun-likestar that is shedding out its outer layers forming Abell 36. The star isevolving towards itswhite dwarf phase of life.[9] The nebula is estimated to have been formed around 10,000 years ago.[10]
MAG1 = Integrated VMag of PN / MAG2 = Mag of Central Star / SIZE = Diameter in arcminutes — ABELL:36 CON: VIR PNG# / OTHER: 318.4+41.4 MAG1: 11.8 MAG2: 11.5 SIZE: 6.2 RA: 13 40 41.3 DEC: -19 52 57 URA2: 149
The gorgeous, gaseous shroud of a dying sunlike star, planetary nebula Abell 36 lies a mere 800 light-years away in the constellation of Virgo. At that distance it spans over 1.5 light-years in this sharp telescopic view. Shrugging off its outer layers, the nebula's central star is contracting and becoming hotter, evolving towards a final white dwarf phase. In fact, in Abell 36, the central star is estimated to have a surface temperature of over 73,000 K, compared to the Sun's present 6,000 K temperature. As a result, the intensely hot star is much brighter in ultraviolet light, compared to its visual appearance here. The invisible ultraviolet light ionizes hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the nebula and ultimately powers the beautiful visible light glow.
Abell 36 is a planetary nebula (PK 318+41.1) at RA 13h 41m 17s and DEC -19d 53m 10s in the constellation of Virgo. The field is 21' x 21' and north is to the upper left. The apparent size of the object is approximately 7.6' N-S and 4.8' E-W. It is estimated to be close at 780 light years distant with an age ranging from 4,700 to 8,000 years. The bright, central star in the image, FB138, is estimated to have an effective temperature of > 73,000 K. This image of the core was identified by Abell in 1966 from POSS plates. It is considered to have a bipolar structure.
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